Japanese American History and the Movie Snow Falling on Cedars
The author of Snow Falling on Cedars did a good job with his research into the first to middle half of the 20th century experiences of Japanese immigrants. Unfortunately, like most movies based on extensive books, I believe this movie may underachieve in representing the author’s intentions. This movie seems almost as an outline to what it should be. The major problem area is with portraying the emotions between characters. For example, the bond between Ishmael Chambers and Hatsue Miyamoto seems significant at first, but does not seem to be as painstakingly hard to break as they try to represent towards the end. Also, hints of prejudice are revealed in various places through out the movie, but they fail to represent the attitudes that were more prevalent during the era.
The first trace of good research for the movie is realized with the fact that it takes place on a fictional island near Puget Sound, Washington. This is an acceptable setting because Japanese immigration into the U.S. was focused mainly on the West Coast. Also, depicting the Japanese as grape farmers represents the fact that most of the immigrants moved to rural areas and 40% of them were farmers by 1940 (213).*
Japanese immigration rose in 1882 after the Chinese Exclusion Act. This was in part to fill the gaps in the labor supply. These Japanese in turn were discriminated against. Much of the American prejudice against the Japanese was carried over from feelings about the Chinese. The ideas were that the Japanese were racially inferior, cruel, crafty, and threatening (222). It is also apparent by social distance scales that extreme prejudice existed at the time against the Japanese. In 1946 they ranked at the very bottom of the list, even under the more traditionally stigmatized groups such as the Mexican Americans, African Americans, and other racially identifiable groups (38).
The movie does a good job of representing the social distance between the Japanese and White Americans. It makes it apparent that there is not much interaction between the two segments of the adult population. This most likely stems from the fact that during the time most Japanese immigrants functioned in the rural economic enclaves based on agriculture. This limited secondary structural assimilation, and thus primary structural assimilation.
One particular ethnic group that suffered severe discrimination was the Chinese people. They first came to America for several reasons. One of them was the gold rush in California in 1849, in which they were included in a group of immigrants called the “Forty-Niners” (179). From gold mining, they switched to other jobs with resulted in the rise of anti-Chinese sentiments. People felt that Chinese people were taking the jobs away from them, because Chinese people worked for much smaller salaries that businesses preferred. This mindset gave way to the creation of The Chinese Exclusion Act passed in 1882, which prohibits more Chinese immigrants from coming to America. In addition, the act states “no State or court of the United States shall admit Chinese to citizenship”. Like the Naturalization Act, the Chinese Exclusion Act was created to hinder Chinese people from becoming citizens so that America could remain homogenously white (186). It also aimed to stop Chinese people from establishing a bigger community in the country in hopes of eliminating the threat of competition to their white counterparts (186). Like African-Americans, Chinese people were considered racially inferior and have struggled to prove that they were worthy to be called true Americans, rather than
It is through these mundane interactions that Sone illustrates the process of assimilation, wherein members of a minority group adopt the behaviors and attitudes of the majority population among which they live. In Nisei Daughter, the issue of assimilation becomes especially complex, as the Issei were more resistant to letting go of their once strong heritage. While most Nisei made a great effort to assimilate, a significant segment of the American population seems to resist, and even thwart, these efforts. This brought yet another conflict between the two generations of Japanese Americans during the pre-World War II
It is no easy task to create a work - through writing or film - that has an impact on society. In writing, one must discuss and analyze a relevant topic that will have an impact on the readers. One must also present stunning sensory images through words in order to create a complete understanding for the reader. In filmmaking it is not much different, but there must be striking visual imagery in combination with a fitting musical score in order to give the viewer of the film the full experience. There must also be historical accuracy, both in writing and film. In either case, it can take years to create such a captivating piece of work. David Guterson's novel Snow Falling on Cedars and its cinematic counterpart of the same name combine all of the aspects of good writing and filmmaking to create an emotionally provocative and historically accurate masterpiece.
Cynthia Kadohata's book, Kira-Kira, is a story about an American-Japanese family during the mid-1950's who struggle to save money to buy a home. The story begins in Iowa where the family lives and owns a small Asian grocery store. The parents are American born, educated in Japan and still hold some Japanese traditional qualities. Conflict is introduced when they move to Georgia to work in a poultry factory after their family store fails to be profitable. Additional conflict is added later in the story when the oldest daughter develops a terminal illness. Through the story readers learn about the conditions of living in American during this time period. It accurately reflects prejudice towards Japanese-Americans and other cultures, describes horrible factory working conditions, and demonstrates how communities-families pulled together to cope and improve their situations.
..., determined to please their families to prove that they in fact could live a life of their own. However, as a part of the immigrant experience, emphasized throughout Uchida’s Picture Bride, immigrants faced numerous problems and hardships, including a sense of disillusionment and disappointment, facing racial discrimination not only by white men, but even the United States government. Immigrants were plagued with economic hardships, and were forced to survive day by day in terrible living conditions. After the tragedy at Pearl Harbor, the government further stripped Japanese American’s rights, as seen in internment camps. Japanese immigrants had to quickly realize that they had to tolerate these conditions and put their fantasies and illusions aside in order to build a new life for themselves and future generations.
One main event that made this book feel real was when Keiko & Henry went to the Black Elks Club. This event was so insightful for how Japanese lived back in 1942. Keiko and Henry went to a bar to see their friend Sheldon, play his saxophone. While the band was in between sets Sheldon came to talk to Henry, who was practically his big brother, Sheldon told him he should head home as it was becoming dark. When leaving Keiko and Henry were stopped by the FBI and heard a gun being cocked. The FBI took them back into the club and the FBI started hand cuffing all Japanese. Keiko, being Japanese, stood there in awe, as she did not know what to do. After six patrons were arrested Keiko spoke, " 'What's going to happen to them?' Keiko asked, the sound of concern in her small voice. "They can get the death penalty if they're found guilty of treason, but they'll probably just spend a few years in a nice jail cell" (59 Ford). These innocent people were perceived to be spies just because of their ancestry. This event in the novel made it feel astonishingly realistic.
Darcy is portrayed as a selfish, vain man at first and he is the second to propose to Elizabeth and swiftly denied. Mr. Darcy’s overbearing phrase “You must allow me to tell you,” has a dominant tone, implied by the demand: “you must” (Austen 185). Mr. Darcy’s superiority, even in confessing his love, cuts off the possibility of personal attachment by placing him and Elizabeth on two different levels and repels love for him by condescending her with dominance. Elizabeth being a character of independence and strong will, his superiority over her is an insult. Mr. Darcy’s high status gives him credibility as well as his brutal honesty: “In vain have I struggled” (Austen 185). He tells her outright that he has tried to resist his feelings for her, but he cannot, which tells one that he is not lying. Especially with his reputation of not associating outside his social group, the reader understands this must be outside his comfort zone to be “tempted” by one inferior to him. However, his credibility is trodden underfoot by his insulting language and lack of
This film has several inconsistencies with the actual history as it over glorifies the tale of forty-seven ronin and display certain orientalist stereotypes throughout the movie.
Although difficult in a foreign environment, East-Asian immigrants felt compelled to retain their culture to leave a legacy of their heritage. From the beginning, Asian immigrants knew they did not belong in the white environment. Mai describes the prejudice, “we would never be welcome in this country . . . set apart from everyone else” (Cao 65). In Obasan, Canadians ridicule the Japanese by constantly calling them “Japs,” a demeaning term. Even from a young age, the white children in the novel pick on and segregate away from their “yellow peers.” To cope and keep traditions and cultures, immigrants created communities to support each other. Perhaps one of the most famous cities that still holds on to its beginning roots is Chinatown, San Fransisco
Soon after Papa’s arrest, Mama relocated the family to the Japanese immigrant ghetto on Terminal Island. For Mama this was a comfort in the company of other Japanese but for Jeanne it was a frightening experience. It was the first time she had lived around other people of Japanese heritage and this fear was also reinforced by the threat that her father would sell her to the “Chinaman” if she behaved badly. In this ghetto Jeanne and he ten year old brother were teased and harassed by the other children in their classes because they could not speak Japanese and were already in the second grade. Jeanne and Kiyo had to avoid the other children’s jeers. After living there for two mo...
Darcy. When the reader and Elizabeth are first introduced to Mr. Darcy, he is arrogant and insensitive toward those he deems “below him”. His pride provokes Elizabeth’s prejudice, which keeps them apart for the first half of the novel. His pride prevented him from getting to know Elizabeth because at first glance she was, “tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me.” After realizing she has “a pair of fine eyes,” (22) he learns to suppress his pride and allows her to see the kinder side of him. Darcy’s main transformation is evident during Elizabeth's visit to Pemberley with the Gardiners. He treats her with the “greatest civility” even though their last encounter was less than civil. The kind words from Mrs. Reynolds came as a shock to the prejudice Elizabeth, “I do not know who is good enough for him” (210) is among the many praises that impact Elizabeth and her feelings for Darcy. Their retreat from pride and prejudice allowed them to find a healthy marriage with one
In addition, the Pearl Harbor bombings also become a component in the story. Aftermath from the bombing effect Japanese citizens in numerous ways. The whites blame all Japanese in America for the bombing and discriminate against them. Some even get arrested for no
Elizabeth said to Mr. Darcy, “...I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” (Austen 145). By Elizabeth saying this she is showing irony because in the end Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy do get married. Her love for him went from an immovable dislike to love and marriage. Miss Elizabeth didn't have any feelings for him at first because of how prideful Mr. Darcy was acting. She was told by Mr. Wickham all horrible things that Mr. Darcy has done. For example, Wickham was conversing with Elizabeth and told her after the old Mr. Darcy died, he was supposed to get his share of the money, but he didn't. He did get his share of the money, however, he used to buy prostitutes and unneeded items. He tricked Miss Bennet into thinking of how prideful and unjust he was.
Likewise, the relationship between the two demonstrates a range of conflict with the standards established by society. Although the two eventually marry, both Darcy and Elizabeth were forced to overcome several obstacles. Darcy who is originally characterized to have an excess amount of “pride” transforms as the novel progresses (Austen 65). As a member of the aristocracy, he is a gentleman with a large inheritance from his family. Despite what other characters suggest, Darcy turns out to be more than just a man with a lot of money and pride. In fact, the reader learns that Darcy is quite the opposite. Unlike other aristocrats, Darcy is “liberal and generous” as he gives “his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor” (Austen 65). In addition to his generous giving, his love for Elizabeth is shown through his desire in making her happy. Despite her original refusal to marry him, he continues to care for her, and even pays off her family’s debt to Wickham. Despite his love for Elizabeth, he is forced to deicide between the expectations set by society, and marrying her. Although he loves her, their contrast in social backgrounds make it difficult for them to be together as she is a descendant of a family much more beneath his. However, despite their differences, Darcy chooses to marry Elizabeth, countering the social expectations presented throughout the novel. In Zimmerman’s article, he analyzes Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, suggesting that Darcy’s initial pride was the primary factor separating them as “Darcy’s pride” kept “rejecting Elizabeth and her family” (Zimmerman 64). In addition to Zimmerman’s article, Anderson’s work also analyzes Darcy’s character and his pride, indicating that their “relationship’s instability” originated from their “differences” in
The matter of fact machinery has changed our lives in many ways. People think of machines big useful things to help us out but if you look deeper a machine is “an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task”. So the machine does not have to be a big useful apparatus, even your computer, changer, and paperclip is a machine. Everywhere you look a helpful things what helps you perform a task is a machine. Also they can be called simple machines such as a pulley, lever, wedge, wheel and axle, inclined plane and screw. So history has impacted the smallest useful things in our lives. It can be for the worst or best but in this case it has chan...