Study of Swords
banner
studyofswords.bsky.social
Study of Swords
@studyofswords.bsky.social
I make videos about Japanese visual media, critical theory, and swords. Panelist.

Channel updates/uncut cringe.
If you're going to be attending AN this year, come by and say hi!
May 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I'm genuinely enjoying Beheneko, but its deployment of fan service is very lacklustre. Definitely a show which would benefit from "less is more".

I haven't watched it yet, and so can't say with any insight, but this is a criticism I've also seen about Gushing over Magical Girls.
January 13, 2025 at 3:02 AM
The last book of the year (I just finished it today). One of the last (collection) of essays Baudrillard wrote, he nevertheless manages to bring his entire ouvre into a compelling totality. While published in the mid aught's, you'd think it was written last week.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
I picked this up after reading Allison, but you owe it to yourself to read "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses", at the cost of a mere 60 pages. An incredibly infleuntial essay, which is perhaps more insightful today than when originally published in 1970.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
Everyone should read this (better still the Seond Editon) monumntal work in the field, by one of the most seasoned writers on the subject. You will simply not find a more comprehensive account of the history of Anime in English.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
A pioneering work, Allison offers an analysis of the state of gender relations through manga, eromanga and even obento in the waining days of the Bubble Economy. It's one of the most widely cited texts in Anime and Manga Studies for a reason.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
The world lost an exceptional scholar with the passing of Mark McLelland in 2020, and this excellent collection of through provoking, and often challenging, essays demonstrates his skill as both writer and editor.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
As it turns out, WWII remains a contentious and fraught topic in numerous aspects of Japanese society, public education included. This wide ranging survey is a welcome resource in the face of one of the most persistent orientalist myths which permeates the western imagination.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
This was an invaluable resource in researching the development of global anime fandom and deftly leans into the crisis of area studies in the best way possible.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
End of the Year Book Recomendations 2024 Edition:

You will be hard pressed to find a better intro text on the subject of postmodern theory which doesn't immediately explain why its bad actually. Also features a very creative and engaging framing device.
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 AM
I kind of feel like Anima would naturally lend herself to the Duel Monsters roster.
December 14, 2024 at 9:42 PM
Excellent stream about the #Dandadan "blackwashing controversy"

www.youtube.com/live/vXpYgYh...
December 11, 2024 at 12:40 PM
Name a show you are positive no one remembers but you.
November 20, 2024 at 1:44 PM
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn’t Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, or Alice In Chains.
November 18, 2024 at 5:35 PM
4 anime to know me.
November 15, 2024 at 2:49 AM
(So this image, which precipitated the following thread on twitter, was originally posted by @ebiebieshrimp.bsky.social there - not posted on their bsky account.)

What follows is a thread on the intertextual treatment of girl-type Ranma (aka Ranma-chan), from the titular series Ranma 1/2🧵
November 9, 2024 at 2:35 AM
But Netenyahu is the problem!

Take him out of the equation and, uh...

... oh no.
November 6, 2024 at 4:31 AM