blah the Prussian Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 "Pokemon Sun and Moon" are probably the most complex Pokemon games in terms of story, so much so that the story can actually be analyzed in a variety of ways. Today, I'm analyzing these games using the Marxist perspective, that being, the economics of the game and how the characters economic statuses effect their lives. Disclaimer: fuck Communism. Also, spoilers ahoy for the entire game. To begin with: the society of Pokemon is a metaphor for Capitalist society. Trainers collect more and more Pokemon, allowing themselves to grow stronger, beating other trainers, and establishing a hierarchy of Champion>Elite 4>Gym Leaders/Trial Captains>everyone else. This is the equivalent to the wealth based hierarchy of our own world. Since the entire economy appears to be based on Pokemon battling, we can safely say that the rest of the economy doesn't matter. So essentially, we have a hyper meritocratic society, where the best achieve more power and privilege in society. But Sun and Moon is significant because it asks this question: what happened to the Youngster with the Ratatta that your Litten took out with two Embers? Well, Team Skull happened to them. Team Skull is explicitly stated to be a team made up of people who failed the island challenge. In a society where people are constantly told to be the very best, like no one ever was, those who simply aren't the very best are left crushed with nowhere to go. As such, they turn to crime. Essentially, by placing emphasis on success and meritocracy, we destroy the worth of those who aren't good or competant, in their eyes and in our own. This leads to crime, which only leads to children being more likely to have their Rattata stolen by Team Skull, eventually driving them into the arms of Team Skull themselves. Pokemon Sun and Moon can be seen as a biting criticism of Capitalism and its overemphasis on success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 The first rattata youngster you fight in the game challenges you on the elite four after you beat it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebony Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blah the Prussian Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 The first rattata youngster you fight in the game challenges you on the elite four after you beat it Well, good for him, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darros Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 what about people who keep pokemon as pets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moblin Major General Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 what about people who keep pokemon as pets They understand they stand no chance against the bourgeoisie and therefore settle into their much lesser role in society while at the same time attempting to enjoy what few perks there are in having a Pokemon without being active in society fully. The fact the protagonist abandons their own mother so that she fits into this state better speaks volumes about what a horrible person they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blah the Prussian Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 They understand they stand no chance against the bourgeoisie and therefore settle into their much lesser role in society while at the same time attempting to enjoy what few perks there are in having a Pokemon without being active in society fully. The fact the protagonist abandons their own mother so that she fits into this state better speaks volumes about what a horrible person they are.No, Comrade Hylian, we must not blame individuals caught in the Pokemon system for their misdeeds. We must instead forgive, and recognize that, in actual fact, it is a sin of the system that people are driven to such lows in pursuit of power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moblin Major General Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 No, Comrade Hylian, we must not blame individuals caught in the Pokemon system for their misdeeds. We must instead forgive, and recognize that, in actual fact, it is a sin of the system that people are driven to such lows in pursuit of power. Yes, well... I don't see the reforms necessary to further the proletariat cause coming from the champion. At least Alola hasn't been faced with the Fascist evil that is Team Flare. That filthy bourgeois Lysandre deserved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blah the Prussian Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 Yes, well... I don't see the reforms necessary to further the proletariat cause coming from the champion. At least Alola hasn't been faced with the Fascist evil that is Team Flare. That filthy bourgeois Lysandre deserved it. Bah, they have their own evil corporation! The Aether Foundation is exploiting poor, innocent Team Skull! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chen Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 stay woke, the Corporations are controlled our Government? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrymidfields Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Wait, so if Team Flare is Facist, and Team Skull is Communist, then what would be the case for the other Teams? (And Team Rocket in particular?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darros Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Wait, so if Team Flare is Facist, and Team Skull is Communist, then what would be the case for the other Teams? (And Team Rocket in particular?) Team Rocket is Blasting Off Again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blah the Prussian Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Wait, so if Team Flare is Facist, and Team Skull is Communist, then what would be the case for the other Teams? (And Team Rocket in particular?)Team Skull aren't Communist, but they're symptoms of the Pokemon system, as Communism argues organized crime is a symptom of Capitalism. Plasma are Communist, Galactic is a cult, Aqua and Magma are ecoterrorists, and Team Rocket is just the Mafia. Team Skull are more like street gangs, while Team Rocket is more big league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renne Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 lolol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radiant head Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 uhh pretty sure pokemon is much closer to a slave or feudal economy, since pokemon don't do wage labour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrymidfields Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I thought Pokémon were essentially animals and not "sub-human slaves". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 cockfighting and dogfighting are crimes here in my country, so pokemon fighting would also probablyy be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blah the Prussian Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 uhh pretty sure pokemon is much closer to a slave or feudal economy, since pokemon don't do wage labour.Well that depends on if Pokemon are people or not. What is the measure of a person? Is conflating Pokemon with people just another method of the elite to dehumanize the Proletariat? These are the questions that must keep us awake at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radiant head Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 doesn't keep me awake because their animal/human status actually doesn't really change how the class relations function tbh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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