Of Sharks and Mermaids--
18/3/14 23:49![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
daeva_neesanNow that my webcomic The Groom of the Shark (a sequel of The Bride of the Shark) is almost reaching its conclusion, I feel like babbling a bit about sharks and mermaids and ukiyo-e.
As you should know, I live in a town by the sea, and even if I can't really swim and drowning is one of the deaths I fear the most, I feel a strong bond with this element.
I was amused by the idea of making a comic set in a seaside place. My pick went to the mysterious city of Onjuku, in Japan, because I watched a documentary about an Italian photographer documenting the daily life of pearl divers, known as ama.
The report of Maraini was about the ama of Hekura, but Google wasn't my friend and he deflected me to a pitiful copy of Miami with some Mexican and Arabian bits that made no sense but for the surfers community there.
But when I looked at those pictures the only thing that came to my mind was the novel The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima and its healthy, rough portrayal of a genuine life by the sea.
The names of the characters Natsue and Shinji from Samuyome come from this novel.
The location and general vibe was set, I just needed some hot shark guy, hopefully out of some cool mythologic story.
I picked a shark as the other half of my mermen because I wanted to use a powerful, voracious being to emphatize its role as a seme character.
I was disappointed to see that all the legends concerning sharks had a negative acceptation in the most of folklores, but when I stumbled over Hawaiian mithology I felt like I found the best nationality ever for my shark boys.
The whole concept of the Shark Gods used in Sameyome came from the legend of Nanaue.
I know that the whole thing has a strong The Little Mermaid vibe, but the ban of Shark Gods to meet and mate with humans because of human persecution, their shapeshifting skills and also the "feathered cape" that 'Ehukai wore in the last part of the story, they all came from this legend.
I loved myths about sharks of those islands because they are the only one where sharks are described as positive deities.
For more about the issue I suggest you to read this interesting article.
In a vision that may seem absurd to us, sharks are seen as protectors of fishermen, swimmers and even shipwreck survivors.
I think that it's amazing, and I can totally relate to this, as someone who feels an empathy towards marine creatures-- Someone who grew with such beautiful beings is not afraid of them, all they could feel is sincere awe. I can see how this awe turned into religious fervor.
Anyway, the deal with Japanese sirens kept bugging me.
In Europe, expecially in Italy, we have a good amount of cool stories and rappresentations featuring mermaids.
One of my favourite is that also used in heraldry (and Starbucks LOL) and alchemic symbology, the twin-tailed siren, usually connected with the legend of Melusine.
In Japan, these charming figures are instead treated as mere monsters, grotesque beings with a fish body and a human face, or unlawful ladies turned into monsters by some shinto god... According to this interpretation, one of the rare rappresentations of sirens that got my attention is that of Lake Biwa's mermaid:
Another similar portrait is this one, coming from an ukiyo-e for kids
...Speaking of Japanese prints about mermaids, I also find one where a mermaid is sexually assaulted by an octopus, but I leave that to your Google skills to find XD
As you should know, I live in a town by the sea, and even if I can't really swim and drowning is one of the deaths I fear the most, I feel a strong bond with this element.
I was amused by the idea of making a comic set in a seaside place. My pick went to the mysterious city of Onjuku, in Japan, because I watched a documentary about an Italian photographer documenting the daily life of pearl divers, known as ama.
The report of Maraini was about the ama of Hekura, but Google wasn't my friend and he deflected me to a pitiful copy of Miami with some Mexican and Arabian bits that made no sense but for the surfers community there.
But when I looked at those pictures the only thing that came to my mind was the novel The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima and its healthy, rough portrayal of a genuine life by the sea.
The names of the characters Natsue and Shinji from Samuyome come from this novel.
The location and general vibe was set, I just needed some hot shark guy, hopefully out of some cool mythologic story.
I picked a shark as the other half of my mermen because I wanted to use a powerful, voracious being to emphatize its role as a seme character.
I was disappointed to see that all the legends concerning sharks had a negative acceptation in the most of folklores, but when I stumbled over Hawaiian mithology I felt like I found the best nationality ever for my shark boys.
The whole concept of the Shark Gods used in Sameyome came from the legend of Nanaue.
I know that the whole thing has a strong The Little Mermaid vibe, but the ban of Shark Gods to meet and mate with humans because of human persecution, their shapeshifting skills and also the "feathered cape" that 'Ehukai wore in the last part of the story, they all came from this legend.
I loved myths about sharks of those islands because they are the only one where sharks are described as positive deities.
For more about the issue I suggest you to read this interesting article.
In a vision that may seem absurd to us, sharks are seen as protectors of fishermen, swimmers and even shipwreck survivors.
I think that it's amazing, and I can totally relate to this, as someone who feels an empathy towards marine creatures-- Someone who grew with such beautiful beings is not afraid of them, all they could feel is sincere awe. I can see how this awe turned into religious fervor.
Anyway, the deal with Japanese sirens kept bugging me.
In Europe, expecially in Italy, we have a good amount of cool stories and rappresentations featuring mermaids.
One of my favourite is that also used in heraldry (and Starbucks LOL) and alchemic symbology, the twin-tailed siren, usually connected with the legend of Melusine.
In Japan, these charming figures are instead treated as mere monsters, grotesque beings with a fish body and a human face, or unlawful ladies turned into monsters by some shinto god... According to this interpretation, one of the rare rappresentations of sirens that got my attention is that of Lake Biwa's mermaid:
Another similar portrait is this one, coming from an ukiyo-e for kids
...Speaking of Japanese prints about mermaids, I also find one where a mermaid is sexually assaulted by an octopus, but I leave that to your Google skills to find XD
no subject
Date: 19/3/14 00:03 (UTC)no subject
Date: 19/3/14 10:09 (UTC)no subject
Date: 19/3/14 00:29 (UTC)Then I saw the mermaids in Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and dream crushed. D:
no subject
Date: 19/3/14 10:09 (UTC)When you said "The Little Mermaid" you mean the Disney movie or the Andersen's book? 'Cause the book was pretty mean too, as far as I remember!
My first approach to mermaids was at school, while studying the Odyssey! It made an impression, because for Greeks sirens have bird bodies, not fish's.
And in another interpretation I found out that those sirens were actually Italian girls dancing the taranta-- LOL.
no subject
Date: 20/3/14 17:04 (UTC)no subject
Date: 19/3/14 11:08 (UTC)no subject
Date: 19/3/14 12:03 (UTC)Pensa pure a roba come il kraken o Moby Dick!
Una cosa che mi ha sorpreso riguardo le leggende europee delle sirene è che molte provengono da paesi insospettabili, tipo il Nord Europa!
Una famiglia nobile franzosa si vantava di discendere da Melusina :D
no subject
Date: 28/3/14 23:11 (UTC)I read about the shark god legend once, but it has a different ending. The half-shark child actually got killed.
Speaking of your comics, Dae... How do you draw? What paper do you use? Are they big papers or just regular size paper?
no subject
Date: 29/3/14 00:20 (UTC)Yes, it's the same legend, I found too about the different endings!
I guess that it depends on how comfy the storyteller is with the ideas of sharky boys going around their sea XD
I draw traditionally (like, pencil+markers XD) on random copy paper, then I fix things up with Photoshop-- Why do you ask XD ?
no subject
Date: 29/3/14 00:26 (UTC)Just curious about how big the paper you use. Some people draw on super big paper like professional comic artists.
Oh, by the way, I've been trying to private message you but I don't know how so I'll just post it here.
Did you hear There is this Japanese Nobu anthology project going on? They're accepting artists and story-writers. I'm not sure if it's a big publisher or if it's like a doujinshi project.
If only I were fluent at Japanese, I would sign up to be a contributor :3 Too bad I don't even understand what's going on in there :( I would probably buy that book if it comes out XD
no subject
Date: 29/3/14 00:56 (UTC)Oh, it's common A4 format.
I use to fold it in half-- So I usually work on A5 format XD
Those who use huge paper are usually professional artists who need a good definition of their page. I'm not one, so I do and use cheap things XD
YES, YES, I DOO!!!
I wanna try to take part in it too (now I just need the mental strenght and courage to try to apply for real x'D)!
I think that you can take part to it too, maybe with an illustration, if you're not feeling confident enough for a comic :D !
Here's the page: http://odanthology.main.jp/oda/index.html
no subject
Date: 29/3/14 01:57 (UTC)Ooh, same then. I'm so cheap I don't even ink my drawings XD Just pencils.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO FILL UP THE FORMS THOUGH. Even if I have the courage to do it I don't understand one word :(
What do you plan on entering? XD
no subject
Date: 29/3/14 08:56 (UTC)I was thinking about the scene in Atsuta temple! I want to draw something dealing with Nobu's spirituality and-- lack of it ^_^
(anyway, couldn't you send me a PM here or on DevART about it XD ?)