Well, I promised Chewin I'd do an indepth analysis of Persona 4, but now that everybody has shared their thoughts and feelings in regards to the individual characters, I feel like I want to contribute as well. Grey has already written for Naoto, so I'll save her for another time and talk about Kanji Tatsumi as well.
I think, Kanji, as a character reflects the echoing meaning behind the term "don't judge a book by its cover" quite nicely -- His characterization is nothing if not incredibly engaging, despite the initial preconceived image one might have of him, he is anything but that; He looks like a punk, who'll eat you for breakfast if you look at him the wrong way, and the game initial subtly draws him as such to throw your perceptions off. It relates to the overall theme of the game, never settling for half-truths, only looking at what we want to see, looking beyond the fog for the truth.
This brings me to the next point, and another larger reason why I felt it be relevant to talk about him -- Kanji is as misunderstood by the people in the game, as he is by the audience who plays the game. He's referred to as an example of a "gay character" in games, on many occasions as a "negative" example. Specifically by public figures, such as Anthony Burch (writer of Borderlands 2) who heavily criticized how the game handled the character, by having his sexuality be ambigious -- Some dislike the notion of stereotypes in regards to the mannerisms of Shadow Kanji, or the idea "Kanji liking men" as a source of laughter and ridicule.
Clearly, the conclusion I drew from that is that Mr. Burch hadn't played the same game I had.
Kanji is a considerate and gentle soul, who is definitely not homosexual at all.
Why? Because it is not relevant to his character, and that's not the issue he's facing in the game -- His attraction to Naoto, where her gender was still unclear to most of the characters, aren't based around her being a guy, as it is revealed inside his dungeon. It's something else entirely, even when Naoto's actual gender is revealed, the attraction doesn't stop which arguably should be enough to prove the case but I might as well go the extra mile.
To paraphrase Kanji himself, from inside the T.V “It ain’t a matter of guys and chicks…." The functions of the T.V. World skewers preconceptions of its subjects -- People see only what they want to see, because it's easier that way to prevent from getting hurt in the end.
His Shadow is incredibly flamboyant and forward with the guys, but at this point, we are unaware of the TV World's machinations, but we're also not entirely sure how to frame Kanji yet. It relates to the deception that exists in the fog, because the TV world is the world of fog, the world where mankind's desires are manifested.
The problem is not that Kanji is gay, the problem is that Anthony Burch, the NPCs in the game, and other critics, want him to be gay because that way it's easier to live with the image of a young man who likes sewing, cute animals, and is just a generally gentle and sweet, caring, soul.
Sure, the idea could have been fun and paved way for some interesting character interactions, though possibly jokes at his expense too, but I like to think that Atlus isn't that low (Erica from Catherine is an example of my faith in them).
It could shed positive light on the concept of gay characters in gaming, but the thing is that I don't believe that is how it should be treated for a game.
Sexuality needs to make sense for the story being told, it shouldn't be the frame of which your draw and write from.
I believe that prejudice feelings can be laid aside, if is not treated as an agenda and a statement, because for some it is not something that should be shouted to the world for it to be taken seriously.
Atlus should not get punishment for something they haven't done.
Kanji's issues do not relate to sexuality you see.. but to gender, gender roles to be precise.
Persona 4 wants to convey a message but not a message in regards to Kanji being a gay or not.
The game doesn't dwell on that issue
The game, however, wants to talk about gender and it can all be easily summarized in one particular quote that Shadow Kanji utters before the boss battle.
They look at me like some...some disgusting THING and say that I'm a weirdo...Laughing at me, all the while! "You like to sew? What a queer!" "Painting is so not you." "But you're a guy..." "You don't act like a guy..." "Why aren't you manly...?" What does it mean to be "a guy?" What does it mean to be "manly?"
Exactly what does it mean to be a guy? The line that defines the character that is Kanji Tatsumi, and is also explored in his social link, in the form of a single favor he does for a little boy -- He utilizes his talents of sewing to make a cute animal plushie for the boy's sister, which is contrary to what Kanji expected, met with gratitude and appreciation from the boy. Certain secrets are also revealed to us -- Kanji's father passed away, and it's clear that Kanji misses him, he dwells on something his father told him. He wanted him to 'be strong' because he could no longer be there to fill that role.
It drives Kanji to act like a man, as he originally thinks that's what he wanted. Be a man, and protect his mother.
All of the taunts and painful truths being spewed at Kanji in regards to manliness hits on a sore-spot for him. For all of the supposed tough guy act, leather jacket, bleached hair, scar and rebellious attitude, Kanji has no clue what exactly it means "to be a man".
At first it's easy to think that Kanji is overcompensating the concept of "manliness", in which we always connect with heterosexuality.
Although, in truth, the story is actually quite different from how its presented.
Examining the quote above, and we'll understand that Kanji's issues stems from the cruel disdain he had to endure from the girls of Inaba.
In a somewhat predictable fashion, in regards to the awful misleading stereotypes that society creates, they associate Kanji's hobbies with that of being gay.
He enjoys sewing, cute animals and crafts -- Things that are distinguished as "queer" for a guy to do.
In other words, Kanji has to be gay, according to the girls of Yasoinaba, as it doesn't conform with the image of how a guy is supposed to be like.
To put it mildly, Kanji's characterization is a healthy cognitive image of society's distorted idea of Gender and Sexuality.
In our world, what people fears the most, are the things they don't understand. They need frames of reference, categorization in order for the world to make sense and feel safe. Good and Evil -- You are either this or you're that.. The tendentious skewered view of the Third world. There is no middle ground here.
You're either gay or you're straight.
Females like to sew, go shopping, painting and men are self-concious alphas who are always in control of their lives, likes sports and beat up other guys to prove their status.
The individual is non-existent, you're choices are being picked for you from this understanding alone. Society in the shape of a TV world decides how you should act and look like. It's a social consensus.
Kanji has to be gay, because society labels him as gay, not because of any actual attraction towards guys.
Kanji's search for self-discovery and fulfillment reveals the ugly truth behind the mask -- We are all slaves to pre-conceived fabrications manifested by societal norms. Categories determine how we define people as people.
In accordance with how the game wants us to interpret things -- Sexuality, is by its faux-definition, defined by others. It's not thing you something which you have a hand in as it is assigned based around how you are supposed to act and be like as a person.
As I've already basically said at this point though -- The truth all along is that the illusions created on the TV are deceptive discernments created in the minds of people itself. Yukiko was the captured princess, Chie is the Dominatrix, Naoto the Detective Prince, Yosuke the bored city-boy, Teddie the empty husk etc.
What's so bad about doing what I want to do?
Kanji's true feelings is the fear of being rejected for who he is -- It is his lack of knowlegde of knowing "what it means to be a man" that sets him on the path to act tough and keep up the "manly" exterior, so people would think higher of him and perhaps accept him. That is the heart of this wonderful character. His revelation is that he's found friends in the Investigation Team, in the protagonist, who accepts him for who he is. Kanji decides for himself, that what his father probably meant, was the shouldn't be afraid to be honest about being himself -- That's where he decides to start. He's ready to be himself, and instead of letting people stop to think something different of him, he pursues to make them understand him because that way they'll be ready to accept him.
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But I adore P2 as well. :3
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