Stone Ocean: How They Communicate Underwater
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, the sixth part of Hirohiko Araki's iconic manga and anime series, takes place largely within and around Green Dolphin Street Prison in Florida. The unique setting introduces challenges, notably when characters are submerged underwater. Let's explore how these characters communicate when deprived of air.
The Nature of Stands
First, we need to consider the nature of Stands. Stands are psychic manifestations of a character's fighting spirit, giving them supernatural abilities. The extent of a Stand's power and its abilities vary, but many Stands offer practical solutions to environmental challenges, like surviving underwater.
A crucial point is that Stands are often extensions of their users' will. As such, the Stand's abilities can sometimes extend beyond simple fighting to encompass support and survival. Some Stands even facilitate communication in unique ways, which becomes extremely important when we discuss being underwater.
Direct Communication
In real-world situations, communication under water is difficult. Shouting and even specialized equipment don't always carry messages effectively. However, Stone Ocean sidesteps some of these challenges due to the extraordinary abilities granted by Stands.
One method that isn't employed often, but must be considered, is direct physical communication. Characters can, of course, grab each other, pull each other, or use hand signals. However, this is a fairly rudimentary method, limited to simple directions or warnings, and is primarily used during fights.
The Power of Stand Abilities for Communication
Much of the underwater communication in Stone Ocean relies on the specific capabilities of the characters' Stands. Let's explore some specific examples.
One example is Jolyne Cujoh's Stand, Stone Free. Stone Free allows Jolyne to unravel her body into strings. While the primary purpose is combat and mobility, these strings could theoretically be used to transmit vibrations or signals. Imagine Jolyne creating a string between herself and another person, then plucking it like a guitar string to convey a message in Morse code or other predetermined patterns. It's not explicitly shown, but the potential is there.
Another case is when a Stand directly affects water. This is less about communication and more about creating a habitable environment. A Stand that could manipulate water currents or create air pockets would allow for extended underwater activity and clearer lines of sight, making traditional communication methods (like hand signals) more effective.
Telepathic Connections
The JoJo's Bizarre Adventure universe hints at telepathic connections between Stand users, especially those with strong bonds. This isn't fully explained, but it's implied that a level of mental communication can occur, even without visual or auditory cues.
Therefore, characters that are connected by close relationships or those that have been through shared experiences could, potentially, communicate telepathically underwater. The extent of this is never fully shown and may come across as plot armor, but it remains a possibility that the narrative does not neglect.
The Role of Context and Intuition
A crucial element to consider is the context of any given situation and the characters' developed intuition. Often, in Stone Ocean, characters act without explicit communication. They anticipate each other's moves, understand unspoken cues, and react instinctively.
Consider the intense battle sequences that often take place underwater. The combatants are so focused on survival and achieving their objectives that they seem to act as a single unit, almost anticipating each other's moves without the need for explicit signals.
"It is a matter of survival. In such intense moments, the connection between Stand users heightens and the need for verbal communication diminishes,"
This is largely driven by the narrative requirements of fast-paced action and tension. However, it also speaks to the characters' developed skills and experience working together. The understanding may be more about mutual goals than direct communication, but it's a critical part of how they navigate the underwater environment.
The Importance of Visual Cues
While verbal communication is impossible, visual cues remain. Light travels through water, and characters can still see each other (unless visibility is severely limited). This means that body language, facial expressions, and even the movements of their Stands can convey important information.
Characters can signal distress, indicate a direction of travel, or warn of impending danger through gestures and posture. This requires awareness, quick thinking, and the ability to interpret subtle visual cues, but it's a key element of underwater interaction.
Limits and Inconsistencies
It's important to acknowledge that Stone Ocean, like any work of fiction, contains instances where the depiction of underwater communication might stretch the boundaries of believability. Sometimes, characters appear to understand each other perfectly, despite the lack of any clear means of communication.
This isn't necessarily a flaw. The focus of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is on creativity, outlandish abilities, and thrilling action, not strict adherence to realism. The suspension of disbelief is part of the appeal, and the occasional inconsistency can be forgiven in the service of a compelling story.
Conclusion
The methods of underwater communication in Stone Ocean vary from rudimentary physical contact to the more abstract possibilities of Stand abilities and telepathic connections. The characters' reliance on visual cues, intuitive understanding, and contextual awareness is significant, contributing to their ability to navigate underwater challenges.
While not always strictly realistic, the series showcases a variety of creative solutions, enhancing the tension and suspense of underwater scenarios. The absence of traditional conversation pushes the boundaries of how characters interact, deepening our insight into their relationships and resilience within the bizarre world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
