Aurini reviews an anime series about an r-selected world:
Psycho-Pass is an series set in a world where r-type behaviour has taken over the population, and psychopaths rule. This requested review comes from Arthur; thank you for your support!
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In the past, I suspect the truly great writers were the ones who had some deeper subconscious perception of r/K. They knew that in a safe and prosperous future, it was possible that a government might be structured around every facet of r. They may not have known how every facet evolved, or what purpose it served in our evolutionary history. They didn’t grasp amygdala, or the role of dopamine – even if they conceived of things like Soma. But they knew by feel what we here know logically through facts.
I wonder how literature, especially sci-fi, will change when r/K becomes much more widely known.
[…] Aurini Reviews An Anime About r-selection […]
It’s an interesting show. One fairly common theme in anime is a distrust of government and large corporations. Psycho Pass has this in the secret ruling cabals that are totally corrupt and hedonistic. I recommend the show.
I actually recommend watching anime for the contrast it throws on western media. It has become much easier for me to spot manipulations in the western press after studying such a different culture.
I was re-watching Fight Club the other night, and I realized that it is an entirely different film in the context of K/r selection.
It’s not surprising to me that scifi and fantasy would have clear explication of r/K themes. In Dune for example the corrupt and decadent Emperor is contrasted with the hard, desert-dwelling Fremen. There’s a line in the book that all Fremen are taught the value of restraint – literally, wanting a thing but not reaching out for the thing. Because of that they have the more valuable trait of seeing down the tunnel of time – something their leader, Paul, literally does with the help of pre-cognition.
For a review of an analogous K-selected story, here is Glass Reflection’s review of Attack on Titan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br4CUnD1DsU
An accurate portrayal of K-selected society in ”Attack on Titan” would be to have all warriors be male.
And given the high-mortality rates of males. Maybe even have limited polygyny for the most elite warriors which seems plausible under the scenario of a chronic existential threat.
The show still works under the fantasy of Gender Equality unfortunately.
You’re not wrong, but in the show’s defense the number of named female characters in the military is pretty small. And the two main female characters are both given backstories involving a special physical or genetic advantage. I wouldn’t call that “gender equality”. Hell even in Dune Paul’s wife was killing men too weak to challenge Paul in combat. What depiction of women in a K society would you like to see?
”And the two main female characters are both given backstories involving a special physical or genetic advantage. I wouldn’t call that “gender equality”. Hell even in Dune Paul’s wife was killing men too weak to challenge Paul in combat. What depiction of women in a K society would you like to see?”
Feminine stay at home mothers. Attentive to children etc
The fact that Paul’s wife is even involved in combat is r. Its more plausible when the Saudaukar assaulted their home that they have a hard time dealing with the women and children.
Funny thing is, I’ve been working on a libertarian sf novel for almost two years when I became cursed with a heavy writer block after I found your work and wanted to weave into the world I made. Only in the last couple days have I started to see how to do it. Hope soon I’ll finish it, I’ll make sure to send a copy to you.
Please do. I will plug any r/K works by fans of r/K.
I need to get off my butt and start some of my comic book ideas.
One involves a highly K-adapted society of space pioneers having to deal with an increasingly rabbity Earth to supply their manpower shortage to fight an alien menace. The other involves a future world where real women who dare to be pleasant, loyal, and attractive to a man are attacked by violent ultra-feminist vandals who willfully mistake them for ‘companion robots’.
Waving around a cigarette and cradling some bourbon – what a pretentious wanker.