Assignment for Thursday, February 19

I chose print 18, the image if Bodhidharma. I was especially interested in the physical features he was depicted with. His claw-like feet and animal-like features came across as an odd choice for a Buddha-associated figure. However, The eyes are unique in comparison to the other prints, and this print is very worn but in relatively good condition.

Assignment for Thursday, February 12

Small Japanese living rooms.

Young Japanese girls learn to serve tea at an early age.

People practicing traditional Japanese sword fighting

Japan's unique architecture used in modern day

Due to Japan's close relationship with nature, teachers usually hold class outside.

random quote from "women" in people section

“Geisha who are trotted out to perform before the average European might shock even many women who call themselves broad-minded; they coquette, flirt, and fling themselves about. They are little better, in fact, that the European music-hall people who profane the world by calling themselves artists; still they are better, and they act in that way because Europeans have taught them to do it. The European man has ruined the morality of the Japanese, and they will probably never regain it.” (p. 115)

More people & places- Out of place assignment Feb 5h

I like the image for it's statement about classicism. I mean to say; that the women being carried is obviously some sort of wealthy, because she can afford the man-drawn- carriage. However, it is not nearly as elaborate or "fancy" a other ones i had seen in test and film. Which leads me to deduce that she is   as wealthy of others.

For this image, i enjoyed the lighting and the architecture itself in the cemetery. This partly stood out to me because i was curious about Japanese cemetery customs and the word itself. 

Assignment for Tuesday, February 10

places:

I was interested in this one because i was wondering about the relationship between the people and the Buddha, in terms of religious idols.I had heard stories of people resting in the eye of gigantic Buddha sculptures and wondered if it was a tourist thing or if people who followed Buddhism did similarly. 

I enjoyed this image because i often see these type of images in relation to older Japan towns and in more present-day rural areas. So for me,  this kind of thing is synonymous with older american farmers. but can be seen as exotic and lower class.

unrelated to the places and people visual narratives, it was just so odd seeing this description, in relation to present day.

I chose the first picture plane because i found the breakdown interesting, (http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/yokohama/yb_essay04.html).In general, the recognizable tropes of a wood block print are unique among other art-forms. 

Aside from the prostitute, i found this one important in terms of signifies. Here, we see the courtesan( call girl) is noticeable more submissive in her body language.  By this i mean her hunching/lowering back, and gentle manor of holding her kimono and the patron's arm.  It is also worth noting that the depiction of Americans has changed from the early renditions of Perry. The man looks more human but there is notable different from him and the Japanese people.