Not a lot of anime has impacted how I view life and society, probably because I watch many rom-com and shonen anime these days. But after watching Lookism on Netflix, I was inspired to write about the issues raised in the anime. From bullying to discrimination, Lookism perfectly captures reality in 2D and CGI animation.
Lookism isn't the only anime that addresses real-life issues head-on. The plots of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Death Note, Code Geass, and even Monster address these issues.
However, what distinguishes Lookism from the other shows is that it is a South Korean anime based on Park Tae Joon's popular webtoon.
Bullying and discrimination have long been topics of concern in South Korea.
While it occurs in other countries, South Korea frequently reports news of bullying and discrimination at the expense of a person's life, causing widespread outrage among the general public.
Because South Korea is sometimes known as the "cosmetic surgery capital of the world," many people, particularly idols and actors, are turning to plastic surgery in order to avoid bullying and discrimination and to become more accepted by society's standards.
How Did Lookism Accurately Depict Bullying?
You can tell from the anime's title that "lookism" is a term that refers to people's standards of beauty and physique and how they judge others based on whether or not they meet those standards.
If someone meets the standard, they will be treated well; if the opposite is true, they will be treated harshly.
While this type of treatment is unjust, it occurs in real life all over the world, despite strong efforts to prevent it from happening again.
Park Hyeong Seok, the main protagonist in the Lookism anime, is short and overweight, and he also wears glasses.
His appearance does not meet the standards of beauty and physique, which is why many people were against him.
Park Hyeong Seok is in a terrible situation in a school where the majority of students are skinny and attractive.
It also doesn't help that he does not stand up for himself no matter what is going on around him.
While Hyeong Seok is a kind person who has done nothing wrong in his life to deserve such bad treatment from others, his bullies continue to ruin his life, his well-being, and even his reputation.
Bullying is depicted so realistically in Lookism that scenes in which Hyeong Seok rolls around the floor like a pig while his bullies laugh at him are difficult to watch.
There is also a scene in which Hyeong Seok is frequently ripped off for money by his bullies.
Knowing that these things are truly happening somewhere around the world exacerbates the situation.
I don't understand why people bully others simply because they look different.
So far, I can speculate that bullies have a need for superiority or that looking down on others gives them a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
However, I still haven't found a good and acceptable reason they do this to others.
How Did Lookism Accurately Depict Discrimination?
Discrimination is likewise depicted very clearly in the anime, as demonstrated by Park Hyeong Seok's original and second bodies, as well as Deok Hwa's experiences.
People begin to see Park Hyeong Seok in a new light after he acquires a second body.
While girls see him as an animal rather than a human being in his original body, they behave differently in front of his second body.
They not only became kind and affectionate but also respectful toward him. This means that people respect people based on their beauty and physique.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not generalizing; there are still a lot of people who don't think that way.
It's just unfortunate that respect can be earned in the most inconvenient way.
Meanwhile, Deok Hwa's participation in the cultural festival competition demonstrates that his raw rapping talent comes in second to his physical appearance.
The talent agency not only ignored him but also blatantly told him that he would not have a successful career.
This type of discrimination occurs all the time, whether in the workplace, at school, or in other environments.
The cycle continues as more people focus on a person's appearance rather than what they can bring to the table.
As a result, it is understandable that many people are taking action to escape this kind of situation.
While some use plastic surgery to meet the expectations of others, others simply give up at the expense of their lives.
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