Kill La Kill Fascism: A Response

So Kill La Kill has seen something of a resurgence in popularity with the release of the English Dub and anticipation of the upcoming OVA. Therefore, it is not at all surprising the PBSIdeaChannel did some analysis of the series (the full video can be viewed here). In this analysis, Mike Rugnetta sought to draw a correlation between life fiber uniforms, technology and Fascism.

"But perhaps Kill La Kill's lesson is that the crazily increased agency we experience when the space between ourselves and our technology collapses to almost nothing is an effect of some much larger system or set of intentions and agents that doesn't or don't necessarily hold the interests of its subjects in the highest regard." - Mike

The evidence for this is held in the fact that the "technology" of the series (in this case, the life fiber clothing) is used not only as a tool to excel, but also as a symbol of status and even exclusivity. He points out, however, that there is an equivalent exchange where the cost of the alleged status is a total allegiance to the producers of said technology. And he has a point; if you put on that wedding dress, you do become a slave to clothing (at least, as far as the series is concerned).

The thing is, there is something of a flaw in Mike Rugnetta's reasoning when you consider that the purpose of wearable technology is inclusivity...inclusion...some other synonym. The point is, the technologies which stood at the forefront of wearable tech succeeded when people worked together to bring the cost to a level that everyone could hope to afford.

The Pebble Smartwatch, for example, was crowdfunded to the tune of ten million dollars by nearly seventy thousand backers. This $150 wearable can interface with most iPhones as well as phones running Android 4.0 or higher, the phones themselves getting produced more cheaply with each passing month. Google Glass, which debuted to the tune of $1500 a pair, is also set to drop in price as the technology becomes easier to manufacture (assuming Moore's Law continues to remain a universal constant).

Perhaps the true nature of wearable tech is not in becoming a symbol of status like Honnouji Academy, but in becoming a norm like the REVOCs Corporation. The point was to cover the world, which means uniting everyone under one standard. There's a sort of mish-mash here where you have the advantages of Honnouji's augmentation strategy and the direction of REVOCs's proliferation strategy.

Character Interview: Ryuko Matoi (AU/Male)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Ryuko Matoi (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @MaleMatoi  (Twitter)
Bio: Following his victory over Master Ragyo Kiryuin, the male analogue to Ryuko Matoi has been busy protecting both Honnouji Academies from all kinds of life-fiber and non-life-fiber based threats. Recently, a significant battle left him disabled from the waist down, and he has been making every attempt to keep up morale for him and those he cares about as he sets about finding a way to recover. He was kind enough to meet with us for an interview.

Q: Please tell us your name, your position within your world's Honnouji Academy, and your weapon of choice when facing an opposing threat.
A: My name is Ryuuko Matoi, I am a No-Star student at my Honnouji Academy, and I would use my Scissor blade as my weapon.

Q: When your world was being plagued by the life fibers, what sort of thoughts were going through your mind? What were your goals, and who were the people you thought about most?
A: At the time, I was angered. I felt I was one of them due to the Life Fibers. At the time, I wanted to eliminate the threat, and I was thinking most about the Mankanshoku family and Satsuki.

Q: Having learned that Master Satsuki was your brother, how did that affect you?
A: That shocked me. I never thought it could be possible. However, I was more shocked to find out Ragyo was my father.

Q: Nowadays, you're seen spending time with your doppelgangers at the other Honnouji. What has that been like for you? And what are your goals while living there?
A: I didn't expect to be here with ourselves... But it's been fun. My goals here are to have a great time with my Uzu and get out of this chair.

Q: I want you to talk specifically about your other half. What is one thing you criticize about them, and one thing you feel they excel at?
A: Well... They excel at being different, but tend to be quite hot headed sometimes.

Q: When facing your world's life fiber crisis, what is one thing you decided to do differently than your other half?
A: I always wore Senketsu. Even though we were both monsters, I trusted her with my life, and she kept her promise.

Q: Finally, out of all of the doppelgangers from the other Honnouji, who is your absolute favorite?
A: I actually enjoy spending a lot of time with Nui, to other's surprise.

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Contrast (2.5/3): The male Ryuko Matoi comes off as far less impulsive than his female half, almost to the point of demonstrating a reluctance to act. You can clearly see a constant battle playing out within his mind, a constant second-guessing of actions taken and actions yet-taken. To draw a parallel, he's a lot like Masaomi Kida or Maverick Hunter X in that he knows how precarious things can become and never wants to be the cause of another's pain. At the same time, trauma doesn't seem to impact him as hard as it does his female half. He lacks the naivete of his female counterpart which can be both a blessing and a curse.

Overlap (3/4): Underneath his hardened exterior, you can definitely see a much softer side who wants just to be a normal teenager with a normal family and a normal anxiety-free life. He cherishes the simple things, and makes the most out of things many other people take for granted. And like his female counterpart, he won't hesitate to put his life on the line for the sake of bringing about peace. 

Verdict (3.91/5): The male Ryuko Matoi may not be as deep or symbolic as his female half, but he is still quite fascinating. In a way, he is more of an analogue to Satsuki Kiryuin, serving as a mentor or teacher as opposed to a world student. His path will be drastically different to that of his female half, and that's okay so long as we remember to approach our observation of that path in a different way.

Character Interview: Nui Harime (AU/Male)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Nui Harime (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @Male_Nui  (Twitter)
Bio: Former Grand Couturier of the Life Fiber Crusade, he now spends his time searching for atonement, peace of mind and a new direction with which to aim his energy. He was kind enough to schedule an interview with us.

Character Interview: Ryuuko Matoi

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Ryuuko Matoi (Kill La Kill)
Bio: She is the legendary heroine of the Life Fiber Crusade. Her journey has taken her to many places, and pushed her to do battle with countless foes. She fought her hardest, and made the greatest of sacrifices for those who she cared deeply for. Now, in the aftermath of those dark days, we sit down with her to discuss all of it.

Character Interview: Uzu Sanageyama (AU/Female)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Uzu Sanageyama (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @FemaleMonkeyUzu  (Twitter)
Bio: Rounding out our coverage of the Four Devas of the other Honnouji, we sat down with Miss Sanegyama to discuss events which have transpired during and after the Life Fiber Crusade.

Character Interview: Houka Inumuta (AU/Female)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Houka Inumuta (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @femhouka  (Twitter)
Bio: We sat down with Houka Inumuta's female counterpart to get her depiction of life within the walls of both her old Honnouji Academy, and the one which she currently finds herself in.

Character Interview: Kamui Senketsu (AU/Female)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Kamui Senketsu (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @SenketsuFemale  (Twitter)
Bio: The female form of Kamui Senketsu. This doppelganger also has the ability to transform into a human, thanks to structures present in her Life-Fiber DNA. We sat down with her to gain insight into her thoughts on both humans and life-fibers.

#KLKRPWedding - THE MAKO/JKTSURYUUKO WEDDING

(On May 4th, 2014, the Kill La Kill fan-community bore witness to something incredible.)

"By the power of the Great Life Fiber, I pronounce you two married." These words by Master Ragyo Kiryuin symbolized the union of Junketsu-Ryuuko and Mako Mankanshoku in the Honnouji Academy Church today.

Two orchestral processions bathed the building in beautiful tonal arrangements as the Disciplinary Committee Honor Guard commemorated the union with a ceremonial arch of Scissor Blades. Over twenty people - canonical, alternate-universe and unaffiliated - participated in the event, ensuring its successful execution. Meanwhile dozens of others watched from afar with baited breath.

Friends of Junketsu-Ryuuko and Mako Mankanshoku celebrated the union, congratulating the two lovers on a beautiful relationship. Following the ceremony, another great action took place when Master Ragyo Kiryuin proposed to Lady Ragyo Kiryuin. No word yet on when that wedding will be.
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This action is a prime example of the evolution of a work by its fan following. What started as a mere crusade, a battle of humans versus life fibers has transformed into an entire sphere of interconnected relationships. For more information on what transpired, search #KLKRPWedding on Twitter.

Character Interview - Nonon Jakuzure (AU/Male)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Nonon Jakuzure (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @SnarkySerpent  (Twitter)
Bio: A doppelganger of the female Nonon Jakuzure. Today, we sat down with him to catch a glimpse of life for him following the Life Fiber Crusade.

Character Interview: Ira Gamagoori (AU/Female)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Ira Gamagoori (Kill La Alternate Universe)
Portrayed by: @ThreeStarGama  (Twitter)
Bio: Today we are looking at students from another Honnouji Academy, which also faced a life fiber crusade of their own. First on the list is their Disciplinary Committee chair, Ira Gamagoori (Female). This is her account of what transpired during and following the conflict.

Character Interview: Ryuuko Matoi (Post-Series/AU)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Ryuuko Matoi (Kill La Kill Post-Series/AU)
Portrayed by: @OneWithSenketsu  (Twitter)
Bio: Ryuuko Matoi is the heroine of the Life Fiber Crusade. Canonically, she defeated Ragyo Kiryuin in armed combat, ending the reign of terror which the life fibers had created. This version of Ryuuko still interacts with Ragyo Kiryuin and Kamui Senketsu even after the events of the conclusion (details omitted to avoid spoilers). This interview encapsulates some of her thoughts and feelings on the matter.
*Note: The name "Ryuuko" has multiple spellings. In this interview, it is spelled as "Ryuko."

Character Interview: Kamui Junketsu (Ryuuko Matoi Synchronization)

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Kamui Junketsu as worn by Ryuuko Matoi (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @junketsumatoiii  (Twitter)
Bio: Like Senketsu, Junketsu is a uniform composed entirely of life fibers, imbued with all sorts of transformative abilities. Unlike Senketsu, however, this kamui is more feral in nature, lacking the means to properly communicate with its wearer much of the time. It also has one goal: spreading life fibers. Satsuki Kiryuin placed herself in great danger when trying to tame the beast within Junketsu. Ragyo Kiryuin, meanwhile, connected easily with the kamui due to their shared goals. But what about when Ryuuko Matoi was made to wear it? What happened then?

Character Interview: Houka Inumuta

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Houka Inumuta (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @actual_houka  (Twitter)
Bio: The last of the Four Devas, Inumuta is a boy often shrouded in mystery. He works behind the scenes, ensuring the integrity of Honnouji Academy with his extensive knowledge of technology. Today we have sat down with him to better understand his perceptions of the academy he serves, as well as his feelings toward the events of the Life Fiber Crusade.

Character Interview: Ira Gamagoori

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Ira Gamagoori (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @IGamagoori  (Twitter)
Bio: One of the Four Devas, Gamagoori serves as the Honnouji Academy Disciplinary Chairman. His three-star Goku uniform has a double transformation which uses a sadism/masochism as its archetype. Most importantly, he considers himself the shield to Satsuki Kiryuin, ready to lay down his life if need be.

Character Interview: Uzu Sanageyama

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Uzu Sanageyama (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @Full_Kanto  (Twitter)
Bio: Uzu Sanageyama is one of the Four Devas at Honnouji Academy. He oversees the school's athletic division, and prides himself in maintaining a warrior's spirit. We sat down with him to get a word in regards to the Life Fiber Crusade and its aftermath.

Character Interview: Satsuki Kiryuin

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Satsuki Kiryuin (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @KiryuinSatsuki_ (Twitter)
Bio: Prodigal daughter of the Kiryuin Conglomerate and the student body president of Honnouji Academy, Satsuki Kiryuin is a woman who demands the utmost respect. Abhorring the life fibers and the mission her mother had perpetuated for so long, she decided to live as a double-agent to her mother's whims, until she had the means to combat her mother directly. Honnouji Academy was the manifestation of those means. Today, we interview her following the aftermath of the Life Fiber Crusade.

Character Interview: Nonon Jakuzure

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Nonon Jakuzure (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @SerpentSymphony (Twitter)
Bio: Nonon Jakuzure is one of the "Four Devas" at Honnouji Academy, a group of Three-Star students who serve as direct subordinates to Satsuki Kiryuin, the academy's student body president. She is extremely talented and just a little bit snarky, overseeing the arts and culture of Honnouji. Today, we sat down with her to get some of her thoughts on events which have occurred during, and following, the Life Fiber Crusade.

Character Interview: Mako Mankanshoku

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Mako Mankanshoku (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @Mako_thou (Twitter)
Bio: Mako is the adorable sidekick to Ryuuko Matoi, and a No-Star student at Honnouji Academy. During the Life Fiber crusade, she assisted Nudist Beach alongside Ryuuko in order to fight against Ragyo Kiryuin. Other than that, she's a scatterbrained girl obsessed with food and taking the spotlight where she can. We attempted to sit down and get some insight from her. Here is what really happened.

Character Interview: Kamui Senketsu

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Senketsu (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @thelegitkamui (Twitter)
Bio: Senketsu is Ryuuko Matoi's living combat outfit and school uniform, a being composed entirely of life fibers. By synchronizing with Ryuuko and feeding off her blood, he can become ultra-powerful. His mission is to assist Ryuuko in discovering who killed Dr. Isshin Matoi. Normally a kamui of few words, today we will be taking a closer look into his motivations.

Character Interview: Nui Harime

(Good fiction requires good characters who promote inspiration and aspiration. To demonstrate this, we shall be looking at characters from multiple series and judging how deep their archetypes go. We shall be calling upon individuals who take on the personas of their favorite characters in order to establish these traits).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!

Interviewee: Nui Harime (Kill La Kill)
Portrayed by: @SociopathicNui (Twitter)
Bio: The first-line subordinate to Ragyo Kiryūin, Nui Harime spends much of her time sewing life fibers together into high-powered battle regalia. She rose to infamy after it was discovered she was the murderer of Dr. Isshin Matoi, seizing one half of the coveted "Scissor Blade" in the process. Her ability to create copycats and her ability to target the core life fibers of an outfit (known as Banshi) make her a powerful force within Honnouji Academy. We sat down with her in order to get a clearer understanding of her motives.