HokusaiAEs oGreat Wave,o as it is commonly known today, is arguably one of JapanAEs most successf... more HokusaiAEs oGreat Wave,o as it is commonly known today, is arguably one of JapanAEs most successful exports, its commanding cresting profile instantly recognizable no matter how different its representations in media and style. In this richly illustrated and highly original study, Christine Guth examines the iconic wave from its first publication in 1831 through the remarkable range of its articulations, arguing that it has been a site where the tensions, contradictions, and, especially, the productive creativities of the local and the global have been negotiated and expressed. She follows the waveAEs trajectory across geographies, linking its movements with larger political, economic, technological, and sociocultural developments. Adopting a case study approach, Guth explores issues that map the social life of the iconic wave across time and place, from the initial reception of the woodblock print in Japan, to the imageAEs adaptations as part of ointernational nationalism,o its pla...
Language teachers’ opinions regarding the use of literature as teaching material are often polari... more Language teachers’ opinions regarding the use of literature as teaching material are often polarized. Some think that literature’s complexity impedes language teaching or that it is simply demotivating (Edmondson, 1997). Others think literature can be a useful means to increase vocabulary (Shimojō & Sakai, 2014) and to encourage student discussion (Dollase, 2008).
In this article I aim to contribute to the discussion of Murakami Haruki's significant role as a ... more In this article I aim to contribute to the discussion of Murakami Haruki's significant role as a cultural mediator by examining his role as a translator with a focus on his attempts to explore cross-cultural effects. The discussion includes Murakami's use of translation to experiment with language and to create his own writing style, his attitude towards his own translators, and the impact of his translation activity on his fiction writing.
Japan has often been portrayed by orientalist stereotypes, as famously framed by Edward Said, tha... more Japan has often been portrayed by orientalist stereotypes, as famously framed by Edward Said, that were mainly constituted within Europe and North America. There are two distinct streams of orientalist discourse around Japan: traditional Orientalism and techno-Orientalism. Here the West speaks of the Other/the non-West rather than allowing it to speak for itself. In regards to the discourse of 'Otherness' , another interesting phenomenon is Japan's self-Orientalising: through the internalisation of the Western Orientalist discourse, Japan identifies itself and constructs its own subjectivity. In his literary works, the author David Mitchell attempts to subvert the conventional orientalist approach to describe Japan while concurrently maintaining his position as a British observer. He makes use of Western perspectives to cater to his Western readers' preference for Japan's traditional and cultural elements, and yet at the same time attempts to subvert stereotypes. Mitchell's approach is reminiscent of Japanese author Murakami Haruki's use of both 'Japaneseness' and 'un-Japaneseness' in his works. Mitchell also learnt the importance of the use of the subjective narrative voice from Murakami. In this article, I examine how David Mitchell, as a western author, attempts to go beyond orientalist stereotypes, and how his writing is influenced by Murakami Haruki.
HokusaiAEs oGreat Wave,o as it is commonly known today, is arguably one of JapanAEs most successf... more HokusaiAEs oGreat Wave,o as it is commonly known today, is arguably one of JapanAEs most successful exports, its commanding cresting profile instantly recognizable no matter how different its representations in media and style. In this richly illustrated and highly original study, Christine Guth examines the iconic wave from its first publication in 1831 through the remarkable range of its articulations, arguing that it has been a site where the tensions, contradictions, and, especially, the productive creativities of the local and the global have been negotiated and expressed. She follows the waveAEs trajectory across geographies, linking its movements with larger political, economic, technological, and sociocultural developments. Adopting a case study approach, Guth explores issues that map the social life of the iconic wave across time and place, from the initial reception of the woodblock print in Japan, to the imageAEs adaptations as part of ointernational nationalism,o its pla...
Language teachers’ opinions regarding the use of literature as teaching material are often polari... more Language teachers’ opinions regarding the use of literature as teaching material are often polarized. Some think that literature’s complexity impedes language teaching or that it is simply demotivating (Edmondson, 1997). Others think literature can be a useful means to increase vocabulary (Shimojō & Sakai, 2014) and to encourage student discussion (Dollase, 2008).
In this article I aim to contribute to the discussion of Murakami Haruki's significant role as a ... more In this article I aim to contribute to the discussion of Murakami Haruki's significant role as a cultural mediator by examining his role as a translator with a focus on his attempts to explore cross-cultural effects. The discussion includes Murakami's use of translation to experiment with language and to create his own writing style, his attitude towards his own translators, and the impact of his translation activity on his fiction writing.
Japan has often been portrayed by orientalist stereotypes, as famously framed by Edward Said, tha... more Japan has often been portrayed by orientalist stereotypes, as famously framed by Edward Said, that were mainly constituted within Europe and North America. There are two distinct streams of orientalist discourse around Japan: traditional Orientalism and techno-Orientalism. Here the West speaks of the Other/the non-West rather than allowing it to speak for itself. In regards to the discourse of 'Otherness' , another interesting phenomenon is Japan's self-Orientalising: through the internalisation of the Western Orientalist discourse, Japan identifies itself and constructs its own subjectivity. In his literary works, the author David Mitchell attempts to subvert the conventional orientalist approach to describe Japan while concurrently maintaining his position as a British observer. He makes use of Western perspectives to cater to his Western readers' preference for Japan's traditional and cultural elements, and yet at the same time attempts to subvert stereotypes. Mitchell's approach is reminiscent of Japanese author Murakami Haruki's use of both 'Japaneseness' and 'un-Japaneseness' in his works. Mitchell also learnt the importance of the use of the subjective narrative voice from Murakami. In this article, I examine how David Mitchell, as a western author, attempts to go beyond orientalist stereotypes, and how his writing is influenced by Murakami Haruki.
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