What does "Lycoris Recoil" tell us about absurd demotion?
Introduction
This article considers the absurd demotion within the organisation from the TV animation "Lycoris Recoil" (『リコリス・リコイル』, 2022).
The two protagonists of "Lycoris Recoil" are Chisato (錦木千束) and Takina (井ノ上たきな). Their organisation, "Lycoris", is an execution unit of the security organisation, DA (Direct Attack).
In the first episode, Takina ignores a violation of a standby order, opens fire and subdues the enemy. Despite her achievement, Takina is removed from her team for violating the order and assigned to work for Chisato at "Sweets&Cafe LycoReco" (喫茶リコリコ). This is a so-called 'demotion'.
Absurd demotion for Takina
From Takina's point of view, the punishment of demotion despite her achievements is absurd. She has no doubt that the shooting action she took, even though it was against orders, produced the most reasonable result.
Takina requests the organisation to return her to her original team while working at her new posting, "Sweets&Cafe LycoReco". However, this punishment is not overturned.
What is important here is Takina's point of view and another, that of her superior, Commander Kusunoki (楠木). From Takina's point of view, the punishment may be absurd, but from her superior's point of view, it may be an unwilling but inconveniently convenient punishment. However, Takina, who has been punished, has no way of knowing, nor should she be told, the background to why the punishment was given.
Takina finds a new place through demotion
The story brings a different perspective to the absurd and negative punishment of 'demotion'. By the time the story reaches its climax, Chisato and Takina have developed a strong bond. When it is revealed that Chisato's heart has only a short time left to live, the viewer watches their activities with a truly heart-wrenching feeling. Although Takina feels the absurdity of her demotion, she begins to find her place in "Sweets&Cafe LycoReco" with Chisato.
Conclusion
A good story illuminates a phenomenon from a different aspect and brings a new way of looking at it. The same phenomenon can be viewed negatively and positively at the same time.
Absurd demotions, such as the one Takina suffered, could well happen in a real organization. And there are different perspectives at the field level (direct results) and the organisational level (interconnected overall optimisation). Therefore, this shows that an individual does not necessarily have to be overly demeaning just because an absurd demotion has been handed down.
Evaluations and disciplinary actions within organisations are not always justified. However, we all have a desire to have fair evaluations and punishments. Organisations are therefore places where the desires of their members are reconciled.
この記事が気に入ったらサポートをしてみませんか？