Animals, Literature, & Culture Final Response Essay: Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind: a Captivating Film of Coexistence

Media like “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” helps to change people’s negative views
on unusual animals. Throughout the timeframe of the film, an audience is able to positively
appreciate Ohmu in the same way that Nausicaa does because of Miyazaki’s palatable media and the positive effects it has on his audience’s reflection towards animals. Through “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” Miyazaki is able to represent a positive outlook on insects by helping people reverse their preconceived negative views towards animals. Two works that I believe could back me up on this idea would be Ted Chiang’s “The Great Silence” and Julio Cortazar’s “Axolotl.”

In media like the ones above, significant animal-human relationships are important to
how media is able to shed a helpful light on changing people’s preconceived fearful or hateful views on animals. Animals like parrots, who are often insignificant compared to dogs or cats, or animals like axolotls or even the fictional “ohmus” based off of deep-sea isopods, which are my favorite animal, who are often looked down upon for being scary looking are instead perceived in differing respectable and positive lights. This is because media can act as a gateway in helping rewrite an audience’s thinking by using any animal, cutesy or not, as a focal point for facilitation in a positive light; despite their scary presence that most people would see at first.

In “The Great Silence” Ted Chiang, the author, uses endangered parrots to emphasize his
ideas that though they aren’t animals we see day to day, they are still affected by environmental crisis that we as humans avidly choose to turn a blind eye to instead of advocating and helping them. He allows us to feel for the parrots and through them, therefore leaving a lasting impression on the audience it’s geared towards and helping them change their once negative views.

“Axolotl” by Julio Cortazar also manages to do this by setting humans at the level of
axolotls by putting the audience in a position where we can admire the obsessiveness of the narrator, therefor helping us in a positive light to understand why we should care about axolotls in the first pace with personification and other descriptors. It isn’t just axolotl that does this, because by helping change an audience’s mind you can get more people involved in bigger causes. Miyazaki’s other movie “Pom Poko” spread information about deforestation in raccoon habitats and changed many people’s minds about the detrimental effects of deforestation. Alongside “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” both films even reached the ears of the World Wildlife Fund.

Two issues, specific to changing people’s negative preconceived notions about animals,
are raised in “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” Julio Cortazar’s “Axolotl”, and Ted Chiang’s “The Great Silence.” “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” raises the issue of human arrogance and the assumption that animals are inferior to humans. The film portrays a post-apocalyptic world where humans have caused environmental devastation and view the giant insects as enemies to be eradicated. Nausicaa challenges this mindset and seeks to understand and coexist with the creatures, ultimately showing that animals are not deserving of the negative stereotypes humans have placed upon them. Julio Cortazar’s “Axolotl” raises the issue of human indifference and lack of empathy towards animals. The narrator becomes obsessed with the axolotl creatures to the point of believing he has become one of them. This story highlights the disconnect between humans and animals, and encourages readers to consider the inner lives and experiences
of non-human beings. Ted Chiang’s “The Great Silence” raises the issue of human superiority and the assumption that animals possess intelligence and consciousness. The parrot challenges the notion that animals are lesser beings, and raises questions about the relationships between humans and other species.

One theme relating to animals in literature, film, and culture that is also seen in “The
Great Silence” by Ted Chiang and Julio Cortazar’s “Axolotl”, that relates to “Nausicaa of the
Valley of the Wind” and emphasizes how an audience’s negative preconceived notions about animals can be changed to positive ones would be personified animals. In “The Great Silence” by Ted Chiang and Julio Cortazar’s “Axolotl,” the theme of sentient animals challenges traditional notions of human superiority and intelligence. In both stories, animals exhibit complex emotions, thoughts, and desires that are often overlooked or dismissed by humans. These narratives highlight the interconnectedness of all living beings and challenge the idea that animals are mere objects for human use. This idea is reflected back in “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” when the main character embodies a deep respect and empathy for all creatures, including giant mutant insects that are usually feared and vilified by humans. Through her interactions with these creatures, Nausicaa shows that understanding and compassion can lead to coexistence and harmony between humans and animals. Throughout the movie to highlight and prove my idea true, her positive relationship with animals contrasts with the negative preconceived notions that others in her society hold; ultimately challenging the audience to reconsider their own perspectives on animals.

By emphasizing the complex inner lives of animals and the importance of empathy and
understanding in our interactions with them, these narratives ultimately challenge the audience to question their beliefs about animals and encourage them to see the world from a different perspective. Through the exploration of themes relating to animals in literature, film, and culture, audiences are prompted to reconsider their negative preconceived notions and develop a more positive and compassionate attitude towards animals.