Wednesday, October 12, 2005
James Cagney Punches Like A Girl
Bleh, this morning was the Oral portion of my Japanese language midterm exam. I wasn't particularly pleased by my performance but the teacher seemed to be complimentary. Maybe I did OK, maybe not. It was only 20% of the exam so even if I tanked it I could still pull out an A with tomorrow's written portion. I'm not worried either way. I'm way more nervous about the movie date I've planned with Mako afterwards.
Today I found out about a really cool offer available to exchange students through the University. It's a card that gets us free admission to dozens of interesting places around Osaka. Naturally, I immediately signed up for one and I received it by the time my classes were over. Several of the sights were already on my list of places to see, such as Osaka Castle and the Tennoji Zoo. The National Art Museum which I visited last month is on there too so that means I'm free to go back whenever I feel like it. Hooray for free culture!
Instead of rushing off to dinner after class today I stuck around campus for a viewing of some anti-Japanese media as part of my Media class. We watched two old cartoons: Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips and You're a Sap, Mr. Jap (starring Popeye). Both cartoons featured the heroes taking on scores of buck-toothed, bare-foot Japanese soldiers and dispatching them with great haste. While both cartoons featured racial stereotypes, I found the Bugs one to a little more disturbing because Bugs actually used racial slurs. In a way, Popeye was just doing his job (he is in the Navy after all).
The cartoons were merely a prelude to the main feature, Blood on the Sun starring James Cagney. This was actually my first experience watching a James Cagney movie and I found the whole thing a little ridiculous. Cagney's a pretty tiny little fellow but throughout the film he consistently manhandles any Japanese official or goon who dares get in his way, either with a Judo throw or with some incredibly limp-looking punches. I've seen fiercer struggles in elementary school yards.
As far as the movie goes, I don't think it's any more demeaning than most Hollywood pictures. Most of the Japanese characters are played by white actors in makeup and fake overbites and most of Japanese culture or life is presented in a "thank goodness you don't live there" manner. I think the only outright racist moment was when Cagney called someone a "monkey" but that was after he had been shot so he was obviously under a lot of stress at the time.
The movie ended and I was super hungry so I ate at the cheap ramen joint across from the main gate with a few other students who were in my class. I had another one of those "old" moments when we were laughing about the film which segued into jokes about other absurd patriotic films. Someone remarked, "I'm sure glad I didn't have to grow up during the Cold War." Since that only ended about fourteen years ago I asked when he grew up. Catching his misstatement, he clarified "Well, obviously I didn't care much about politics when I was three." Another student sarcastically joked, "Yeah, the Berlin Wall coming down was what I wanted for Christmas."
*shudder* I guess I should be grateful they even remember the Berlin Wall...
Today I found out about a really cool offer available to exchange students through the University. It's a card that gets us free admission to dozens of interesting places around Osaka. Naturally, I immediately signed up for one and I received it by the time my classes were over. Several of the sights were already on my list of places to see, such as Osaka Castle and the Tennoji Zoo. The National Art Museum which I visited last month is on there too so that means I'm free to go back whenever I feel like it. Hooray for free culture!
Instead of rushing off to dinner after class today I stuck around campus for a viewing of some anti-Japanese media as part of my Media class. We watched two old cartoons: Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips and You're a Sap, Mr. Jap (starring Popeye). Both cartoons featured the heroes taking on scores of buck-toothed, bare-foot Japanese soldiers and dispatching them with great haste. While both cartoons featured racial stereotypes, I found the Bugs one to a little more disturbing because Bugs actually used racial slurs. In a way, Popeye was just doing his job (he is in the Navy after all).
The cartoons were merely a prelude to the main feature, Blood on the Sun starring James Cagney. This was actually my first experience watching a James Cagney movie and I found the whole thing a little ridiculous. Cagney's a pretty tiny little fellow but throughout the film he consistently manhandles any Japanese official or goon who dares get in his way, either with a Judo throw or with some incredibly limp-looking punches. I've seen fiercer struggles in elementary school yards.
As far as the movie goes, I don't think it's any more demeaning than most Hollywood pictures. Most of the Japanese characters are played by white actors in makeup and fake overbites and most of Japanese culture or life is presented in a "thank goodness you don't live there" manner. I think the only outright racist moment was when Cagney called someone a "monkey" but that was after he had been shot so he was obviously under a lot of stress at the time.
The movie ended and I was super hungry so I ate at the cheap ramen joint across from the main gate with a few other students who were in my class. I had another one of those "old" moments when we were laughing about the film which segued into jokes about other absurd patriotic films. Someone remarked, "I'm sure glad I didn't have to grow up during the Cold War." Since that only ended about fourteen years ago I asked when he grew up. Catching his misstatement, he clarified "Well, obviously I didn't care much about politics when I was three." Another student sarcastically joked, "Yeah, the Berlin Wall coming down was what I wanted for Christmas."
*shudder* I guess I should be grateful they even remember the Berlin Wall...
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Do you guys look at representations of Japan from cultures other than America, or does "America" equal "the Media" in terms of your course?
More rain here today... :(
-h
More rain here today... :(
-h
The official title of the course is "GEISHA, GANGSTERS AND SAMURAI: IMAGES OF JAPAN
IN WESTERN FILM AND LITERATURE." So American media is not, officially speaking, the focus of the course. Given that the professor and most of the students are American we do tend to linger on American media, though we've also discussed things like The Mikado and people like Lafcadio Hearn.
I never know when it's going to rain here, although today was dry. I hope tomorrow is too.
IN WESTERN FILM AND LITERATURE." So American media is not, officially speaking, the focus of the course. Given that the professor and most of the students are American we do tend to linger on American media, though we've also discussed things like The Mikado and people like Lafcadio Hearn.
I never know when it's going to rain here, although today was dry. I hope tomorrow is too.
So are you suggesting that there are Japanese people who aren't buck toothed and barefoot?
Because all American men DO fight like James Cagney and win everytime.
Hoo-ah!
j/k
Later
Joe
Because all American men DO fight like James Cagney and win everytime.
Hoo-ah!
j/k
Later
Joe
Since you have never seen a James Cagney film. I will forgive the tittle of your post just this once.
James Cagney is King of the gangster movies Humphrey is the Prince.
James Cagney is King of the gangster movies Humphrey is the Prince.
Joe: Apparently Cagney was a Judo expert in real life. Makes sense, given his small stature.
Mystic: It's a good thing I didn't go with the original post title I picked! Somehow I would have found the film a bit more believable if had been Bogey. Any Cagney favorites you want to recommend?
コメントがあります？ Type something, please. It's less work for me.Mystic: It's a good thing I didn't go with the original post title I picked! Somehow I would have found the film a bit more believable if had been Bogey. Any Cagney favorites you want to recommend?
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