Masterpieces, Anime, and Manga
Since childhood, the word “masterpiece” has alluded me. From the once childish perspective of thinking that nothing is perfect so there can never truly be a masterpiece to standing in awe in front of works that astonish me, the criteria for a masterpiece is still something that I could never quite grasp. Sam Anderson once described being transported to an “interstellar superhistorical realm” in the presence of Michelangelo’s David, a feeling I am all too familiar with when admiring works of Caravaggio or Van Gogh.[1] Those are two vastly different artists from two vastly different periods, in which both heavily influenced art history. Anyone could argue day in and day out that Caravaggio’s technical skill and focus on detail and theatrics is far superior to Van Gogh’s late impressionist works; To which, I would say that they are sorely missing the point of Van Gogh and impressionism as a whole but I understand where they are coming from. However, technical skill is hardly why I marvel at their pieces to this day. The emotional reach of both artists cannot be understated and when it comes to something as subjective as what a masterpiece is, I believe that is as important as anything else.
So, what is a masterpiece? Can highly technical marvels of man that are the summation of decades of practice and regimented honing of skills only fit into this description? How about the old definition of something that had to be accepted and reviewed before entry into a guild? Are there no modern works that would qualify as a masterpiece then? Surely, that can’t be, there are multiple works classified as masterpieces that have been made in fairly recent history. How do we apply this to mediums other than painting — could something like anime and manga be considered a masterpiece?
If we go by the old guild definition then has any mangaka published into Weekly Shonen Jump have a masterpiece under their belt? I would be hard-pressed to say so. Large critical praise seems to be a good indication of it, do we count MAL scores as any indication of enshrining Gintama in the same discussion as The Creation of Adam? How about Berserk, which I do consider a masterpiece despite not having any ending in sight to finalize the tale? That is, if public opinion is any measure, we could go strictly by what paid critics have to say but then that opens a can of worms towards recent controversy about journalists inadequately rating modern media.
Merriam-Webster defines a masterpiece as a work done with extraordinary skill. This is a bit disappointing. There is no grandiose and the lack of information on what extraordinary skill means allows it to be less exclusive than what you or I probably imagine a masterpiece to be. Extraordinary, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary. If we go by the definitions of a highly trusted and long-standing company, then a masterpiece would be little more than an above-average work. Case closed, right? I can’t help but be unsatisfied with this answer; I’ve gone searching for other opinions, pestering friends, evaluating works that I’ve considered a masterpiece… and nothing has changed. I still hold the same opinion as always.
A masterpiece… is whatever you want it to be. Sorry, I know this is as unsatisfying as the Merriam-Webster definition but it is something entirely subjective. I think the emotional response to a work of art is important in classifying it as a masterpiece and that is something that can only be judged on a person-by-person basis. A work of art that emotionally resonates and connects with you to the point that you have no choice but to call it a masterpiece — that’s what a masterpiece is, even as much as I want to say that it has to be a technically sound work. Could an amateur create a masterpiece? By definition, no. However, if they can create something that has all the components needed to strike a chord in your heart to classify it as a masterpiece, then maybe their work isn’t so amateurish. After all, they did something right.
Modernist works, generally speaking, can be seen as less skilled pieces when compared to renaissance or baroque paintings but the desire to evolve the discipline and change the way that we interpret art could be enough to bridge that gap. The appeal of modernist works is very different from that of a Caravaggio piece or a Michelangelo sculpture. Recently, there has been some controversy regarding the Mona Lisa on anime Twitter; Fans of different manga were posting their favorite panels in an attempt to prove a post wrong about their favorite mangaka never being able to make a work better than the Mona Lisa.[2] Some interesting discussion was gotten from the controversy, once you sift through the troll posts and waves of people discrediting one of the most influential works of art in all of history as something that is “just famous” with no merits. Strangely enough, saying that the Mona Lisa had no value brought something worthwhile to the table. Many fans of manga present in the discussion had felt no emotional response or attachment to the painting — even going as far as calling it boring — while campaigning for their favorites and using that to argue in their favor.
One could argue endlessly while comparing and contrasting the techniques present in the Mona Lisa or various panels of Vagabond but what ultimately tips the scale is the emotional reaction and impression gained from viewing them. So, yes, a masterpiece could be produced in the field of anime and manga. After all, my absolute favorite work of art and fiction is both an anime and a manga.
Bakuman, stylized as Bakuman。, is a story of two aspiring mangaka trying to make it big in the industry and earn the honors of having an illustrious anime adaptation of their work for the sake of fulfillment, fame, and romance. This is not the first work produced by the artist-writer duo of Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba, famously known for Death Note, as the two use their knowledge and experience to create a work that I believe exceeds their most popular series. It is a well-thought-out metanarrative that highlights the career of a creative in one of the most laborious fields out there while informing the general public on previously unknown facets of that same industry. A lot of information — and misinformation that stems from misinterpretation and a game of telephone — thrown around and used in animanga discussion comes from Bakuman explaining and sensationalizing the inner workings of Weekly Shonen Jump and Shueisha. (For information about the process of making manga, more so focused on production and distribution, I recommend checking out The Right Way To Make Jump! By Takeshi Sakurai.)
Bakuman is a story that I don’t expect everyone to feel as attached to as I do, nor do I want them to think as highly of its technical and “objective” strengths as much as I do. I found the series at a time where I was conflicted about pursuing and continuing my art career. The shounen elements of friendship and motivation made me aspire to reach what I witnessed on screen. The long sessions of two friends staying up and geeking out about manga ideas and their favorites reminded me of the long nights that I would stay up talking to my best friend about our comic or novel ideas. I wanted to work as hard as the characters in the series, I wanted to be as motivated as them, and ultimately I wanted to eventually parallel them in success once I grew older. I expect nobody to feel the same way about the series as I do or share the same experiences as me. The strong emotional connection that I have towards this work is enough to make it my favorite work of fiction but also something I consider a masterpiece. Who am I to scoff at what someone else calls a masterpiece if they feel genuine about it?
Watch your harem anime and get so attached to the cast that you call it a masterpiece and your top one. Flip through the pages of a seinen that won’t ever get another chapter and call it a classic that doesn’t need an ending to crown it as the best work made by human hands. Watch your shounen anime and cry whenever the protagonist saves the day for the sake of his friends. Art is made by creatives but you’re what makes it a masterpiece.
[1] Sam Anderson, “David’s ANKLES: How Imperfections Could Bring down the World’s Most PERFECT STATUE,” August 17, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/magazine/davids-ankles-how-imperfections-could-bring-down-the-worlds-most-perfect-statue.html
[2] https://twitter.com/vincetogawa/status/1389295485320450051
