It’s a way to have your cake and eat it too. Sorry if I’m a little cynical on this issue, but I’ve been exposed to so much “art” that also is designed to titillate and appeal to our worst senses- and if you inquire as to the “artisitc” purpose you find the purpose actually is to titillate- although usually they then have something else going on as well which provides “contrast” and thus elevates it from pornography to “art”.

While I comprehend it intellectually, I find it disturbing morally.

So I don’t think we are in real disagreement here. The main difference is that I go ahead and give the artist their “intellectual” due- and then savage them on other, more important elements.

Intellectualism can be a great addition to a good story, but it can’t carry a story by itself. To many artists today don’t understand that. Art is supposed to speak to something beyond our intellect. If it doesn’t inspire, uplift, soothe, or provide catharsis (or some other similar effect) then what was the point? Art that only shocks is to my mind a poor piece of art. If art shocks, and then also does something else, then it can have value.

Consider the first episode of Cross Game, which is shocking, but then leads to a catharsis with the ending song. Very little of Cross Game can be considered “intellectual”, it’s too simple for that. Yet it’s one of the better pieces of art in anime that I’ve ever seen.

Or if you prefer comparing Elfin Lied to another “dark” anime, then compare it to Fullmetal Alchemist. Also very dark, with pretty graphic violence. But I never felt it was gratuitous, it engages the intellect, but also emotions at the same time. The gore is actually necessary to tell a story that is truly worth telling. How do you deal with evil in the world? How do you deal with sin? Can you repent? Should you give up on a just vengeance? How do you forgive?

Those are some real questions that need answers. Elfin Lied could have addressed them, but mostly didn’t. At most it lightly touched on them, and then moved on to the next juxtaposition of cute girls in a harem anime with the graphic violence of a horror slasher fic.

Sorry… I started ranting. I got to go to bed. But I guess I might as well post it. Like I said, I doubt we are that far apart in our view on Elfin Lied, we just come at it from different directions.

I can understand your perspective about the violence, and that’s why I was a bit hesitant and explained that I just can’t tolerate blood and gore very well, but the nudity? I don’t think it’s excessive to call it fanservice.

So I thought the “artistic” element was completely necessitating the gratuity.

That’s why I hated it, and gave it a 2 out of 10. (Not a 1 because I admit it was well made)

I have no desire to experience an artsy manipulation of my mind and feelings that then concludes that the world we live in is evil, all is hopeless, and we’d all be better off dead- which was what the atmosphere of the show communicated to me (at that point I could care less what the storyline was trying to say).

The only reason I watched to the end is because I know that with horror shows my nightmares will be far worse than whatever ending the producer might give to the show.

My recommendation to people about this show is to not watch it. (Although occasionally I’ll sarcastically mention it when it superficially matches a request).