O CORPO EM ESCAPE DO CONCRETO: REFLEXÕES SOBRE O HORROR DA MULHER-MONSTRO “TOMIE”

THE BODY AS IT ESCAPES THE CONCRETE: REFLECTIONS ON THE HORROR OF THE MONSTROUS-WOMAN “TOMIE”

Abstract

This article analyzes Tomie (2016) by Junji Ito from a feminist perspective, exploring the representation of the character Tomie as a monstrous-woman. The narrative of Tomie revolves around her infinite regeneration after being dismembered, usually by men who desire her, creating new versions of herself. The analysis reflects on how this characteristic subverts the notion of vulnerability—since, despite being "immortal," Tomie still feels pain and is subjected to continuous violence, placing her in a liminal space between agency and passivity—and challenges traditional processes of identification in horror by narrating the story from the perspective of the perpetrator (the one who dismembers) and framing them as the victim. Drawing on theorists such as Julia Kristeva, Judith Butler, and Barbara Creed, the text critiques traditional dichotomies—such as victim/villain and human/monster—and argues that Tomie is an abject figure who defies gender and identity norms. Her monstrosity, as well as the fascination she inspires, are tied to her refusal to conform to fixed social roles and her ability to escape the constraints imposed on the female body. Her multiple and undefined existence challenges materiality and symbolizes an "escape from the concrete," both literally and metaphorically.