Persona Though Lantern Slides

(#63)

So, who's that, you say? I wish I could tell ya', partner. Truth is I don't even know. All I know is that I'm a pretty simple fella', run shipments to the east every so often. We keep lotsa' boxes down in the hull but I couldn't tell you what's in 'em. I'm a loyal worker, see? I just get the job done and ask the questions later. That was until I got distracted by this pretty little flower. I don't know 'er, but I know they don't make women like this stateside. First set eyes on her 'bout five months ago. I was carryin' this box of something to one of the fisheries when I spotted her. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my whole life. Beautiful enough that I dropped whatever was in the box. I broke it. Captain said I was discharged and officially outta' work. So, now I'm going back to the land of the risin' sun. I gotta' find this lass and make her mine. I hope I find 'er. Got no job and all my money was dropped on gettin' here. God help me.

(#49)

It was somethin' outta' Huckleberry Finn or at least somethin' similar. This was snapped just moments after he dropped us off in this freakin' place. Except he didn't just take off immediately. I mean, how could he really? What, with that sorry excuse for an oar in his hand. Nah, he was just fishin'. Some modest fishin' if you ask me, though. Get this guy a proper paddle and a net so he can put something other than a bowl a' rice on the table. Don't even get me started on that dome cover. What is that? Looks to me like a salad bowl breedin' with a sun hat. Foolish, foolish people. Sunset sure is a beaut. In fact, this whole place is a pretty thing. Not so steamy and the airs' got less bugs flappin' around.

(#77)

Climbed up here to get my barrins'. Been awhile since we stopped in this port. Fella' who I showed the picture to said she played some sport but he didn't know where the court was. My translator, and my picture guy I suppose, did all the talkin'. Don't get the wrong idea, I don't speak a lick of whatever you'd call those silly noises. The land here is a sight if you couldn't already tell. Walkin' though the town felt cramped as the circles a hell, lemmie tell ya. Out west we like to place our stuff nice an' even. These folks treat their estates like they were bricks, one goin' on top of the other. Nature out here feels good, airs' clean. I was able to spot what looked like a basketball court in the westward corner of the place. Guess I'll start walkin'. Hope this is the right place.

(#64)

Oh, doggy. My girls' and athlete, too! Me and my buddy here just watched 'em all play for a little while. Thought my heart was gonna' blow up right outta' my chest. camera guy here, I saw his eyes shiftin' all around, but I only watched her. I knew she was the one. This aint' the normal sport watchin' crowd I'm used to back home. I can't quite think of the word I'm lookin' to describe it... encourageized? That aint' a word. Hmm, maybe just everyone takes less of a issue with cheerin' on the other team. Seems to me like they just havin' fun out there. Enough 'bout the team, tough. I'm about to meet my lovely bride - I just know it! I saw her dodge out to one of the buildings and she nere' came out. What's she doin' in there? Maybe her house? Now's my chance I suppose...

(#66)

Now, I'm pretty sure if you were around you'd be able to hear my very own heart snap. I slid aside that door, proud as a lion and found these two just layin' there. She ain't gonna' love me now. Hell, she doesn't even like my flavor a human! That's a doggone female layin' next to my woman! Who's a female! I wasn't sure if I felt mad, confused, or just heartbroken. They were just sleepin' there... so I told my guy to snap a snappy for later. That way I could at least see her face one last time. I wanted to wake 'er up just so she'd notice me but I let her sleep. I was a little freaked out, too. I slid the door closed and wandered around town, not sure where to go next...

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I wanted to create a southern inspired, more or less "simple" minded man who was driven by lust. I figured that this would allow him to have a reason to be curious about the environment while still maintaining a highly critical color of speech. He's impulsive and not very perceptive. In fact, if I met this slate in real life I'd probably think he was pretty boring. I don't think he likes Japan, just it's women. So, basically he's just interested in what he can gain from the east, ultimately. This was pretty fun, though!

Globetrotters' Analysis

#1: The integration of the Western and Eastern cultures is a hot topic at this point in the course. One must wonder: When two distinctly different cultures intermix, what new ideas will be produced? Culture is one of those all encompassing words, so answering that is impossible. but I can reveal what happens to the architecture! Looking to your left you will see the Grand Hotel located by the bay in Yokohama.

Light Googling revealed that no one is exactly sure who's responsible for this monster's construction, but it's commonly attributed to R.P. Bridgens. Sound American? He is American. The hotel's design reflects this. Overall, the arched windows and pointed roofs suggest a Victorian-esque design. The wrap around deck looks indefinitely Western, common in expansionist architecture. Frankly, the only Japanese aspect is the straw fence. And I don't even think that fence is a part of the hotel. Compare this to the bathhouses of the Japanese. They're built low among the trees, directly by the water. Their stone foundations literally shade them right into their natural environments. This building (design bias aside) sticks out like a sore thumb. It's structured kind of like this: Here is water. Now here is street. Then the hotel goes here. No tree touching. It lacks the organic qualities of the early Japanese architecture.

#2: Oh, wow. Just look at that one guy on the left. So far I haven't been able to look at him without laughing - he has no clue what is going on with his life. But, truthfully, the differences between shots of women and men are what's really interesting here. After looking through all of the Globetrotters' images of women, this picture really stands out. The geisha's look thoughtful and focused. So stoic, in fact, that they almost come off as melancholic.

These guys? They're not focused. Especially that guy on the left. There's no make-up, or weave in their hands - they're just hanging out! If a Japanese woman is ever depicted with an instrument they are holding it delicately. The man of the far right looks like he's trying to play Iron Maiden songs. Why is this distinction so clear? Better yet, is this distinction to be found in western cultures as well? I would say yes, it is. The women are to look beautiful and soft, while the guys... well... they have a lot of fun. It's difficult to call the ball and say that this idea was the intension of the photograph. Perhaps they were trying to make the Japanese culture more attractive to the fun loving men of the states. Either or, the dichotomy is worth discussing nonetheless.

Sources

Are here...

... and here!

Image Analysis #3

#1: This is the Tokaido, a quiet and expansive high way in Japan. We're told that the highway is rarely flanked by anything more then small cottage or town. More interesting, however, is mention of how no conventional trade is done via the Tokaido. One would typically look at this sweeping road and instantly assume that carriages passed over it daily. There are, as we're told, no carriages in Japan. Such information sets a much more humble, settled tone for this picture.

What's really being excluded here is technology. If carriages weren't being utilized then surely local trade was. Something interesting about this shot in particular is the fallen tree over the road. It resembles one of those wooden thresholds commonly associated with spirituality and prayer. This lack of tech and spiritual tone grant this picture a very organic and "Japan in the good-ol' days" kind of feel.

#2: "Honey, I heard the microwave go off, get the Stoffer's. Wheel of Fortune is almost on." *Ahem* Sorry, that was the typical American sitting down to dinner. Let's begin with some trivia: Do you you see an orgy of colors distracting all these beautiful faces? Nope. How about a large dinner table where everyone sits ten feet apart? Nay, sir. In fact, it looks like they pulled out their sock drawer and flipped it upside down - man is that a small dinner... surface?

The takeaway here is community and presentation. Four women, all delicately dressed, enjoying a snack a a close proximity. Their hair is also noteworthy, such high fashion tuning suggests that easting together is an event rather then just a routine step. The instruments, as well, say that people are really enjoying themselves, that's the point. Something that we do everyday without a second thought is rendered something aesthetically profound and ostentatious. But in good way, don't worry, ladies.

Sources are here...

... and here

Analysis of Trade Image

Japan had trade relations with many other regions including England, France and America. The painting shown here is decidedly Japanese with the thickly colored roofs and dark outlining. The coloring of both the sky and the water are also reminiscent of Japanese art style.

From the information gathered from this image, one can assume that relations were going well. The bays are bustling trade ports overseen by multicultural management. However, the scene still has tones of segregation. The different flags are arranged in a unified fashion, but the people are still displayed as a "type." The british are colored red, American's black and the Japanese are wearing traditional attire, sometimes harvesting boots and sun hats. This choice was probably not malicious, but used only to signify the new people's presence and intermingling with the natives. Pretty interesting picture, if you ask me.

Semiotic Images

#1:

If you couldn't tell from the beautifully immaculate walls and plentiful light placement, this photo was taken from a shopping mall in Japan. Oh, and the giant Godzilla (or, Gojira!) statue slathered in lights. The west, for whatever reason, rarely associates Christmas with the Japanese culture but here is evidence that most all cultures are still harassed by the bright lights and consumerist mind set of Christmas.

Godzilla seems like an odd choice, however. Where is the overweight man donning red hat and beard? Godzilla, more so than Santa Claus yields special importance to these people. Looking at this image from the denotative perspective yields little to talk about. The 1954 hit originated from Japanese director Ishirô Honda, pop culture references and a few decades of remakes signifies this beast as a Japanese staple. It's purpose is clear: most citizens who laid eyes on this probably cracked a smile or took a picture.

This humorous staging of such a menacing creature begins to brew the connotative reading of this image. Gojira, as some may know, is a visual conduit to the nuclear bomb tests that devastated the country more than 60 years ago. Weather american revisions of the film have clouded this original concept or not, I'm sure some look up to statue and recall the legitimate danger the creature once symbolized. But, look! Now he has bright lights on him! He's on a podium in a shopping mall. This contradictory staging not only adds to the humor but displays the immense recovery that the culture has seen since. A stretch? Perhaps, but certainly a concept that surpasses surface skimming.

#2:

Well, this certainly is irrational. We all know you don't look like that if you're a smoker. Obviously this is an ad for Lucky Strike cigarettes, popular among WWII allies due to their clandestine labeling. So, yes, we're told that they're good tasting, better than other brands. But let's look a little deeper, shall we?

Observe her calm, cool complexion. Her, "I couldn't possibly care if I wanted to" pose. If this ad was given dogmatic authority then smoking luckies will make us really cool. We'll be cool long, long before the lung cancer sets in. Looking at the image contextually (WWII) the simple naming of "Lucky Strikes" ensures that we'll be cool and have a reduced chance of taking a slug. Man, where's the downside?

Sources:

Here is the source for the first picture...

... and here is the second.