In the movie, a modern girl is defined as a complex woman, with principles and rules that are inconsistent to cultural norms. The producer asks a number of questions regarding the behavior of the girl. He poses the first question by asking who exactly the modern girl is in relation to cultural values. In the second question, the producer of the movie wonders why the girl behaved the way she did.
Through analysis, it is established that the modern girl is simply a construct of the media. The modern girl emerged after the 1923 Japanese earthquake. The earthquake brought about social and cultural changes (Thébaud 651).
The first question posed by the producer seeks to criticize the behavior of the modern girl because her behavior is inconsistent to the rules and regulations of society. In this case, she is referred to as maga, which is a word used to belittle her status in society (Lougee 87).
In 1930, a movie was produced seeking to establish the reasons that forced the modern girl to behave in a way that was inconsistent to the culture of Japan. The movie featured a teenage girl who ended up being a criminal after withstanding a number of problems (Mann 634). After a very long struggle, she took revenge by setting a blaze a Christian institution.
This was the turning point of her life because the lights were put off to signify a moment of darkness (Smith 723). This raises questions in the minds of the audience, forcing them to conduct a deeper analysis to generate answers to questions. The title of the movie is derived from the second question. The second question explains what might have led the young girl to act the way she did (Frederickson 169).
The modern girl is portrayed as an independent woman who was not vocal, but firm in her decisions. She was so political and aggressive. She was a liberated woman who was ready to challenge a man in various social fronts, including politics, economic, and social life (PBS 93). This brought about gender reconstruction because the media equated her behavior to those of a man, both physically and spiritually.
A careful review of her behavior shows that she was a cheerful woman seeking to expand her freedom (Wang 315). She was very aggressive, erotic, and full of emotions. In almost a decade, the modern girl became the subject of debate, especially in the media industry. From popular magazines to sensational newspaper articles, she was discussed in detail (Greg 80).
Journalists took advantage to increase their sales through publishing articles talking about the modern woman. The modern girl had long hair, with legs commonly referred to as a woman legs. From the artistic perspective, the modern girl combined Japanese, European and cosmopolitan fashions. The autonomy of the modern girl was not questionable. However, her cultural and sexual identity was the subject of debate (Nast 89).
The social injustices meted out to women in Japan explain why the modern girl did what she did. Historically, she was a producer, a consumer, and a political activist. She dressed in a western style, which indicated a shift in her culture (Mintz 25). By the end of 1920s, over eight thousand women were working as secretaries and clerical officers.
The number of employed women increased in various sectors, including educational sector, health sector, and office work (Lewin 25). The life of the modern girl had changed. The changes were attributed to legislation. Her aggressive behavior was seen through political activism and the dressing code.
The modern girl fought for her rights and freedom through engaging men in constant conflicts. She disobeyed the provisions of many cultures to achieve her objectives in the Japanese society (Borte 17). The status she holds in the modern society is a result of a well-deserved struggle.
Works Cited
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