While reading this piece of
literature, I become very sickened in the way that Genji used women to satisfy his
need for dominance. I spent some time watching the R. Kelly documentary tapes
this past summer and Genji’s actions show many similarities to R. Kelly’s
actions with women. If R. Kelly’s story is not familiar to you, it is a very
long and uncomfortable story. R. Kelly is a famous musical artist that was
known for having interest in younger women or underage women. Younger women
interested him because of their innocence and his ability to control them
easier than a mature adult. R. Kelly would hold these girls in his house, and
they would not be allowed to even go to the bathroom without asking him first.
Theorists who have been following him believe that he controls these girls
until they become almost like a pet to him. The documentary is very interesting
and definitely a must watch if you enjoy investigative shows.
If you haven’t caught onto where I’m going
with Genji, let me explain. Genji showed interest in more innocent or childlike
women. The story validates that when it says, “Something childlike in her
fright brought a smile to his lips” (p. 1483). Genji is intrigued in the
innocence and we could even say the vulnerability of this woman to be
influenced by him. Genji was a married man and so was R. Kelly, but it seems
like this infidelity was acceptable for Genji compared to the negative traits
it has today. We discussed how common it was for married and powerful men to
have affairs with multiple other women. These women threw themselves at Genji
because he is who he is. This is a parallel to R. Kelly’s story because the
same happened for him. These younger girls or naive young women would throw
themselves at him because of his money and fame. A lot of the time R. Kelly
would promise musical opportunities to these women and that would make them
even more inclined to stick with him. The “player” personality of Genji is
something that we often find in wealthy and powerful people today. Although
Genji is not at the extreme level as R. Kelly, it is hard not to see the
similar tendencies these men had with taking full advantage of who they were.
What were your opinions on Genji and his lovers? Did you think that he was a good lover or a toxic lover?
I definitely see the connection you are drawing. I think that, throughout literary history, childlike traits in women have been valued. Women are described as being gentle and having soft features, a physical manifestation of the submissive behavior valued among them within those cultures. I can think of countless heroines and muses being described as having light blonde hair and rosy cheeks; I can remember very few who have sharp, dark features. The mindset seems to be that these are the kind of features that bring attention to women and make them appear formidable, as opposed to lighter features (supposedly) giving them a gentler air. Again, supposedly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the R. Kelly documentary is certainly a morbidly intriguing watch. I think his case is even more disturbing because, even though Genji's fascination with childlike women is offsetting, I believe we established that he too is not all that old, only about 17. It depends on how young he likes his women to be, act, or appear. If he takes a liking to 15 years old, then that's not as weird. R. Kelly, on the other hand, is without a doubt condemned in preying upon female minors significantly younger than himself.
I am happy to see that someone else has watched the R. Kelly documentary and can relate to my uncomfortable connections. Although I made this connection between these two people, it is important to note their differences. As you had said, Genji was around 17 compared to R. Kelly's older age. What should be focused on in Genji's story is his power and control over his women and his distinct interest in their vulnerability. They don't even have to be younger than him, they just have to look or act like it.
DeleteI was wondering if someone would bring up the #MeToo aspects of this work (not the only work this semester, either, by a long shot), so I am glad you thought to do so. Like the courts of the high European monarchies (remember that "courtly love" was a perfumed metaphor painted over a reality), it seems that the Japanese elite, too, saw sexual conquest as a courtly game, to be played by both men and women (it was Evening Faces who actually played the opening hand, after all).
ReplyDeleteWhat is so important about the insights of the #MeToo movement is that it pulls back the curtains on this age-old "game", so that we can see how rarely the actual power resides with the women caught up in it (and too often destroyed by it). Mostly it's not even a game at all...
Good post.
Thank you Dr. Luthin
DeleteI can actually see what you're going with on this connection to R. Kelly. From the many allegations of sexual abuse that R. Kelly has gotten this year, it perfectly sums up Genji as a creepy man who loves young girls. I think the infatuation may have stemmed from the innocence of younger women and girls that men were so attached to. I never understood why men during this time wanted to marry these girls who were obviously underage and pure of sexuality and love.
ReplyDeleteThe infatuation with younger women and girls in Genji and R. Kelly's case reminds me of the anime I have watched in the past that have female characters that look like they're 10 years old yet they are either high school age or an adult. I always say "WTF Japan" when it comes to their infatuation with younger looking girls. I find it SO creepy because that is borderline pedophilia. In Japan, the sexual attraction to younger girls is called "Loli-con" and unfortunately, Japan still likes to perpetuate the young girl attraction in a lot of the anime that is being released today.
To me, I Genji was infatuated with younger girls because it was always a masculinity or proof of dominance that a man has power over a young woman.
Although I have never really watched anime, I have seen pictures of it and I do see what you mean with their representation of women being younger looking. We see that type of pattern in a lot of different forms of cartoons. For example, Disney princesses always have large baby looking eyes and perfect skin. The way that a younger child would have those qualities.
DeleteSolid post. I have seen the R. Kelly documentary, and I totally see your point of view. However, as you said above, it is important to recognize their differences as well. First, it is important to point out that Genji was seventeen, while R. Kelly was much older. Additionally, R. Kelly was accused of more more vile acts towards women. I am NOT fending for Genji, but R. Kelly seems to have more malicious intent than Genji did. Especially when considering the time period in which Genji lived. Creepy? Yes. But times were different then; maybe he didn't know better. As for R. Kelly, he gets no passes. He kept making the same mistakes over and over again even when he knew it was wrong. They both have predatory aspects, but they do feel different to me, too. What do you think? Is it wrong of me to feel this way?
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel the same as you. These two people that I compared are living in completely different times. Although, I believe Genji was creepy, that doesn't mean that he was. The great thing about time is that we keep on changing. What may normal today, might not be normal in a couple years. I really liked this set that Aziz Ansari had performed that he talked about how every day everyone gets a little less shitty. He spoke about how things that he performed less than a decade ago would never fly in 2019 standards. That is how we should look at these stories. Genji could prefer a male dominated relationship because that was okay back then. 2019 standards would rip that apart today.
DeleteThis is a near perfect comparison. Well done. It is interesting that something so sinister is documented to exist for so long and is still around. I think one of the most interesting parallels in the two people are that they used their fame/fortune to lure the girls in and catch their interest.
ReplyDeleteI know, it is so annoying that just because Genji was wealthy and powerful, women and wives would be thrown at him. Same for R. Kelly, he promises fame and fortune to these young girls and then traps them for a darker experience.
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