This is and example of Japanese aesthetic fashion. The dress worn in the picture is know as a Kimono. It is know as the, "original Japanese clothing." Uncomfortable and now regarded as "dress up" clothes, Kimonos are typically not worn regularly. Terms:
-Bigaku- Describes the ideal beauty of Japan. The ideal image of beauty today is merely a reflection of western society rather then the traditional image of beauty from there history. In short the Japanese culture seems to be loosing the simplistic aesthetics of their tradition.
-Kisetsu- Describes the four seasons and the affect they have had and still have today on Japanese society.
-Otogibanashi- Folktales of Japan. Usually, point back to traditional ways.
-Wabi Sabi- the simple beauty
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) Set in 1920’s Kyoto’s Gion destrict
1. Today’s Japan is very much like the West. The Japanese wear jeans and T-shirts, listen to Hip Hop, dance at the club to the dance music, sit on the couch, etc. In modern Japan, geisha in Kyoto Gion district symbolize the old, traditional Japan. What kind of arts and lifestyle of traditional Japan does geisha, “a person of art,” maintain and practice?
The Geisha maintained the aesthetic arts, which are the arts of simplicity. Not sure if Geisha are common today or if they follow the aeshetics, but in the movie the Geisha's practices were seen. The roll of the Geisha was to entertain men with there skills and beauty. In order to do this the Geisha had to practice their skills regularly in order to maintain them. It is strange though that the Geisha are an example of the simple beauty of Japan when indeed there preparation with makeup and such is not a simple process, or as one would conceive, an easy one. Then again maybe the 'simple beauty' is not found for the Geisha but rather for only in the eyes of males proceeding minds. To clarify, i mean that if a woman (Geisha) appears to be seamless and without defects she may indeed seem simply beautiful, but if she has a defective appearance with of any it may draw the mind off from seeing plain (simple) beauty to beauty with a defect. A defect, whether it be physically on the body or have to do with apparel may cause tangents in mens thoughts. Thus simple beauty may have to do mostly with mens mental interpretation of beauty without flaw rather then simple beauty meaning the beauty for Geisha is a simple process. In short the Geisha work long in hard to master their practices of skills and image to hopefully dismiss a possible defect with their practices. Thus, their skills will seem natural and in turn simple.
2. Considering Bigaku, the Japanese sense of aware means “people are aware of the beauty of full blossoms, of course, but are more touched and deeply moved when these blooms are falling or beginning to wilt” (p.37). Can you find a moment in which you can relate to this Japanese aware in your life? Describe your example and experience. Explain the reasons why you think so.
If the growth and wilting of a blossom were applied towards my life it seems fitting to place it over my whole self and not merely an experience.There are experiences that i've felt at my peak but that peak withered away. This is an ever occurrence which is all to common. So that being, the blossom analogy seems more fitting my life whole life time. There are three very basic scenarios i can think of applying this to starting with the first. As of now i have physically grow or blossomed by age. Soon i'll reach my peak and physically degrade or wilt. Though i could build muscle and continue to grow physically grow that way, for the most part bone growth is slowed and eventually going down hill. Another would be mentally. blossoming analogy is hard to apply this too since how does one know when there heads are blossomed? Personally i would have to say i'm not blossomed mentally since i'm not satisfied. Also, it seems at time mentally we can began to wilt before we are fully blossomed. Possibly because we starve our minds from it's food whatever that may be, truth or knowledge idk, or in the blossom analogy's context it would be removal of water. The last one i would say would be spiritual. Spiritually there seems to be a battle between wilting and blossoming. For most religions spiritual growth or blossoming results in rewards for growing within the earth, but one is not fully blossomed till they have diedish (ish since there could be minor differences to as of when this actually occurs).
3. Comparing with the other Japanese films we have watched in this class, in Memoirs of Geisha, do you think it lost ma or aware because they speak English? Why? Why not? Explain the reasons why you think so.
For Japanese probably. For Americans probably not. I mean as Americans we speak English and usually understand it as well. So in turn it may have heightened are "aware" or "ma" since it was clearly spoken to us. Good for most common Americans and maybe not as much for the Japanese.
4. Considering Kisetsu, are there any events (e.g. Tanabata, Omisoka, etc) where you appreciate Kisetsu in the U.S.? Find one and explain what it is. If you were Japanese, how would you enjoy the events differently from Americans.
Honestly i don't care about anything for the most part. Well nevermind i guess i do sometimes.... As a small child i grew in Florida were the seasons are a blur. FL being mostly hot with a dash of cold, from a young age it wasn't 'hot' on my mind (haha Florida jokes. i'm so funny). Jk, that wasn't funny and didn't make much sense.... Now living in Ohio, the seasons are visible and i have noticed them, but as far as thinking on them i haven't enough. This is due to may lack of them from a young age and the overall trend i've fallen into called "Year Around Hibernation." In America most of us are always inside watching Tv etc. and do not enjoy the seasons. We move from inside a house to inside a car to inside a school etc. From people I've talked to they say good things about the seasons but for me i don't think i know much about them since i'm always inside. If i were a Japanese person today i would know fight moves and possibly appreciate Kisetsu but probably not since i'd be inside also. If i was Japanese and born a hundred years ago then were getting somewhere.
5. Considering Otogibanashi, in the film, can you discover "sense of emotional beauty, of a feeling of aware, which embodied in feelings such as patience and pity” (p.172). Describe the film and explain why you think so.
Yep, the Geisha showed patience and pity when good to do so. patience seen when sayuri was at the boxing match and pity when she helped Nobu with a cute hand. Geisha Sayuri had some good "aware" if you as me.
6. Explain Wabi-Sabi using more than 2 citations from the textbook.
"Simpicity and Elegance." (223) "Sense of beauty." (223)
7. In the film, what scenes do you see Wabi-Sabi? Describe the scenes and explain why you think so.
When the Geisha performed with their Kimonos and makeup on. They throw fans and stuff. The answer to question one says enough.
8. What do you think about the movie overall?
I found it very entertaining. i thought about it for awhile after watching the first half. I'm not sure i would recommend it to a friend though since i'm not sure how it would truly benefit them in anyway. Idk, maybe i would, who knows.
