Lolita Charm: Momoko, Our Lady of Lolita

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Momoko, Our Lady of Lolita

Miss Lumpy and I have shared much of our lolita journey together. We started dressing about the same time; we met soon after. But my favorite memory of us? Watching Kamikaze Girls, frozen under a down comforter borrowed from our hotel, trying not to repeat all the words together as we sat in the Peace Plaze, SF, with a cup of green tea and a shared Japanese crepe between us.

What is it that so enchants us about Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogatari)? Miss Lumpy, in her recent companion piece Momoko Complex, says that she didn't consider herself a full lolita until she had watched it. And for me, it was my gateway drug into the person I am now - pinkhaired, lacy, and fully immersed into lolita and other feminine Japanese fashions.

Kamikaze Girls isn't just about lolita, though for many of us in the audience, lolita is the main reason we choose to watch it. It's our first experience with a 'real lolita' - or at least, much realer than a magazine shoot or a couple of street snaps, like many girls start out. The new lolita is hungrily looking for examples of how to live, for her own role model.

But almost everyone agrees that Momoko is not the ideal role model. For those of you who haven't seem the film yet, let's recap: on Momoko's rap sheet includes lying to her father to afford brand, disdaining everyone in her hometown, alienating herself from her classmates, and telling her mom to get a boob job. At the beginning of the movie, she's not exactly what you would call a pleasant person. And by the end, she's changed her priorities by laying it all on the line for her only friend, Ichigo. So yes, she has her transformation like a good dynamic character should. But even before she reveals herself to be a bat-wielding chick, we feel an affinity for her. Why is that?

For one, we identify with her lolita journey. We watch her blossom from an ordinary high schooler into a gorgeous sweet lifestyle lolita, swathed in her beaded bedroom and dreams of embroidery for Baby the Stars Shine Bright (she describes the process being similiar to being shot and then being reborn as a lolita). But more importantly, everyone can identify with her 'dark' side - the side that wants to be alone, the side that prefers to be a social misfit. The side that is selfish and gives herself her own happiness no matter what. As in the previous LC article 'Is Lolita Selfish?' we often cope with the fact that our frivolous hobby inconveniences the people we love either by money, our appearance, or our social constructs. Momoko embodies these things. And the viewer finds her to be endearing, perhaps not in spite of but because of these personality flaws. If we can see these flaws inside of us - the desire for only pretty things at any cost, to indulge in whatever we can to make ourselves happy and screw the rest, then perhaps we, like Momoko, can also find some modicum of redemption. I know there is disagreement on this topic, but I honestly believe that a desire to dress in lolita fashion is some innate, pyschological desire that we have yet to determine - not just 'clothes look pretty'. Many girls find the style cute, but don't want to dress in lolita - and still others aren't drawn to the style at all. Does our desire to dress in lolita clothes come from some kind of imaginary ideals about princess or ladylike purity, like Momoko's ideas of submerging herself in the fairytale-like world of Rococo and away from her broken home? Do we admire Momoko for her carefully built escape or for the fact that she had the courage to leave it?

Kamikaze Girls has always held a special place in my heart, from the cinematic style, to the coordinates, to the soundtrack. I recently ordered my first copy of the novel, so when I've finished it I'll post my thoughts about it. I've heard it's even better than the movie, so I'm excited!

By the way, if you want to watch the movie, you can watch it in parts on Youtube - or you can purchase a copy from Borders, Amazon.com, etc.

Labels: discussion, kamikaze girls

8 Comments:

At April 10, 2010 at 10:17 PM , Heathy-chan said...: I just got the manga a few days ago. :)
At April 11, 2010 at 7:50 AM , Hello Naka said...: ahh i love that film :3
At April 11, 2010 at 8:29 AM , 88's said...: I've read both the novel and the manga, and of course, I've watched the film, and I kind of felt the same that Miss Lumpy said, that I couldn't really consider myself as Lolita til I watched it.
And I felt in love with Momoko (and Ichigo!!). Well, she may not be a behaviour model, but sure she's a strong character! She has built her own personality, and I admire the way she manages herselft aside from other's opinion.
And about the book: it's way better than the film, since you can actually listen to Momoko thoughts (if you thought Momoko was frank, wait to read what she says on the book!). It's absolutely gorgeous.

Thaks for your blog, I love to read it, but this is the first time I dare to write anything ^^

Take care!
At April 11, 2010 at 5:42 PM , Psu said...: I've read the novel about 5 times (it was the first book I read in English, by the way! (L)) and it's always so charming and inspirational. And of course, I have the film always in my netbook, ready to be watched anytime, hahaha!

We all love Momoko because, well, maybe she's not the typical Lolita (oh so sweet, oh so friendly), but she believes in herself so strongly! And that's something we all would like to have.

Sorry for my bad english and explanation .___.
At April 11, 2010 at 6:25 PM , theblackram said...: Haha it's funny, I find myself drawn to Ichigo mostly. But I adore Momoko's character as well, they just work perfectly together as a duo! They're sort of like the ID and superego battling it out, Momoko as the ID and Ichigo as the superego. But right now it's too nice out to get all psychological <3

The novel is amazing, one of my favorite reads. I read it before I saw the movie...and amazingly, Ilove the movie just as much! I think you will enjoy it greatly!
At April 12, 2010 at 1:33 AM , Victoria Suzanne said...: @Kate Madalene: Interesting analysis with Momoko as the id and Ichigo as the superego! Momoko wants what she wants now, while Ichigo has all these lofty ideals about honor and what it means to be a yanki. Huh, I like that! Hopefully Ichigo will get her analyis on LC one of these days too :)

@Psu: That's true, she definitely doesn't ever doubt herself!

@Harris: thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you like and decided to comment! I can't wait for my book to come in, I'm excited :D
At April 12, 2010 at 6:45 PM , Carolina said...: I also love the movie, and I feel the same about not being a "complete" lolita until I watched it. I bought the book last december, and it arrived 3 months later - ugh, made me so anxious. But it was worth the wait, it's fabulous. I need to get the manga - and I hope the sequel is translated soon!
At April 13, 2010 at 5:58 PM , beata-beatrixx said...: I think what needs to be emphasized about Momoko is not her idealistic and solitary lifestyle at the beginning of the film, but the youthful resolve and burgeoning friendship she shares with Ichigo toward the end. They're both outsiders but are not ashamed and still find good in others and themselves. I feel like Momoko appreciates life, and clothing/personal expression, far more at the end than in the beginning, as seen by her gift to Ichigo of a yanki jacket.

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Momoko, Our Lady of Lolita

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