Tokyo Story was directed by Yasujiro Ozu and released in Japan in 1953. It is about an old married couple that travels to Tokyo to visit their children. They are greeted warmly, but are treated as if they are just an annoying sidetrack from the childrens’ busy lives. The mother becomes ill and dies soon after they return home, leaving the family to reflect on her visit. Some striking scenes include the grandmother dreaming of her future during a walk with her grandson, the old couple’s visit to a spa, and three old men discussing the failure of the future generations. The subject matter of the story consists of a social commentary on Japanese middle-class family life and more acutely, an examination of human mortality, alienation, and modernity. The main contention of Ozu’s unique style of directing is the importance of mutually supportive formal and stylistic systems, a contention that is absent from the classical Hollywood films of this period. Whereas in most of the movies of this time the stylistic aspects would be subordinate to the narrative, the systemics of Ozu coexist independently of one another. This inimitable quality of Tokyo Story can be reflected on through the examination of continuity, transition, and the discretion of the non-diegetic filmic properties. The consideration of these elements suggests that a stylistically driven film can succeed regardless of the degree of narrative motivation. The freedom of the stylistic system to not be dependent on the narrative creates the distinctive spatial and temporal aspects of Tokyo Story. The intentional discontinuity of the diegetic world is accomplished mainly by the use of non-traditional editing. Ozu’s disregard of the necessity of respecting the conventions of the graphic match and the 180- degree line contribute to the originality of the film. For example, one of the opening sequences in the movie is a conversation between the married couple that deliberately cuts back and forth over the 180-degree line in each successive shot. The effect of this technique is that each character achieves perpendicularity with the camera, which creates the illusion that the characters are speaking directly to the audience. This contributes to the viewer’s involvement in the world created in front of the camera. Another example is the introductory dialogue between the old couple and their daughter’s family. An entirely different style was employed for this scene in which every character is in the frame at once. Ozu conveys through this scene his ability to layout a complex shot construction and perform scene manipulation. Despite the seeming disregard for the typical continuity, driven by eye-line matches and montage, this film achieves a stylistic originality and independence that complements the narrative rather
Darryl’s life is worth fighting for. “You can’t buy what I’ve got.” ‘The Castle’ directed by Rob Sitch, about one man, his family and neighbours on the verge of being homeless. Darryl Kerrigan, the “backbone of the family” won’t stand for that. Of course no one can buy what he has. He’s spent almost his entire lifetime building what he has, why should he give it up? Darryl’s way of life is simple yet filled with family values. 3 Highview Crescent is the home to Darryl, his wife Sal and their 3 children: Wayne, Steve, Tracy and Dale. (Wayne currently being in jail.) The house is made up of love, and simple family values. Darryl’s also added bits and pieces to it. He’s added on so much to the house, his own personal touch. His neighbours, also in the same bout are almost family to the Kerrigans. Jack and Farouk are another reason why Darryl’s ready to take matters into his own hands.
In our world today, how would one describe an American? Throughout the history of the United States, the image of an American is often portrayed as someone with fair skin, and who is of European descent. In reality, this idea is rather false, for America is greatly shaped by different racial groups from all continents—including Asia and Africa. In Ronald Takaki 's book, "A Different Mirror", he talks about how people in America are viewed through the "Master Narrative of American History", the idea that a person is an American, or not, depending on whether he or she satisfies the requirements to be considered as white (4). Takaki argues the Master Narrative left out certain groups including Asian Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans
During the summer, I read a novel entitled Nilda written by Nicholasa Mohr. I found the novel interesting and different from ordinary novels because Nilda had a different style of writing, a journal-like style. The story is mainly about the life a young Puerto Rican girl named Nilda during the years of World War II. Nilda goes through numerous experiences that are both good and catastrophic. From camp to miracles and new friends to losing loved ones, Nilda is a novel of surprises waiting to be uncovered.
In the novel Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi, the main character Sookan is telling her experience during the time Korea split into North and South Korea. Sookan is also telling her experience when she flees to South Korea during the expansion of communism. Sookan and her family struggle to survive, and stay motivated in degrading and dangerous events ("Sook Nyul Choi." Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults). The setting of the novel takes place during 1945 to 1946, during the time of the Japanese occupation and the introduction to communism. In August 1945, Japan lost to the Allies (Clark 18). When they lost to the Allies, they also lost their empire on the Asian mainland (Clark 18). The United States and Soviet Red Army have control over the split of Korea and the formation of a new government for them. The border that separates North and South Korea is the 38th parallel (Clark 19). Many people living in North Korea made attempts of fleeing to South Korea, which the United States had control over and did not participate in communism.
Feifer, George. Breaking Open Japan: Commodore Perry, Lord Abe, and American Imperialism in 1853. New York: Smithsonian Books/Collins, 2006. pp. xx, 389 p.: ill., maps; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060884320 (hardcover: alk. paper). Format: Book. Subjects: Japan Foreign relations United States /United States Foreign relations Japan.
For your final essay write a review of Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates. In your review, respond to the other reviewers of his book. Take information from some of the other reviews, and, agree or disagree, expand on it with your own thoughts.
From the mind of an avid arcade game fanatic arose “one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world,” (Poke, 2014, ca.). In 1996 emerged this property and still to this day continues to live up to its name as one of the most popular children’s on Earth; not only for those of the adolescence of today, but most especially those of the mid-late eighties and nineties who grew up to love and appreciate it from the beginning. Pokémon – as it is widely known around the world as – was created Satoshi Tajiri of Japan and is precisely the game being discussed. Nintendo, the world’s largest video game company based on income, owns the rights to this game. Being present day, this game has already reached its sixth ‘generation’ of the game as they are known as. Essentially, every time a new generation of the game comes out, they are seen to always come in pairs; one game brings the player upon one path with specific quests or guidelines to play by, while the other brings them through another, much similar, path with slight changes to the storyline. For example: in one of Pokémon’s generations there are two games known as sapphire and ruby. The main distinctions between the two are the specific Pokémon that can be captured in one game that cannot be captured in the other. To clarify, the title Pokémon takes on a sort of animal kingdom in the world of the game itself. Pokémon are much similar to realistic animals except for their supernatural, abilities or powers that they possess. Within the Pokémon world, they pretty much take place of real life animals. In addition, to clarify ‘captured,’ these animals can be interacted with in game and essentially captured and sucked into these very small spherical containers known a...
In his essay, Fatwa City, it is clear that Cullen Murphy is ridiculing the idea of legislating moralism, which he explains throughout his writing. Prior to reading this piece, I had never heard of a Fatwa and did not know what it was. Murphy lists various fatwas that he finds ridiculous and uses them to show how he believes legislators are becoming as extreme as the Islamic. He criticizes the fact that legislators are attempting to limit people’s morality. I agree with Murphy because the proposed bills that he wrote about were made to threaten and change people’s lifestyles. The bills not only take away the rights of the people, but also fine them for the way that they live. One of the bills that stood out to me was the bill that would fine
I really like stories that have interesting characters . After reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, Written by Eleanor Coerr, I’ve analyzed what kind of character Sadako is, I believe that some of the traits of Sadako are : courageous, fast, and superstitious. First of all , Sadako is courageous because the in the text it said, “Her courage made her a heroine to children in Japan”. (page 8) She shows this trait in many other ways, for example when Sadako suffered from Leukemia, she didn’t complain. Sadako is also Superstitious because in the text it says, “But I do respect Oba Chan.” (page 11). Oba chan is Sadako’s dead grandmother. She died from the atom bomb disease. It also says, “Sadako was looking at the
In the novel Life of a Sensuous Woman, Ihara Saikaku depicts the journey of a woman who, due to voraciously indulging in the ever-seeking pleasure of the Ukiyo lifestyle, finds herself in an inexorable decline in social status and life fulfillment. Saikaku, utilizing characters, plot, and water imagery, transforms Life of a Sensuous Woman into a satirically critical commentary of the Ukiyo lifestyle: proposing that it creates a superficial, unequal, and hypocritical society.
When one is placed in an environment where they are surrounded by abusive relationships, poor incomes, and unprivileged families, they may feel as if their life is doomed to the same fate. In the novella The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Esperanza is faced with these complications that shape her personality positively. Esperanza s a member of a poor family with poor neighbors in a poor neighborhood. The relationships she forms are a vital part in changing her way of thinking and her perspective on her street. The experiences that Esperanza encounters help to demonstrate that her fate of a poor life can be overcome by hard work and dedication. Esperanza has a variety of female role models in her life. Many are trapped in abusive
Historical fiction shapes a plot and characters on real events, settings, and people that happened in the past. Y.S. Lee’s The Agency, is an example of historical fiction which is based in the Victorian era. In the text, a female detective agency exists whose goal is to expose the scandalous secrets of some of the wealthiest in Britain. The plot is created through combining historical facts with fiction which makes it believable for the reader. Beginning with examining the narrator is crucial for beginning the analysis of this novel. The narrator, along with the principle characters, have a contemporary view on the world which makes it simplistic for the reader to comprehend. The Agency requires the reader to think critically about what would happen if a non-english female detective existed in the Victorian era. How the reader interprets this novel is affected by their own life experiences. Historical detail in Y.S. Lee’s The Agency generates a believable plot line that is simplistic for a reader to understand and makes the reader analyze and think critically about the Victorian era of Britain.
Guidance is an important factor in growing up and maturing. Kids and young adults must have a person who they trust and feel understands them, a person who will help guide them through life and teach them lessons they need to know. Without guidance, children will never learn right from wrong, nor be able to find meaning in life. What happens when a child has that source of guidance, but loses it? The book Extremely loud and incredibly close by Jonathan Safran Foer tells the story of a young boy named Oskar who loses the most important person in his life: his father. Oskar loses not only his father, but the only person he trusts to guide him through life. This significant loss of guidance is shown numerous times throughout the novel as Oskar
The short story, Eleven, by Sandra Cisneros, is a story about not being respected in your childhood. It is a story where what a little girl has to say doesn’t matter. It is a story where a girl shares her perspective on birthday’s and the idea of getting older.
John Hersey’s book Hiroshima (first published in 1946 with only four chapters, later re-published to include a fifth chapter) documents the stories of six different survivors from the August 6, 1945 American atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, a city with a population of 250,000 located in Japan. This was the first atomic bomb attack in history. After the attack most of the city was destroyed and thousands of the inhabitants lost their lives. Those who were injured or survived suffered the devastating effects of terrible burns, among other damages to their bodies, and radiation, as well as suffering the loss of their loved ones and their properties. This book follows the emotional lives of the six survivors following the bomb attack.