Body Motifs: Difference between revisions

Most viewers will wince when they see a wound inflicted on a sympathetic character, since physical injury is something all people can relate to. For similar reasons, a motif that involves a part of the body is a particularly visceral one.

* [[CLAMP]] ''loves'' making characters lose an eye, to the extent that it has become something of a running joke in the fandom. So far, the count goes: {{spoiler|Seishiro Sakurazuka}} in ''[[Tokyo Babylon]]'', {{spoiler|Subaru Sumeragi}} in ''X1999'', {{spoiler|Fay D. Flourite and Xiaolang}} in ''[[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]]'' and {{spoiler|Kimihiro Watanuki and Shizuka Doumeki}} in ''[[XxxHolic×××HOLiC]]''.

** You forgot {{spoiler|Koukuyo}} from Wish, even if that happened off screen.

* ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' focuses heavily on hands, eyes, (usually [[Freud Was Right|symbolic]]) vaginas, and disturbing combinations thereof.

* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' has a focus on hands and arms, especially [[Grasp the Sun|outstretched towards the sky]]. Many State Alchemists have their circles imprinted on gloves or tattooed to their hands. Edward has his automail arm and Scar has his {{spoiler|brother's}} right arm. Almost all alchemists normally perform alchemy by placing their hands on transmutation circles.

* The bonus OVA for ''[[Darker Thanthan Black]]'' [[Playing with a Trope|decides to goof around with this trope]] by making Hei's ''collarbone'', of all things, a plot point.

** Eyes: One of Lag's eyes was replaced by a piece of amber when he was a baby; Ninche and {{spoiler|her sister}} both have cat-like eyes; [[Eyepatch of Power|Dr. Thunderstone]] and {{spoiler|one other survivor of the airship crash}} are missing one eye each; the twin gate keepers are missing both eyes.

** And hands, too. Hands must be popular in [[Gainax]] works.

* In ''[[The Sandman]]'', eye injury as a common motif has been commented on by the creator. The Corinthian, Fiddler's Green and the Ravens, the first murder of Abel we see, even Despair's constant picking at her face all count.

*** It's played for laughs, though-- histhough—his eye doesn't pop out until he's smacked on the back of a head by a grumpy former headmaster.

* There are entire papers written on the use of eyes in ''[[Blade Runner]]''. Certain movements (or lack of thereof) of the pupil as responses to emotionally provoking stimuli are how one recognizes a replicant.

** Beckett invokes this trope often. ''Play'' consists of three heads sticking out of 3 foot urns and literally nothing else. In ''Not I'', the only thing the audience ever see is a disembodied mouth that speaks rapidly for about 15 minutes.

* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'' places a lot of emphasis on the eyes: Reynardine possesses people through their eyes, it's been hinted that the fact that Annie wears eye shadow is significant, the local [[Green Lantern Ring|Green Lantern Rings]]s are called "Blinker Stones," the forest is populated by "glass-eyed men," and several characters obscure their eyes--mosteyes—most notably Zimmy with her [[Hidden Eyes]], but Mr. and Mrs. Donlan count too, with thick eyeglasses and [[Eyes Always Shut]] respectively. A supernatural [[Freak-Out]] gives {{spoiler|Jack}} [[The Insomniac|apparently permanent insomniac eyes]]. Could be connected with the themes of illusion, searching and "not seeing things clearly," which are big of the plot.

* Zuko in ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. Most or all of the character's self-worth and daddy issues are all tied up in his hugely noticeable facial scar.