Date of Award
Spring 6-13-2025
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in English
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, English and Literary Arts
First Advisor
Kristy L. Ulibarri
Second Advisor
Adam L. Rovner
Third Advisor
Rafael Fajardo
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Narrative, Dragon ball, Hunter x Hunter, Manga, One piece, Power system, Shōnen
Abstract
My thesis has two primary goals. First, it provides an overview of the history of manga as a medium, and manga studies as a field. In doing so, I observe a lack of terminological and methodological specificity. As a result, I provide a formalist approach to thematic criticism in order to address the above issues. Second, my thesis primarily centers on shōnen power systems and their narrative functions. Power systems are "magic rules" that determine how superhuman abilities mechanically function. I identify two main power systems in shōnen manga: spiritual manipulation and transformations. My thesis posits that shōnen manga authors utilize their power systems as characterizing motifs. Building on this, my thesis goes on to argue that power systems are also powerful thematizing and worldbuilding motifs. As a result, the closing chapter of my thesis discusses the worldbuilding capacity of the shōnen power system and the shōnen apocalypse.
Copyright Date
6-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Mario Da Silva Melo
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
107 pgs
File Size
5.5 MB
Recommended Citation
Da Silva Melo, Mario, "The Shōnen Apocalypse: An Analysis of the Shōnen Power System and Its Narrative Functions" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2556.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2556
Included in
Creative Writing Commons, Japanese Studies Commons, Other English Language and Literature Commons