Joa meine Analysen und Theorien halt woohoo

Official art

this picture fucks me up in so many ways like it genuinely makes you realize "oh they were kids and they grew up way too fast and were put in chairs that are way too big for them but they're still trying their best to fill the thrones these adults forced them into anyway"

the *way* it's reminiscent of a family photo or a school picture, like it is *very clear* the two boys are under the adults' influence and it's being *memorialized* as a visual portrait. even if their faces are relatively calm their loose fitting and eerily manicured clothes -- costumes, really -- and individual poses make you realize the differences in how each boy was treated by the mafia, and how that's been the plan all along. soukoku was a deliberately crafted set of diamonds in the rough that were made to polish one another, and yes that's poetic in how their partnership is so intricate, but it's also pretty insanely fucked up that from day one they were broken down to completely fill the other. with dazai his head was drilled into with game theory and logistics while chuuya's body was pushed to the literal brim bc of his supernatural ability. dazai sitting so composed and pensive relates to how he's being used for his intelligence and thereby suffers the mafia's abuses emotionally/psychologically, whereas chuuya is more splayed out and presenting more of his body, alluding to how the mafia's used him for his physical strength by contrast to his partner. the adults in the background with the semi-formal, relaxed attire (theyre both wearing formal wear, yes, but their outfits are in a state of undress: there're no suit jackets or overcoats, implying this is supposed to be a 'casual' setting but the riding crops theyre holding makes it *very obvious* thats not the case. the contrast transforms the scene into something sinister, especially when you consider how its all *deliberately* set up.

consider the symmetrical placement of the furniture, rug, and painting in the background. that in itself is unsettling in how *neat* it is, but subconsciously you also just *know* those chairs were moved there, you *know* the boys were dressed up as the mafias little protégés, and you *know* this is a commissioned picture. There *is* a cameraman gazing at this scene from the other side and is all too aware of *how* to capture the power dynamics in this shot. the fact that the adults have different expressions too -- with mori grinning and rimbaud frowning -- hints more on how fucked up this whole situation is, since they're both participating in the bringing up of these boys but they don't share the same motives or influence. it's very clear mori is the boss and therefore holds the most power here.

also the way the shot's centered on a dressed up soukoku as well, like they're products put up for advertisement and spectacle and you *know* it's meant to showcase dazai and chuuya, not as boys, but as *the mafia's property.* you can very easily see how they're being paired up to complement each other and they *do* work, yes, but it was drilled into them. mori gave dazai lectures. chuuya was trained to maximize his ability. they were *made* the way they are now and they've accepted it but how can *we* do that when all we're seeing, dead at the center, are two defenseless children buttressed between adults brandishing weapons of punishment?

it makes these other pictures with 'the couch' and skk even more disturbing. like man i cannot stop thinking about it.

okay i know i said end but also !!! the fucking painting in the background being a cage. the adults being gloved but the children not. the outfits specifically meant to highlight how juvenile yet 'proper' they are. THE FACT THAT THE CHAIRS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER BUT NEVER TOUCH !