Thought: The Dead Moon Circus is a metaphor of the dangers of distractions

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Sep 10, 2012
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The Void
#1
In the manga, after the eclipse, and the Dead Moon Circus arrives, things in the general public seem normal, with exception of this new circus that arrives in town. Other than a tiger being released, the public seems to be ignorant of the dangers of this new enemy (with the their focus on attacking the Sailor Senshi rather than the civilians, directly).

But as trash is piling in the streets, people fail to notice Lemures lurking in the waste; the tent performances are so enthralling, they don't see exits vanish; and it is not until the circus tent is destroyed, where the real danger is revealed: the eclipse never ended and the Dark Moon was looming over Earth the entire time, corrupting the planet, while the public remained ignorant.

So that's my thinking when comparing to society. Throw something entertaining to distract people so they won't focus on something more important that is harming them.

Note: A figure of speech that I saw refer to this is called "Bread and circuses"
 

Rika-Chicchi

Staff member
Site Admin
May 7, 2009
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#2
That's a good metaphor, but in reality, the distractions themselves could be just as, if not even more, dangerous too, as they create new dangers to draw public attention away from the existing ones.
 
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Rika-Chicchi

Staff member
Site Admin
May 7, 2009
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#4
The Roman practice of entertaining Roman citizens with free wheat, as well as expensive circus shows, so that they'd be distracted and not pay attention to more urgent matters, such as politics.
"Circus is the opium of the people." lol
 
Apr 20, 2012
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skelenator-rainbow.tumblr.com
#5
The anime seems to agree with this interpretation, but goes in a different direction with it. I mean, just look at the conversation the Circus monsters have after the tent arrives in the first episode of SuperS:

Unicycle rider: "They haven't notice. They haven't noticed. They haven't noticed. The people here haven't noticed..."
Puffy cheeks monster: "They haven't noticed that they're dogs..."
Pink-haired lady monster: "They don't realize they're raising their children to be monkeys."
Green-faced man monster: "This place is filled with dogs and monkeys."
Mask-wearing monster: "Right in their midst..."
Bear headed lady: "...a circus is about to appear."
Juggler: "They don't realize it at all."
Wall of talking faces: Various male voices: "Why?" Lone Female voice: "Why is it?"
Mummy monster: "They're creatures that don't care about anything beyond the walls of their own rooms."
Twin monsters: "That's why!"
Small girl on top of lady's head: "Even if rats eat away the world..."
Dancing lady with girl on top of her head": "Even if a circus tent suddenly appears out of no where..."
Balloon lady: "No one in this city will even notice."

The main difference is the manga comments on how easily distracted people are, while the anime suggests people are so self-centered a distraction isn't even necessary. They're naturally oblivious.
 
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