Japanese is an interesting nation, I used to read a book named The Chrysanthemum and the Sword which is focus to analysing the personality traits of Japanese. This article is to analyse how the historical affect the pop culture of Japan. Although this article is focused on Japan, it can also show historical is a factor to influence a country. Vietnam and Hong Kong will be examples.
The article pointed out an idea which is “The more complicated a civilisation becomes, the more fun it is to imagine the whole works going up in flames.” From my point of view, the complicated history creates the complicated civilisation and then the culture can be attractive and multiple. The history of japan is complex, it input culture from China in ancient times and learn from Europe and America later. From its architecture, we can see two different styles obviously. Apart from that, Japan suffered many annihilation and some film such as Grave of the Fireflies told a story about the japan under war. The monster may be a metaphor that implies it is the maker of suffering.
DENG XIFEN | 3035692424
Appreciate the external reference, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, that you brought in to reflect on TSUITSUI’s piece. Japan is definitely has a complex history which led to its prosperous and complex culture. How do monster films reveal the multiplicity of Japanese culture through their almost formula kind of plot? How do monster films enable us to rethink Japan’s modernization and urbanization process in relation to its cultural complexity?