Parting Point.
" While still living in the academy, will never grow. " Akio Otori.
What symbolizes the Otori Academy in the Utena series? It depends. In the TV series is precisely that comfort zone where we hide, that we think cares for us and protects us but it is actually quite harmful. It can be as physical as the room can be as abstract as a way of thinking. Sometimes it is something beyond our awareness and control as the same process of adolescence to maturity for which we all, some more than once in his life, perhaps the same evolutionary process. It could even be a situation where one is found, something that does not know (or will not) let go. Some sense, perhaps. However, in the film, this symbolism is shared with an equally clear and strong: the mental state of Utena. At the beginning of the movie the wall move, the structures resemble body parts, and at times the "shadows" remind us of blood stains use whatever shades or decorative elements, and now toward the end, when Utena is determined to leave the academy, the walls are fixed, firm.
" never happens nothing wrong Otori Academy." - Kanae Otori.
I'm going to focus more on the significance of the academy in the series I think is a very powerful meaning the contrast between "the academy" and "outside world" .
As stated by Kanae: the academy is a place that protects students, the care of any pain, everyone is happy, is a renowned academy. In the manga it is stated that the Academy admits students only rich, they are all beautiful and there is an aristocratic air. This is clear in both the manga and in the series, since the subject of the "princes" is always present. In the manga, the student members of the rabbit is affectionately called "princes" and both works have special uniforms evoke the same reasons used by the princes details. This uniform, but certainly enough men, can be used by both men and women, but women who wear this uniform are strong, successful, can defend, in other words, are women, but not weak and helpless, they are damsels in distress. They are princes too.
Otori Academy, then, is like living a fairy tale: there are princes, princesses, duels, battles for power. And in a fairy tale, there's always a happy ending. I could relate my own experience, a practical example (and perhaps clearer) than it is to be the academy: the small world of the role. Not those who make the world of role, but that no tangible space where everyone can be an invincible warrior, a beautiful woman, a powerful magician. We the belief that we can manipulate and master all circumstances and come out winning. We all believe that are our friends, the family which we become special friends even though we have not seen anyone in real life, though not physically live with them daily. Everything is through a computer. It is worth mentioning that I'm not saying there not to see those people is a fantasy that could not be functional "outside world" (note the use of this phrase in particular). However, when one knows a friend of the role, knows out, touches, sees, feels physically. It is real, tangible.
's world role is a hobby. It's a game, is a distraction. It is as if one really believed that is Princess Peach and Mario are going to marry her to find her in the castle when playing Mario Brothers, so to speak. But why it feels so real or why it affects real life anyway? Why is a more complex game, is an interactive game where you risk your soul, but no longer a game, after all.
The same applies to the academy. Within this Academy is the game of dueling, the council members fighting each other for the prize: the power that will give you anything your heart desires. Security protection that gives them their status, are fighting over and over again, betting its very essence, their status. We see these symbols when we have the Castle where God dwells, a castle out of the sky toward the ground inside a castle. The way I interpret it is: a dream, a dream in the air, a dream with basics, but distorted. We seek the realization of that dream, that goal in the wrong place at the wrong people the wrong way. A beautiful castle, promising but unstable.
Also, within the school Otori is another symbol that it's worth noting: the tower of the observatory. This is the highest point in the whole school, from there you can see the whole picture not only offered, but to close the dome, you can see the stars, which, curiously, are false. It is a phallic symbol in all its glory, which can later relate to other meanings that help us discover what actually happens.
(bad joke: Akio is a dick.)
eventually revealed to be within that very large observatory where duels are carried out, the castle, sand, everything is an optical illusion from there. Akio live there. The tower is the address of the school. Symbolizes power, symbolizing the top of everything. And the top is misleading, a death trap. However, well-intentioned power is very helpful, but, since this is located within the Otori Academy, within that small world of fairy done only two or three know the secret ... is very dangerous.
Finally, I would like to end with another quote that always over Akio I liked:
" Ohtori Academy. It's like a beautiful prison right? The students obey rules insignificant and yet are surrounded by comfort. A júala fit for a king. It's easy to forget the real world that awaits us just beyond the prison bars. "
What Akio tries to tell us? Just that: the academy is a prison fit for a king. We have to just step outside the doors of college to get a life real. Outside the comfort zone. Where we are truly free.
