Friday, September 09, 2005
Blog's Eye View
Meh, it's Friday night and I've got nothing. No plans, no ideas, nothing. I am somewhat disappointed but on the other hand, I don't need to go out every Fri/Sat night. Frankly, I can't afford it anyway. I guess there's always laundry. Or homework. HA...kidding, just laundry.
A pedestrian stop sign. I guess they assume we always watch our step?
The weekend is another story. It would be wasteful to sit around the dorm all weekend, so at some point tonight I've got to think up something to do or see for tomorrow. Ideally, it will involve another person but not necessarily. If I have to, I'd rather explore Japan alone than sit in the lounge with other inert students. What have I got on my to-do list? What haven't I got? Zoos, aquariums, temples, castle, you name it! I could go to Osaka or Kyoto, either one should be wildly entertaining. In theory, any trip could easy turn into an evening of liquor should I so desire.
In Western Views of Japan class today, I had another one of those introspective moments I'm prone to experiencing (typically in the middle of the professor's lecture). It stemmed from a discussion we were having of Lost in Translation. I'm a fan of the film but I've always been annoyed at the way the Japanese people were, more or less, ignored in the film. Some reviewers argued that it didn't matter because the movie was about isolation and detachment, but I still don't understand why the film couldn't have one three-dimensional, non-stereotypical Japanese character. I think it comes down to an issue of representation. American movies (maybe Western movies as a whole) routinely marginalize people from Asia and I'll never understand why.
Eh, I digress. The point is, no one thinks that Sofia Coppola is a racist or that she set out to make a racist statement. Yet the film she has created was clearly focused on the "otherness" of Japan and the Japanese. I started to wonder if my blog was guilty of the same thing. Am I writing too much about what makes Japan different from back home? Can I excuse this behavior by saying I just want to write about what's "interesting" and that means differences instead of similarities?
After thinking about it, I think my blog is about me first and Japan second. Yes, I talk (and photograph) the differences but I don't think I gloss over or omit the regular stuff in the process. Obviously, it is impossible to present a completely transparent, objective view of my surroundings, but I think I give a reasonably balanced perspective. You tell me, what do you think of Japan from reading this? Please, everyone and anyone reading this blog, leave a comment explaining your views. Seriously! I'm very curious and it's about time some of you readers starting pulling your weight.
A pedestrian stop sign. I guess they assume we always watch our step?
The weekend is another story. It would be wasteful to sit around the dorm all weekend, so at some point tonight I've got to think up something to do or see for tomorrow. Ideally, it will involve another person but not necessarily. If I have to, I'd rather explore Japan alone than sit in the lounge with other inert students. What have I got on my to-do list? What haven't I got? Zoos, aquariums, temples, castle, you name it! I could go to Osaka or Kyoto, either one should be wildly entertaining. In theory, any trip could easy turn into an evening of liquor should I so desire.
In Western Views of Japan class today, I had another one of those introspective moments I'm prone to experiencing (typically in the middle of the professor's lecture). It stemmed from a discussion we were having of Lost in Translation. I'm a fan of the film but I've always been annoyed at the way the Japanese people were, more or less, ignored in the film. Some reviewers argued that it didn't matter because the movie was about isolation and detachment, but I still don't understand why the film couldn't have one three-dimensional, non-stereotypical Japanese character. I think it comes down to an issue of representation. American movies (maybe Western movies as a whole) routinely marginalize people from Asia and I'll never understand why.
Eh, I digress. The point is, no one thinks that Sofia Coppola is a racist or that she set out to make a racist statement. Yet the film she has created was clearly focused on the "otherness" of Japan and the Japanese. I started to wonder if my blog was guilty of the same thing. Am I writing too much about what makes Japan different from back home? Can I excuse this behavior by saying I just want to write about what's "interesting" and that means differences instead of similarities?
After thinking about it, I think my blog is about me first and Japan second. Yes, I talk (and photograph) the differences but I don't think I gloss over or omit the regular stuff in the process. Obviously, it is impossible to present a completely transparent, objective view of my surroundings, but I think I give a reasonably balanced perspective. You tell me, what do you think of Japan from reading this? Please, everyone and anyone reading this blog, leave a comment explaining your views. Seriously! I'm very curious and it's about time some of you readers starting pulling your weight.
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What do I think of Japan from reading your blog? It looks like a very modern place, with some beautiful natural wonders. Polite service (I love the idea of that), and those everyday quirky differences like urinals in private homes that make living abroad kind of fun.
Talking about the differences there and 'otherness' is not bad in and of itself, it's the way your portray those differences. It is natural for you to do that, and it's even ok to get frustrated and pissed off by those differences once in a while. Just don't start in with ignorant comments like the ones I hear about France all the time (if it weren't for us they'd be speaking German right now...)
And yes, it is interesting to hear about the differences.
コメントがあります？ Type something, please. It's less work for me.Talking about the differences there and 'otherness' is not bad in and of itself, it's the way your portray those differences. It is natural for you to do that, and it's even ok to get frustrated and pissed off by those differences once in a while. Just don't start in with ignorant comments like the ones I hear about France all the time (if it weren't for us they'd be speaking German right now...)
And yes, it is interesting to hear about the differences.
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Be sociable! No sign-up is required!
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