Driving home from Virginia this weekend, Anne and I listened intently to a number of radio news reports about an eleven year-old boy from Alabama who had shot and killed the most recent in a string of "Hogzillas." That is to say, he hunted and shot after a period of hours what is believed to be the largest wild boar in recent recorded history. Of course, the carcass was dragged from the woods to be first photographed (see image to right) and eventually mounted by a taxidermist. The story is described in greater detail at this following Yahoo! link.
Upon hearing the news I immediately thought of a personal cinematic favorite, Mononoke-hime (1997), released in America as Princess Mononoke (1999). Directed by Japanese anime-master, Hayao Miyazaki, the film can be concisely introduced thusly:A prince is infected with an incurable disease by a possessed boar/god. He is to die unless he can find a cure to rid the curse from his body. It seems that his only hope is to travel to the far east.Eventually, it is revealed that the boar-god is corrupted (see image to left) by an iron bullet when it is shot by some of the members of a village of miners, who serve as a metaphor for modern industrial society encroaching on the natural world.
It made me think: What does a society that celebrates the senseless murder of a great beast by one of its children tempt wishing into itself?
Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!
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