Ghouls as a Reflection of the Oppressed: Representations of Discrimination in the Anime Tokyo Ghoul

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-503-4_77How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Tokyo Ghoul; Power hierarchy; Internal discrimination; Sociology of literature; Social representation

Abstract

This study explores the representation of internal discrimination in the anime Tokyo Ghoul, adapted from the manga by Sui Ishida. While previous research has largely focused on the conflict between humans and ghouls or on the protagonist’s identity crisis, little attention has been paid to discrimination occurring within the ghoul community itself. This issue is significant because it highlights how marginalized groups may reproduce systems of domination within their own ranks. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method, with Tokyo Ghoul (2014–2018) as the primary data source, including dialogues, scenes, and visual elements that depict internal discrimination. Secondary data in the form of books, journals, and prior studies support the analysis. The framework of literary sociology is applied, viewing literature as part of social structures that reflect values, ideologies, and power relations. The findings reveal three main forms of internal discrimination: the reproduction of power by the elite group Aogiri Tree, the stigmatization of weak ghouls and “corpse eaters,” and the dual discrimination experienced by Kaneki Ken. The study concludes that Tokyo Ghoul represents not only vertical discrimination between humans and ghouls but also horizontal discrimination within marginalized groups. Thus, this research contributes to literary sociology studies and demonstrates how popular culture can serve as a medium to understand the complexities of social stratification.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - Rafli Ibrahim Perwirayuda
AU  - Zaki Ainul Fadli
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/19
TI  - Ghouls as a Reflection of the Oppressed: Representations of Discrimination in the Anime Tokyo Ghoul
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Culture and Sustainable Development (ICOCAS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 676
EP  - 683
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-503-4_77
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-503-4_77
ID  - Perwirayuda2025
ER  -