CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction, Hoistory
The word Ukiyo was ” a Buddhist term to express the impermanence of human life.” (khanacademy)By the end of the 17th century, it was used by the Japanese literati for art.
According to the research of Frederick H.(2010), Ukiyo-e which is known as"pictures of the floating world" in Japanese art. “It is a composite term of uki (floating), yo (world), and e (pictures)”(Japanese prints, Ellis Tinios,,P.8) Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings which originated in the metropolitan culture of Edo (Tokyo) during the period between the 17th century and 20th century of Japanese history.
In the early period of ukiyo-e , between the period of 16th century and 17th century, ukiyo-e
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However, The term 'floating world' refer to transient and carefree urban lifestyle that advocating the hedonistic way of life. The content is vulgar or even immoral that mostly about the prostitution or kabuki. Aesthetes and moralists are suppressing as it is promoting the culture of the lowlife. However, in such competitive industry, indulge the desire of a mass audience for affordable, well-produced images is the printer only concern in the Edo Period (1600-1868). By the 1870s, that kind of literate decried by the elite are replace traditional one becoming a prevalent one and even transmitted to the …show more content…
The popular genres include the portraits of beauty and erotica about different social strata and background such as geisha, iconic actors of the kabuki stage, sumo wrestlers, samurai as well as courtesans. Moreover, it is a kind of narration and depiction with various themes, for instance the prospect of natures and landscapes, heroic tales and historical scenes.
Characteristic of Ukiyo-e
“Ukiyo-e is an art form that highlights flowing curved outlines, simplistic forms and detailing of flat areas containing color“ Frederick H.(2010).
(characteristic) In line with its mass-appeal, Ukiyo focused on the ordinary things of life. Appreciated for its bright colour and decorativeness. Its impact on French painting was due to the unique characteristics of Ukiyo-e, including its exaggerated foreshortening, asymmetry of design, areas of flat (unshaded) colour, and imaginative cropping of figures.
featuring
On Farting by Hiraga Gennai gives the reader a perspective into the world of various arts in the Edo Period. Not only are we shown what is meant to be a proper practicing of the arts through his satirical character, Crankshaw Stonington Esquire, but he counters this claim that the arts were then lacking in life, passion, and ingenuity. They had become boring and outdated without any creativity being brought forward. To prove this he sings his praises for a fart artist, and engages in a lively debate about what truly marks art as meaningful and how a change to the traditions would improve the civilization. However passionate, his argument may not be effective enough to change the minds and ways of those who revel in the traditional.
“The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” by Olaudah Equiano is an autobiography reporting his experience as a slave in Africa, Europe, and the americas. As Equiano and his sister were unsupervised at the one day, two men and a woman kidnapped them. The children were taken by surprise with no time to call for help and were made slaves for a great part of their lives. Although Equiano was a slave in different parts of the world, he experienced slavery differently under the control of different people. In Africa, …..
In comparison to other slaves that are discussed over time, Olaudah Equiano truly does lead an ‘interesting’ life. While his time as a slave was very poor there are certainly other slaves that he mentions that received far more damaging treatment than he did. In turn this inspires him to fight for the abolishment of slavery. By pointing out both negative and positive events that occurred, the treatment he received from all of his masters, the impact that religion had on his life and how abolishing slavery could benefit the future of everyone as a whole; Equiano develops a compelling argument that does help aid the battle against slavery. For Olaudah Equiano’s life journey expressed an array of cruelties that came with living the life of an
Riichi, Yokomitsu. Shanghai. Michigan: The Center for Japanese Studies, The University of Michigan , 2001.
Enchantment of the World, Japan p. 70. 18 Davidson, Judith. Japan - Where East Meets West, p.74. 19 p. /.99. 20 p. 111.
The ukiyo-e period was when a type of Japanese art was created which represented pictures of the flowing world. It was originally a Buddhist concept that meant the sadness of life. This print was influenced by the Dutch as Hokusai became interested with linear perspective when Western prints came by through Dutch trade. The artwork depicts a large wave which takes up about half of the print and then people in boats underneath the wave. The waves could be a metaphor for the government at the time as it ruled with an iron fist restricting any abroad travel as well as any visitors from other countries. The government was very controlling and limited any communication with the outside world during Hokusai’s time. The boats represent the civilians trying to explore the rest of the world but being stopped by the wave ‘government’ which is trying to get them to stay within the country or within ‘safety’. The boats have no control in the water and are practically helpless which represents the citizens if they were able to travel abroad as they would be defenceless and feeble because they wouldn’t have a proper understanding of the world and its
The Tokugawa period introduced many changes to Japan. Some of these transformations are represented in woodblock prints created during that time and help researchers and historians to understand the lifestyle of the people; they offer insight and knowledge about specific events. The prints' scenery includes long journeys, everyday tasks, special festivals, and flora and fauna. Events such as the fish market and elaborate celebrations were crucial during the Tokugawa period. The practice of fishing and introduction to fireworks contributed to the economy, entertainment industry, and appreciation of nature.
While the validity of his narrative is to this day widely debated, The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano provides “insight into the dynamics of slavery, the slave trade, and the abolition movement” Traveling back into the 17th century the reader gets a firsthand experience of a life of a young slave who has opened the worlds eye’ and provides reasonable supportive arguments into the abolition of slavery in the aspects of human acceptance and morality, commerce economy, and the freedom of religion which all he has shared with his white owner counterparts.
Eventually the Edo society (created by Leyasu) became a very well known and stylistic development in Japanese art. Edo was known as Tokyo in the late eighteenth century and it was
Kobayashi, T. (1975) Nara Buddhist Art: Todai-ji. John Weatherhill Inc, NY, USA & Heibonasha, Tokyo
Akzia: After the Germans invaded Lvov and made several changes, rumors spread throughout the town of an akzia, which is Polish for the deportation and killing of a group of people. The first akzia in Lvov was for children, which made Aurelia too upset and anxious to do anything. Her dad had already started to build a hiding place for her in a wardrobe. One morning, she woke up to outside shrieks signaling the akzia; Aurelia’s first reaction was to hide. When the Nazis came to search the house, Aurelia’s dad, Isaac, told them that she was already taken, but that did not stop them from searching. They were very close to finding her, but lucky did not. Later on, there were a couple more akzia; there was one for the elderly, and two akzia for all Jews, which the Gamzer’s luckily escaped.
Shirane Haruo. et al. Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology 1600-1900. New York: Colombia University Press, 2002. Print.
Denison. B. (2002, January 1). A Basic Overview of Japanese Culture . . Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.mizukan.org/articles/culture.htm
Deal, William E. 2006. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Facts on File, Inc., 2006. eBook
In China, most of the artists worked not for money but for themselves, so their paintings and art were forms of individual expression. They tried to express themselves with symbols and personal terms. The most common types of paintings were literati paintings which were characterized by unassuming brushwork, subtle colors, and the use of landscape as personal meaning. Literati painters painted for each other and used canvases like handscrolls, hanging scrolls and album leaves. Many of the paintings expressed the painters personality. One Chinese painter, Ni Zan, has a famous painting called The Rongxi Studio. It is done in ink and has mountains, rocks, trees and a building. The painting has little detail and is painted with the dry brush technique, like Zan’s personality, a noble spirit.