In Praise of Shadows

a.  Present what you think is the main point of the essay.

The main feeling this essay evoked for me was that of slowing down, stopping to smell the roses, if you will. The point was breaking down the simplest things into very small parts, such minute details that even the action of trying to observe every single aspect of an action or object turns into an act of meditation. Taking painstaking effort in picking out the details of a seemingly ordinary object or setup was a staple for the author, from the layout of a room to a toilet, and through all this taking into account the lighting, sounds, and overall atmosphere that completed the scene before them. This atmosphere seems to be the most important aspect of them all--without the proper setting, this "slowing down" may not have been able to occur. If not for the setting so perfect it suddenly hits someone, one would not suddenly stop to hear the buzzing of mosquitoes, trickling of water, or moss growing on rocks. 

b.  Discuss two items/discussions from the essay that you found interesting, and post images that illustrate points made by Tanizaki.  Even if you don’t necessarily agree with his points, try to find images that illustrate the points from his perspective.    

I'm going to write this in the most professional sense possible. It seems very silly to write about toilets, but that is exactly why I was interested by the discussion. Something very simple and everyday turned into a meditative moment. I remember this image I found a while back, it was captioned, 'this would be the most glorious bathroom break.' As ridiculous as it sounds, this part in the essay made me think of it: 

"No words can describe that sensation as one sits in the dim light, basking in the faint glow reflected from the shoji, lost in meditation or gazing out at the garden. The novelist Natsume Sōseki counted his morning trips to the toilet a great pleasure, “a physiological delight” he called it. And surely there could be no better place to savor this pleasure than a Japanese toilet where, surrounded by tranquil walls and finely grained wood, one looks out upon blue skies and green leaves."

I remember in one essay we read the Japanese regarded the western tradition of bringing a newspaper or book into the toilet as odd. I personally agree with this regard because I feel sometimes people need to take the time to stop and take themselves away from everything. While I don't think western toilets have the same atmosphere as the Japanese toilets described in this essay, I do think that there are many things people can stop and mediate over.

This is a photo I took. It seems very simple, but I took it for a very specific reason. I was pretty busy this day, but the lighting and atmosphere of this room suddenly struck me, and I had to stop to try to capture it. There is seemingly no care into how this room was put together, no traditional or modern look that anyone was going for, but even still the aesthetic still struck me as something serene and noteworthy. I really resonated with this essay in the sense that I do notice the small things in life and stop to appreciate them. The way the light shines softly through the curtains, the way the room is so carelessly kept evokes a homey sense, the combination of the light reflecting off the hardwood floor and table makes me want to stop and sit down for a while. The house itself was once a home, an old Victorian turned dorm, even when it was changed so much to become more functional and an apartment, the aspects that scream home still linger and remain present. 

The way I set my dorm up is also reflective of this. I yearn for the warm glow of home. As such, I work for an aesthetic that evokes softness, a yearning to be cozy, to relax and feel at peace. To do this I start with the lighting, just as the author so often mentions. I don't use the harsh overhead lighting and instead use Christmas lights, the glow of an artificial fireplace from my TV screen, and a scattering of smaller glowing salt and lava lamps. This essay really made me realize how much work I put in to have the perfect atmosphere, paying attention to the minute details in order to create the ideal mediation zone to live my life and complete my work.

c.  Present one or two questions or topics for discussion in class.  You can include points he makes where you don’t understand what he’s trying to say.

This essay really made me think of how often people miss the little things. It seems that today not many people slow down or ever stop to appreciate the atmosphere of a room or place or action. So many times people are absorbed in their phones, even when going to the toilet. My question is: what settings today truly take people away from their technology, and have such a strong pull that it stops people in their tracks so that they actually take the time to appreciate it? What stuns people into a meditation moment?

"Dorothy" in Japan: Mom-to-be with Baby Fever

Meet Dorothy:

Dorothy is a mom-to-be enjoying one last trip around the globe before finally settling down with her family back in America. Because she is so enthusiastic about her child on the way, she just can't take her mind off all things children for one minute, not even when travelling and exploring a new country. Obviously sporting a massive interest in children, she decides to spruce up her new nursery with some memorabilia from Japan, including an authentic photo album featuring Japanese children. She is looking forward to raising her future child, and so looks to find inspiration from what she sees in the images.

((Image analyses will first be written from Dorothy's perspective, followed by my own in the following paragraph underneath.))

Photo #1: "Japanese Baby"

This photo is so adorable. There is nothing more beautiful than a child at play. I can't tell if this is a boy or a girl though--the haircut is very odd and so are the clothes. It seems like it should be a girl, but that's definitely not how I would dress a young girl. She doesn't even wear a diaper or any kind of pants at all. the child is also playing in water with a boat, which seems like more of a boy's activity. If this is a girl, she should go play with dolls. However, it may just be that the Japanese aren't really advanced enough to have stricter gender roles in children? I don't want to judge because she's just a little girl, but I think females should be treated more gently so they grow up to be more feminine.

This picture depicts a "young child laughing and playing with [a] boat that is in a tub of water". I'm really wondering about the water in that tub; it doesn't look like real water at all, but that may just be because of the way it has been colored in. The photo itself is very simple--there are no extra props in the background, no apparent setting or scenery, the only thing to focus on is the child, the tub, and the boat. I believe the child's gender to be a bit ambiguous, but I would also say that it is a girl.

Photo #2: "Japanese Children" (Boy and Girl among the Chrysanthemums)

This photo is so adorable, the children look like a little couple. It is almost as if someone took two adults  and shrunk them down to size before snapping this picture. I find it weird that the children wear almost the exact same things as the adults, but it does give them an interesting kind of mature look. This reminds me of those photo shoots you can get done with your children at a young age, something I would really like to invest in. Maybe even replicating a shot like this!

This image features a "young girl and boy dressed in kimono sitting on a bench, surrounded by chrysanthemums". The two appear to be staged in a garden of sorts, however all the plants look to be potted and not actually outside. The chrysanthemums are colored to be a very vibrant magenta, almost unnaturally so. However the color of the girl's kimono and obi seems to balance it out nicely.

Photo #3: "School Children" (School children sitting on the edge of a porch laughing)

I love the colors in this one. The dress in this country is so elaborate and interesting. The boys and girls basically wear the same things, save for some color changes I guess. It is nice to see the kids spending time outside in the sun, and this picture makes me think of my family in a few years, sitting on our front porch before or after school. This doesn't look like a family though, so it makes me think of all of my future child's friends coming over to play after school is out. I think if that happens, I would like to take a photo like this one of them all sitting out together.

This shot is described as "children in kimono laughing". This photo, unlike the others, appears to have actually been taken outside. While the children and the chrysanthemums photo may have also been taken outside, the way the lighting is in this photo seems more convincing to me. The coloring in this photo is also admirable, and I think that this one out of all five chosen looks the most natural. There are two boys and two girls (I'm assuming the baby is a girl based on sock color) all sporting satchels, perhaps schoolbags. They do not wear just kimono but also hakama, which interests me a lot. There are a few occasions when one would wear hakama, but I really don't know enough about Japanese 'dress codes' to be sure of any idea I may have in my mind as to why these children would be wearing them for any special reason. In any case, the girl on the right also holds a pink umbrella, and the boys on the left both have hats in their hands that look very western.

Photo #4: --No Title--

Such a shame the photographer did not name this photo. I really enjoy all the colors here, and the bows in the girls' hair are so adorable. This country really seems to emphasize cuteness of their little girls since they dress them up so elaborately every day. They all look like beautiful dolls, just like the ones in their arms. Such a big difference from the first photo, I must have been wrong. If the Japanese treat their girls like this, then that must have been a boy in the first photo. They have such serene motherly looks on their faces--I am reminded of me when I look at the girl cradling her baby doll in her arms. All I want is my baby to come already, to become the mother I was meant to be!

This image features "two girls in kimono, playing with dolls". The image has been heavily colored to showcase the fabric of their clothing and the dolls' clothing as well. The girls are seated very close to one another, one gazing down at her doll as she cradles it in a mother-like embrace while the other reaches down to perhaps fix the hem of her dolls clothes. This is another image that looks very posed. I feel that if the girls were truly playing, they would be having a bit more fun than their solemn downcast eyes suggest. This image does an amazing job of painting the picture of Japanese girls being delicate dolls to foreigners.

Photo #5: "Tsusrumaki Primary School, Tokio, Lesson in Etiquette"

What a dream to have a child as obedient as the ones in this photograph. In America, I don't think anything like this exists today, and I am afraid my child will grow up to be a troublemaker. When that time comes, I think I can show them this photo so they can see what good children look like in Japan. It is good that in Japan they teach their girls to be so respectful, ladylike, and civilized. It also surprised me to see such a primitive country so invested in discipline, although I suppose when I think about it now they probably have to be or else they would all be wild.

This last shot is decribed as "group of girls in tatami room watching as another pair of girls perform for their two teachers". The room seems to be quite large alongside having tatami as the flooring, so my assumption would be that this school is at the very least fairly respectable. All the girls in the class are seated seiza style, which is important to learn at a young age in Japan because it can be extremely uncomfortable for someone who is not used to doing it. Their hair is neatly tied back, almost all of the decorating it with bows. Their posture speaks discipline and respect, even when not performing in front of the teacher.