The Anime Modesty Paradox

I've been watching a lot of anime lately, and there's a common paradox (or hypocrisy, if you prefer, though I think that's a bit harsh; my point here is to do a fun bit of analysis, not criticize the way media works) that I've observed that I want to talk about, but before I can, I need to make sure everyone reading this is familiar with the concept of Doylist and Watsonian lenses for analysis.

The terms "Doylist" and "Watsonian" were inspired by the Sherlock Holmes novels, and they're used as shorthand for different perspectives on stories. You see, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, but in the universe of Sherlock Holmes, John Watson wrote them. Thus, "Doylist" is used to refer to the perspective from reality; that is, taking a work in relation to our world and what is really happening before the audience. On the other hand, "Watsonian" is used to refer to an in-universe perspective, much like the perspective of John Watson, for which it is named. It thusly considers the in-universe explanations for phenomena and events, and it considers them within that framework. These terms are useful for quickly expressing which of these two lenses one is using when performing an analysis of a fictional work.

The paradox I want to analyze comes about due to these two different perspectives, and it has to do with the modesty of female characters. You see, anime often doesn't shy away from mildly-censored nudity (angles, silhouetting, water, and fog/mist are the common methods of censoring genitals and nipples, though for the latter, they're just as often simply not drawn). The reasons why such nudity is included isn't important to this discussion, though the popularity of hot springs (that people relax in like hot tubs) and relaxing in a bath are significant contributors.

Now, as I said, this paradox has to do with the modesty of female characters. There are three common scenarios that might be depicted in which a female character's modesty is "preserved" or defended. For clarity, by "modesty" I am referring to a general collection of things: a male character seeing the female character naked at the low end to implications of sexual activity at the high end (I'd include the semi-common tropes of "accidental boob grab" and "taking a tumble into a suggestive position" in various parts of this scale). The thing to be aware of with these scenarios is the key difference is who is making an effort to protect the female character's modesty. Note that sometimes two—or even all three—of these scenarios are combined.

In the first scenario, the female character attempts to protect her own modesty. This one is perhaps the most straightforward. She realizes that a male character is seeing her naked (or whatever is exactly happening), and she immediately takes measures to prevent that from continuing to happen.

In the second scenario, the male character attempts to protect the female character's modesty. He averts his gaze, rejects any advances the female character may be making, attempts to make the female character aware of her situation, and/or seeks to rectify any accidental actions (e.g. the aforementioned accidental boob grab) he may have engaged in.

In the third scenario, a third party is attempting to protect the female character's modesty, often through threats of violence, frequently presented as a comical overreaction. There's a lot of variation here. The female character and male character involved may or may not be attempting to also protect the female character's modesty; when neither are, this is functionally a third-party playing interference or meddling in the other characters' relationship.

From a Watsonian perspective, in all three cases, a female character is having her modesty protected from the male character. This thus reinforces cultural values around female modesty. I personally find the trope of "male character must protect female character's modesty by rejecting her advances" especially irritating, but regardless, the point is that, as far as the narrative and story are concerned, the cultural values are upheld. The female character's modesty is protected!

But is it? From a Doylist perspective, we the audience are a voyeur of sorts. We receive no reprimand; indeed, we are welcomed in. Thus, while from a Watsonian perspective, the female character's modesty is preserved from the male character, from a Doylist perspective, it is (to use a word that feels too harsh to me) violated by us, the audience.

Hence, the paradox: the female character's modesty is both preserved and violated simultaneously, depending upon whether you take a Watsonian or Doylist point-of-view. This is what I find interesting when it comes to analysis!

By the way, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with this paradox, though I recognize that some will find it uncomfortable or unsettling. However, paradoxes like this, where the Watsonian perspective reinforces cultural values while the Doylist one lets us simultaneously transgress them, occur all over the place in art and media. I've just been noticing this particular one lately due to the media I've been enjoying, and I thought it'd be interesting to examine it!

Thank you for reading.

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