Regarding the recent Zine project, I intend to reiterate the meaning it was brainstormed with, and the meaning and symbolisms that evolved with it as the project matured. As seen in the Zine post, the first panel begins with the optimistic and victorious outlook of WWII as seen through the American perspective. Within the Imperial Japanese theater, the proceeding panels of the zine express the massive loss and recovery taken to mature to Modern-Age Japan.
The first panels' main subjects have parallel silhouettes, planted to the right side of each scene, leaning to the left. The American silhouette comes from the patriotic flag planted within, whereas Japan's loss shown in Pearl Harbor's smoke, signifying the forceful invitation Japan gave to the US. "Win with grace, Lose with Dignity" is overturned as images show Japan's cruelty, nodding to the complete lack of dignity Japan was left with post nuclear bombing. Further note additional symbols of the a plant of life, the big bang theorem of ideas and innovation, the literal Rising Sun that shines over the Japanese as they recover, both technologically, and culturally. Another parallel I wanted to outline was the planes in Panel 2 and 8, technologically advanced, and coupled with a new purpose of travel and tourism, further exemplifying the international connection Japan re-establishes, a dichotomy between Imperialist superiority and cultural cut-off. Wanting to highlight the mass graveyard coupled with the bombing, recognize the graphics expressing anguish and starvation immediately following the genocidal bombing that Japan's innocent endured.
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