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AnonymousIt's always a struggle when you're starting out at the bottom of the heap. Those who don't have resources have less chances for opportunity than those with resources keeping the poor poor and the well to do on top.
AnonymousDavid Liang is a young man raised in Kansas, born to Taiwanese parents. He is successfully producing music on a project called Shanghai Restoration Project. This is an album blending hip-hop with electronica with classical Chinese instruments. There is a wonderful interview with Liang at APA interview
During the interview Liang explains how he collect music samples of Chinese traditional instruments and vocals, gets permission to use them, and then layers them into his modern version of the music. He records the music in his bathroom. (Your students will be interested in knowing that bathrooms often offer the best accoustics in homes. Many student musicians spend time practicing in bathrooms!) His music is topping the charts in Asia, and bringing attention to traditional types of music because of the way he has fused it with the modern.
One of the challenges he faced, which would be interesting to explain to student composers, was fusing the pentatonic scale based music of China with the Western tone scales of hip hop and pop music. He had to find samples and make them fit, literally fusing the East with the West. Students who study music theory will find it a very interesting project, and this interview will open up new compositional ideas for many of them.
AnonymousI didn't know that about practicing music in bathrooms. It is very interesting though the blending of two cultural styles of music.
AnonymousFor Curious Japanese, Nibbles of Foreign Cultures
By KATIE KITAMURA
Published: July 30, 2006
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/travel/30journeys.html
For years I’ve seen Japanese travelers in my hometown and on my travels sporting the coolest haircuts and the trendiest clothes, with camera and hip satchel bags at their sides. I’ve often smiled, said hello if given the chance, wondered at the coolness and the absence of anxiety in their demeanors. And now having read this article on epcot center style theme parks springing up throughout japan, since the 90’s actually (I am a little late to things), I am afraid—will I ever see these traveling hipsters running through my cities again?
Julie commented on a Hapa kid who was not open to discussing his Dutch background. Well son open up your tulips and sing it loud—the Netherlands have been faithfully reproduced right back in Japan. And the difference between these parks and the Disney facades we have the sad fortune to pay so much money to view is that “the mini-monuments of Japan’s cultural theme parks are faithful reproductions executed with stunning accuracy. From bricks to tiles and balcony railings, many of the parks import their raw materials directly from Europe. The crowds won’t come unless it’s real.”
The article states that these parks, some costing up to 2.5 Billion dollars, are nice alternatives for Japanese who want to experience the world but do not have the time or funds to go abroad. With the ability to accurately reproduce Italy, Spain and the Netherlands in miniature I am truly afraid I will never see those cool, Japanese hipsters with their shaggy bleached hair and tight blue jeans on my block again. Fortunately I live in Los Angeles though and who in their right mind would want to reproduce this?
AnonymousIf you hurry there is a nice slideshow that accompanies this article. The NY Times as you know tends to take down these articles quite fast and then asks for money to see them again. The pictures show excellent reproductions of many places I've been. And I feel I might be fooled for a minute or so if blindfolded and dropped in the middle of one of these parks.
One other thing I found interesting was the term fast-food generation used for those Japanese interested in the park. I have always heard my Japanese friends make fun of the American diet, of the acne and obesity they attributed to an unhealthy greasy, fried fast food diet. And yet recently with economic growth and trends toward westernization what have we seen happen in Japan? McDonalds and pimples, KFC and muffin top tummies.
My friends don't laugh so much anymore. But they still laugh. (6)
AnonymousFor travelers to Japan, you might have noticed some homeless near train stations and blue-collar neighborhood. It is interesting how poverty is seen in Japan, since talking about one "problems" might be see as an intrusion on others. As family traditions and trades disappear in many of the rural areas, older generation may find their land as their only source of wealth. For many families with financial obligations, many without a modern business trade or perhaps a college degree, land sale profits may not go far as it might in the urban areas. Younger generation face the same kind of poverty that uneducated or working class experience today in America. Japan after all is a modern, first world country with modern amenities. Yet for the older groups, poverty exists in Japan in quiet backgrounds to the rhythm of Japanese life. In urban center, an example that stood out in my mind was the recycling Ojii-sans (grandpas). Instead of shopping carts like in L.A., many roll up in modified bicycles and carts with their daily haul to the recycling centers. When I saw a couple go get their sake right away, it reminded me of images of Russian pensioners getting their monthly ration of vodka after payday. Many quickly disappear into the netherworld of the urban jungle to face another day. Since "in your face poverty" is less accepted in Japan, many find solace in local parks and urban rabbit holes. But I also vividly remember in an early morning outing to a Shinto shrine, a homeless man was making his daily offering and ritual blessings for the day like any other passer-by.
In other Asian nations, poverty is perhaps more visible because maybe it is a persistent cycle of despair?? Japan perhaps in many regards is too closed to such possible self-criticisms and analysis?!?... Are there slums and shantytowns in Japan?...No, but are there stories of struggles in a nation, especially in our new global economy?...
AnonymousSpeaking of poverty and affluence--my Japanese friend here in America was telling me a while back about the Mercedes Benz and how every Asian is supposed to drive one to show his/her affluence and success here in America. He said that his father refused to enter into debt to please his friends and therefore suffered a silent shame.
My friend’s father is a writer. He is published in Japan and continues to write for magazines and newspaper "back home." He visited my classroom one day to observe and write an article on American education and students. He was very impressed with my students, more so than I was at the time, and wrote a flattering article. How can this man who I respect and admire as a real writer suffer silent shame for not signing his life away to lease a Mercedes Benz? We are not that shallow as Americans are we? Oh wait unless you are Stephen King writing too is a noble profession like teaching in this country, yes? A hobby at best.
Maybe our world economy concept needs revision--a writer can do it. Maybe westernization isn’t such a good thing. Shopping carts exist in a successful consumer/capitalist society. Let’s export some?
Of course we may not eradicate poverty but shouldn’t we stop pretending that every successful individual in America should be driving a Mercedes? (Why not a Toyota?) And if they don’t then they are lazy?! Let's stop pretending capitalism=equality. Writers and teachers nurses and garbage men are hard workers. Let’s look to them as symbols of affluence.
AnonymousElectronica has been drawing from traditional Asian music for quite some time--check out Talvin Singh, Asian Dub Foundation, Badmarsh and Shri, oh and what about Asian motif influence. There are labels called Ninja Tunes, Zen, Om and what about the Wu Tang Clan can't forget about them.
There is a great band from Japan called Boom Boom Satellites who fuse jazz Drum and Bass and Heavy Rock
The shamisen, the sitar and countless other instruments are easily capable of so much more than most western instruments you have to fight with to get a sound out of. I've always seen Asian music as the predecessor to postmodern music and the 12 tone school.
AnonymousKCET will be airing a program called "Tokyo City Guide" on the Globe Trekker series, Sunday, August 27, 6:00 p.m. The topic is the Shrine for Establishing Peace in the Empire, and the program promises to look at "what makes it the most controverial monument in Japan."
Incorporated into this shrine is a museum on Japanese military history. This program may provide a look at what Japanese people today think about past military aggression and about their future national directions.
Courtney Lockwood
AnonymousInteresting article on a war shrine. Timing is everything. 9 August 1945-9 august 2006
clay dubeKathryn Schulten of Primary Source has written a great blog entry with ideas and resources on how to teach about the devastating quake and tsunami. http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/guest-post-teaching-about-japan-one-year-after-the-disaster/?nl=learning&emc=learninga2_20120309
In addition to looking at the tragedy, the suggested lessons include items on how a debate over nuclear power has erupted, efforts to preserve family memories, and rebuilding. One of the most interesting of the links she provides is to a NY Times article about inventions that have been developed over the course of the last year to prepare for another disaster: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/inventions-offer-tools-to-endure-future-disasters.html?_r=1 .
AnonymousI was at a party last Saturday and the topic of night life brought up Japan and Korea town. I was told that here in LA Korea Town and Little Tokio are two of the few places that have restaurants open past midnight. Is that true?
AnonymousToday we learned that Prime Minister Tanaka (1927) somehow messed things up. I had heard of something called the Tanaka Plan from a WW2 Frank Kapra film series called, "Why we fight?" and it seems to have been some sort of Imperialist thing. So if someone can tell me details about how he messed things up I would love to hear about it. Thanks/Ari-Gato!
Rob_Hugo@PortNWHere is a link to a very informative article that was in the New York Times on April 16, 2006:
New York Times about Japan
This is interesting in light of the common perception of Japan being such a homogenous, middle-class society.
AnonymousI think it's interesting how Americans (including myself!) are very interested in Japan. Even today at Target you can go and see Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls line of clothing, school supplies, and other items. I remember when I was in Tokyo in 2005, her album was what inspired me to take the monorail train to the Harajuku district to see the vibrant clothes, costumes, and culture. I thought it was so interesting how the girls would dress up like dolls and how that whole subculture exists just like rockabilly or the goth cultures here in the US.
Many of my students are very interested in Anime and other pop culture aspects of Japan. In general, it seems that there a positive attitude to Japan and Japanese culture. I think that sometimes by discussing the pop culture of a country can help hook the students to learn more about the culture and to increase their interest.