INSOMNIA(インソムニア) : EXPLAINED

Summary

In Eve's music video for 'Insomnia,' the protagonist Fui Sunow, an 18-year-old high schooler, grapples with trauma, dissociative identity disorder (DID), and mental illness. Struggling with physical ailments, depression, and a disturbing condition called Balloon Syndrome, Fui's psyche creates alternate identities, including a playful child version named Baby Fui. Through a series of surreal events and dreamlike realms, the video explores the deep psychological effects of childhood trauma and the creation of protective identities. Fui’s emotional journey reveals how mental illness, memory gaps, and identity struggles intertwine, culminating in a powerful, complex narrative.

Takeaways

• 😀 Trauma is metaphorically depicted as water in the script, with each individual having their own cup to contain it. The bigger the cup, the more trauma one can hold.
• 😀 The protagonist, Fuji Sonow, experiences both mental and physical illnesses, including fainting, nosebleeds, and possible eating disorders, which isolate him from others.
• 😀 Fuji's depression is shown through his messy room, lack of energy, and difficulty completing daily tasks, which reflects common symptoms of depression.
• 😀 Fuji suffers from **balloon syndrome**, a condition where he perceives real humans as having balloon heads but sees fictional characters normally, which makes him disconnected from reality.
• 😀 Fuji creates multiple personas to cope with trauma, including a child alter (Baby Fuji) and a parental figure (Mr. Creepy Pasta), symbolizing dissociative identity disorder (DID).
• 😀 Mr. Creepy Pasta, a Zingi figure, represents Fuji's emotional state and repressed memories. He acts as a parental figure that Fuji wished he had during childhood.
• 😀 The video alternates between the real world, depicted in dark green tones, and a colorful dream world representing Fuji’s subconscious experiences when he sleeps or sleepwalks.
• 😀 A pivotal moment in the video involves Fuji unknowingly committing violence while in his dissociative state, reflecting the nature of DID, where different identities can take control.
• 😀 The use of screen tones (dot patterns) in the dream world helps distinguish between the reality and Fuji's inner dream world or subconscious.
• 😀 The theme of emotional isolation is present, as Fuji struggles to cope with his trauma without a support system, leading to the creation of Baby Fuji and Mr. Creepy Pasta to help manage his feelings.
• 😀 The video concludes with Fuji gaining some clarity, but he remains in jail, highlighting the consequences of his actions and ongoing struggles with his past trauma and DID.
• 😀 Fuji’s confusion about the violence he committed aligns with the memory gaps typical of DID, where alters can act without the main personality's awareness, further explored through co-consciousness between Fuji and Baby Fuji.

Q & A

What is the main metaphor used in the video to describe trauma?

The video uses the metaphor of trauma being like water. Every person has a 'cup,' and as people grow older, they can handle more 'water' (trauma). A child, however, might struggle to manage the amount of trauma they're experiencing.

Who is Fui Sunow and what challenges does he face in the music video?

Fui Sunow is an 18-year-old high school boy who lives alone. He faces both physical and mental health issues, including frequent fainting, nosebleeds, and an eating disorder. He also suffers from depression and appears to have scars all over his body.

What is Balloon Syndrome, and how does it affect Fui Sunow?

Balloon Syndrome is a condition where Fui perceives the heads of real humans as balloons, making it difficult for him to connect emotionally with others. This visual distortion makes it hard for him to understand facial expressions and causes him to feel disconnected from the real world.

How does Fui Sunow's mental state manifest in the music video?

Fui's mental state is shown through his depression, his difficulty sleeping, his messy room, and his routine of attending therapy and taking medications. He also experiences a disconnection from reality, where his dream world contrasts with the harshness of his waking life.

Who is Mr. Creepy Pasta, and what role does he play in Fui Sunow's life?

Mr. Creepy Pasta is a Zingi, a supernatural entity in the Eve Cinematic Universe. He represents Fui's emotional state and desires, acting as a parental figure that Fui created in his mind to cope with his trauma. Mr. Creepy Pasta provides comfort to Fui in the dream world.

What does the music video suggest about the relationship between Fui Sunow and his traumatic childhood?

The video suggests that Fui Sunow created an alternate personality (Baby Fui) and a protective figure (Mr. Creepy Pasta) to shield himself from the trauma of his childhood, which included an abusive and alcoholic father. These alter egos allowed him to cope with his painful memories.

What is the significance of Fui Sunow's dissociative episodes in the story?

Fui's dissociative episodes, where he switches between his grown-up self and Baby Fui, suggest a potential case of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). These switches help Fui cope with trauma, as different 'alters' manage different emotional states and memories.

How does the visual style of the music video differentiate between the real world and the dream world?

The real world is depicted in dark, desaturated green tones, while the dream world is more colorful, with yellows and greens, and often features dot patterns resembling comic book screen tones. The black-and-white frames represent memories from Fui's past.

What happens during the incident at Shibuya Crossing, and how does it relate to Fui Sunow's mental state?

During the incident, Fui (or his alter, Baby Fui) appears to go on a violent spree at Shibuya Crossing, resulting in a public disturbance. This is tied to his dissociative episodes and the trauma he is trying to escape. Fui's confusion after the incident suggests he may not fully remember his actions due to the memory gaps caused by his DID.

How does the music video explore the concept of memory gaps and co-consciousness in people with DID?

The video explores memory gaps through Fui's inability to recall certain events, like the Shibuya incident. It also shows co-consciousness, where different alters (like Fui and Baby Fui) are aware of each other and may influence the protagonist's actions even when they aren't in full control.

What is the final resolution of the music video, and how does it relate to Fui's healing process?

In the end, Fui's 'Balloon Syndrome' is cured, and he is able to see people's heads clearly. However, he ends up in jail, suggesting that his violent outburst has consequences. Despite this, the video implies that with professional help, Fui can heal, as his struggles with trauma and identity are being addressed.