The Legend of Korra

The term "overnanalysis" does sort of reek of anti-intellectualism to me. Perhaps a better term for what people think of when they use the term is "selective analysis"?

I prefer to think of it this way:

"There's saying something, and then there's RAMBLING about something"

If someone argued that Frozen supports patriarchy, I think the proper term would not be "overanalysing", but "overreacting".

"I mean. Most things from our culture tend to have a sexist aspect to them. Basically all things from our culture. There's a lot more to be done."

No argument here. But if the only thing you manage to see is what goes wrong, while blatantly ignoring anything that may even start to be right, it is what I call "overanalysis" - you bend the material so that it fits your views, no matter what those views are. I could call it "wrong analysis", but since analyses are by definition subjective, I don't like to use "right" and "wrong" to describe them.

I absolutely adore shows that lead me to think beyond what I am shown - my favorite animated series remain by and large Ghost in the Shell. Yet, I dislike when someone shoehorns his views on the world in a show that was not made for that purpose. It is made rather obvious that Korra deals with how wrong extremes can be - the final book is called "Balance", after all. But the show does not try to make a point about how society works as a whole, or how marxism/capitalism/libertarianism/autocraty/... is a more/less valid choice for a government than any other. If you wish to make an analysis such as this one, fine by me, but no need to base it on the show.

There does exist proper analysis that is as objective as possible (presuming that is the intention), but there are also many examples of people projecting their biases over a work. These people, whether deliberately or subconsciously, bend the facts and stretch interpretations in order to meet their desired conclusion. I don't think there's any doubt that such behavior is fallacious and intellectually dishonest.

Remember, completely subjective critique is facile and useless. If you want someone to take your opinion seriously you need to give them as many compelling reasons to believe your interpretation as possible that are external to your own internal thoughts and biases.

I've always though of overanalysis as when someone is stretching thin evidence to come to a conclusion. Basically just a shorter way of saying "I highly doubt X is meant to represent Y".

I mean. The personal is political.

I have read some delightful essays and things over the years of people analyzing a work based on what it meant to them, how it connected with them on a deeply personal level based on their beliefs and experiences.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I mean. Sometimes I get frustrated with readings that I view as blatantly counter-factual.

On the other hand. Sometimes there's value in that as well.

edited 31st Jan '15 11:42:00 AM by unnoun

Yeah none of that article was overanalysis. The political overtones of the show were obvious from the first Season, and yes in the end the only clear message Korra has is "extremism is dangerous"

As I've mentioned previously, The Legend of Korra flirts with politics, but never seriously commits to any in-depth or concrete meaning. Taking it to task for it's willingness to mention the subject but never actually properly explore it is not "overanalysis".

RE: over-analysis. Give me a few hours and a bottle of the proper ale, and I could certainly, and with no outright lies or even egregious out-of-context schenanigans make the argument that Legend of Korra is a Reactionary Fantasy. One that cleverly uses dilutions of culturally appropriated Eastern philosophy and domesticated pop feminism to give itself a progressive shape, but is fundamentally as anodyne and supportive of Western cultural assumptions and prejudices as Lord Of The Rings.

x5: My thoughts exactly.

But obviously, the matter of knowing if something is overanalysis or not is highly subjective too, I don't think I am the one holding the only truth on that matter.

And with the same ale and same time at hand, you could also demonstrate how The Legend of Korra is crypto-communist and tries to force socialist ideals into the minds of the American youth.

edited 31st Jan '15 12:05:35 PM by Julep

That which can be taken to mean anything, in reality means nothing.

Actually, no. I chose the example I posted because I could do so while having a point. An accusation of crypto-communism would require much, much more sleight-of-hand and be fundamentally more deceptive.

You want impressive?

Give me a day and more alcohol than is healthy, and I can make the case that Korra not only advocates all the philosophies of the villains, but also make the claim that Korra herself is Satan.

edited 31st Jan '15 12:22:46 PM by ultimatepheer

I saw an article about MLP that, I kid you not interpretted as pro-patriarchy and smart shaming. You know the show that stars a bookworm and has six female characters and 99% of authority figures as mares. ERGO the show's very anvilicious lessons is the audience reading into something that isn't there.

I once made a half facetious argument that Spongebob is all about never trying to move above your station, never trying to escape the crab bucket if you will.

I don't remember why.

I know exactly the article you're talking about. Damn stupid article, that was. The God-Empress had to pen a direct response to it herself. I think we can fairly conclusively chalk that one up as just pure unadulterated bullshit.

Incidentally, I could right now write up a theory on how Korra's actions and motivations are fundamentally anti-progress for the Avatar world. I've let some of it slip earlier in this thread in my criticisms of the show's use of the concept of "Balance", and how it seems to be pandering to a now-irrelevant-by-the-standards-of-it's-own-universe Four Nations paradigm. There'd be nothing fundamentally wrong with it, no single "gotcha" moment that neatly invalidates the entire theory, but I don't think many of the regular threadgoers would take it particularly well.

If we get another Avatar series I'd like to see the four nations thing break down. Starting with the Earth Kingdom breaking down post-Korra. Maybe the north and south tribes finally decide they can be separate things totally. Also, Republic City.

What do you mean? The North and South are already independent, the Earth Kingdom is going to move to elected leaders, and the Air Nation is more of a religious order than a proper nation. The only nation that hasn't split up in any way is the Fire Nation and I have a feeling they'll eventually transition to some kind of democratic system.

I'd actually like the Fire Nation to take a prominent role again. I was kind of surprised that we didn't get much of it for Book 4.

I'd also like to see more of Fire Lord Izumi, but that probably wouldn't work for a sequel series...

I still would have liked the Fire Nation to help kill Mega Maid. That'd have been so cool.

Like when Kuvira started attacking the city? The surrendered armies would have unsurrendered?

Same, I also think the spirits should have done something. When Kuvira ran into the Spirit Wilds I actually expected a repeat of what happened to Zhao.

They could have provided a cavalry charge. Maybe have their warships bombard the colossus from a distance or something.

edited 31st Jan '15 1:00:16 PM by Kostya

Nah, Izumi said she won't get involved but I think it'd be neat if the Fire Nation military proper had showed up as The Cavalry

What if the spirits tried to attack Kuvira and Korra was like 'oh now you want to help? nah i got this. with hugs'