"Ghost World" Suppressed emotions behind the beautiful world

scrapbook imagination

Just as Robert Crumb's scrapbook served as Crumb's imagination for the lines he drew, the imagination of Enid's sketchbook becomes an important element in ``Ghost World.'' In fact, it can be said that all of Terry Zwigoff's works are based on the imagination of his scrapbook. It goes without saying that Seymour, an unparalleled record collector, is surrounded by antiques, and his room is filled with junk-like pieces spread throughout the art class. In Enid's sketchbook, her encounter with Seymour is sketched in a comic book-like pattern. The films made by Terry Zwigoff can be described as opening up a treasure chest known as a scrapbook.

Enid finds a painting of a black chef in Seymour's room. Robert Crumb copied the sign for the Kuhn Chicken Inn, a restaurant chain that existed from the 1920s to the 1950s, for the film. Enid submits this painting as a ``work'' to her remedial art class. By daring to present something discriminatory, I wanted to make the gallery aware of the issue of discrimination. The dialogue that Enid has while leafing through Seymour's scrapbook, which contains documents from the time the Coon Chicken Inn changed its name to Cook Chicken, is interesting.

"Does this mean the world was better in the past? Even if there was discrimination?"

"It's better now, but it's a difficult problem. Maybe we've gotten better at hiding discrimination."

Seymour's scrapbook about the Coon Chicken Inn was a historical document whose elements of discrimination disappeared with each turn of the page. Meanwhile, Enid's sketchbook tells the story of her encounter with Seymour. Seymour, who was initially made fun of, becomes more beautifully drawn with each turn of the page by Enid. Enid tells Seymour. "You are my hero."

Living with a feeling of true alienation from society. ``Ghost World'' is dedicated to all those who have to communicate in ways that are not normally necessary, such as accepting and parrying humiliation from others.

Feelings of alienation are by no means exclusive to teenagers. And the question is whether people living in modern times have simply become better at hiding their feelings of discrimination or alienation from others, and the fundamental problem may still remain hidden. ``Ghost World'' captures the emotions of people who are suppressed behind the scenes of a seemingly beautiful world.

An old man who keeps waiting for a bus that never comes. Enid says she feels relieved when she sees him. Because you'll always be there. Enid wishes to one day disappear somewhere other than here. Enid also ends up waiting for the bus.

The defiance and solidarity that Enid showed will continue to resonate in the hearts of many. Enid's existence disappears into a scrapbook called ``Ghost World.'' The scrapbook is supposed to contain a portrait of a rebellious girl who enjoys singing songs she doesn't understand.

Text: Daiji Miyashiro (maplecat-eve)

Movie criticism. Contributed commentary to Eureka's ``Wes Anderson Special'', Real Sound, Toshio Matsumoto special pamphlet, etc.

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