While I was mulling over taking a JS minor and thinking that I might spend the next few years shuttling between here and arts (which isn't that bad since it is walkable,)... It might be quite an interesting jaunt. Although I will have to take one language module (at the very least!) so I'll leave that to year 3 and beyond...? Marxy is good research for his social commentaries on Jap society in general (thanks for the link piiing), and well, the fact that it's written in english is such a boon considering how most articles that go beyond pop culture are usually written by their own Japanese. Plus it will be in Japanese, which I will be unable to understand, at least for another 10 years.

The Japanese are fascinating, well about as fascinating as fire. Nice from a distance but not too close. I recall what Pam said about their repressedness/suppressedness. My sentiments exactly especially after the Holiday. They're rather like the frozen lakes in winter. You're not quite sure of the turbulence that may be bubbling under that layer of ice/serenity.

I'm not that enamoured of the society (although my own society is far from being saint-like too). However, they seem to capture the world's attention, especially in the marketing/cinematic realm. It's interesting to note how many American cult-flicks/blockbusters were inspired by some sort of Japanisms
- The Matrix, those green squiggley words were katakana characters
- Blade Runner with its post-apocalyptic under-(or was is over-?) tones, set in a seedy Harajuku and the random Japanese Ramen lady with the quintessential Japanese mannerisms
- Even Star Wars was supposedly inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (if my memory serves me well) and notice how Vader's helmet seems rather close to those of samurai's kabuto helmet.. Amidala looks like a new-age-stylised Geisha with her whiteness.
- Tarantino's Kill Bill with it's mish-mash of Asian culture and a Go Go Yubari thrown in for good measure.

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I do worry if I will be reduced to a mere "miihaa" (ミーハー) type of person, which I quote from marxy,
the problem implied in "miihaa" has shifted from a general problematic interest in low culture to the callousness of being interested in a specific pop culture item solely because it is popular.
And I (ulp) recognise a disturbing trend. If you would ask me or any teenager about the reason behind our interest in certain things, our answers would probably go along the lines of 'because it's popular'.. midst all that bluster.
Applying that logic: So I could be interested in: ----
- Matsumoto Jun because he is popular
- L'arc because they are popular
- The latest (insert product) because it is popular....and for no real reason, although of course I (would like to, very muchly thank you) believe that I would be interested in things beyond just the mere popularity. Instead, I would truly appreciate the music bands were making, their dedication to the craft, and etc. In another words, a genuine appreciation of (insert product/band/etc) rather than a superficial it's-popular-so-therefore-I-like-it-too kind of reason.

Conversely, that could be also a reason why many of us try to pursue more 'indie' interests, perhaps to justify and to prove that we like an Act, for instance, due to their true skill and not some skilful marketing. (Of course, the eventual popularity would be coincidental, or a see-I-told-you-so kind of righteous pat on the back in recognition of one's good taste).

And to my horror, maybe my interest in the pop culture of Japan (as a whole) could be summed up with miihaa as well. Groan.

Labels: culture, etc, japanese, l'arc, matsujun, miihaa, movies, pop, subculture