The World of Fantasies---Spirited Away

96540303

Ivy

Spirited Away

The fantasies in the movie, Spirited Away, make it an unique animation movie. The wandering spirits and gods though make people feel creepy, probably it is what really happens in real world. It gives people, especially children, thoughts of the world after death and the world of gods, which are full of mysteries. Children may learn the concept of spirits.

The first client that Chihiro services is originally considered as a Stink Spirit, but it later turns out to be River Spirit. When the River Spirit comes to the bathhouse, he is not only dirty and full of dust, but also carries an unbearable stinky odor. After the bath and Chihiro’s help of pulling the garbage out in him, he becomes clean again. This part conveys an environmental issue, which are the water and garbage pollution problems.

As technology improves, people tend to focus on their own interests instead of considering the best way of earning money based on the benefits of both the environment and all human-beings. Although the industrialized civilization has led humans to live a convenient life, it may, on the contrary, leads people to the end of the world. The purpose of this part is to educate people to have the right attitude toward nature. It teaches the audience not to throw junk into the river and not to pour industrial wastes in it. We should keep the environment clean.

Many scenes in Spirited Away are taken place in the bathhouse, where represents one of the cultural values of Japan. When Buddhist culture was introduced to Japan, people could have saunas in temples. Those bathhouses are called oyūya. In Japanese, the bathhouses are also called sentō. In the old times, not every family has its own bath, so people go to sentō to take bath once in a while. The bathing manners are important in bathhouses. It is also a social place for people to have some small talk. However, the number of bathhouse is declining in Japan, because most of the people have their own baths nowadays.

The architectures in the animation movie is full of Japanese feature and styles. The oyūya is based on the design of Japanese buildings. Moreover, it blends western interior designs in Yubaba’s room. We can tell the influence of Meiji Restoration rooted in this movie and also the Japanese culture. The westernized ingredient adds more flavour to Japanese culture.

It is said that the setting in Spirited Away is based on the landscape of Jioufen, which is located in Taipei county in Taiwan. Jioufen had been reclaimed by Japanese, so the architectures there have antique Japanese styles. In the evenings, the lanterns on the streets in Jioufen are lit up, which is very much like the scenes in Spirited Away. Many Japanese tourists have come to visit this beautiful place because of the animation movie.

In the movie, it depicts the mental status transition of Chihiro. Through the obstacles that Chihiro has encountered, she has conqured them and have become a matured girl. She is not a geedy person, either. While others are greedy, the only thing she cares are her parents and Haku. Her generous and kind mind wins the hearts of the audience. In the end, her courage and love of her loved ones helps her to overcome the difficulties.

Touch the Romance

Jasmine (96540322)
Professor Vinia
Popular culture
10 January 2010

Touch the Romance

—To See the Beauty of Love from Romeo and Juliet

     Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespeare’s play which was first published in 1597; that is to say, it was written more than four hundred years ago, showing that this play stands the test of time. Moreover, it has been widely adapted for TV and film. Romeo and Juliet is like a never fading rose blooms in romance literature, spreading the fragrance of love. Now, this play even becomes a symbol of lovers who suffer in the conflict. Here, I am going to discuss the classic elements of the romance in Romeo and Juliet in the following paragraphs.

     I have to admit that I did not consider this play as a classic one before taking popular culture course. In the very beginning, without knowing its whole story, I thought Romeo and Juliet is just an ordinary romance and felt confuse about its popularity. Now, I know I was awfully wrong at that time. After watching the movie—“Romeo and Juliet” in class, I fell in love with this play immediately. How can a play which was written hundreds years ago attract modern people? I think the pure love between Romeo and Juliet is the main factor contributing to it.
     Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other at first sight and since then, they were willing to do anything for each other, even commit suicide. The love between these two youngsters is completely pure because they love each other for love, not for money, for reputation or for any realistic factors. Some people think that Romeo and Juliet are too young to consider thoroughly; however, I think their youngness is an important factor to show the pureness and the romantic part of love. Besides, their loyalty to each other is unbelievable romantic and seems hard to find in modern society. No matter when, no matter in the past or now, people are always dying for romantic love which seems can never last in reality; therefore, Romeo and Juliet could be an ideal model of love.

     In the end, I have to say that even if I could change the tragic ending into a lovely one, I will choose not to. The tragic ending is absolutely necessary for this great play. Tragedy makes people sigh with deep emotion and makes the love between Romeo and Juliet even more beautiful and memorable.

Enter the Geishas' world ─The movie of “Memoirs of Geisha”

Popular Culture- The movie of “Memoirs of Geisha”


96540343 Carol



My intention to discuss the topic:

This movie, Memoirs of Geisha, means more than just a movie film to me. It is this movie that brings me into the world of Geisha. I am not saying that I want to be a Geisha, but it arouses my curiosity to discover the world. I still remember this is my first time to go to the movie theater and saw this movie. I was shocked to see this kind of culture, and now I want to explore more of Geishas’ world.

The introduction of the movie:

“Memoirs of Geisha” is a film shot in 2005 by Hollywood industry. At first, it was a novel written by Arthur Golden, and it was published in 1997. The movie has got three Academy Awards─Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction. The movie not only got many awards, but also become a topic of film reviewers in discovering the true fact and value of Geisha.



The plot summary of the movie:

In 1929, before World War II, there’s a nine-year-old girl, Chiyo, living with her family in the fishing village. Unfortunately, she and her sister were sold to Geisha district because of their family financial status. At the start to be there, she was treated badly by the owner and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Then, she was rescued and supported by Mameha, Hatsumomo’s bitter rival, to become an excellent geisha named Sayuri. Hatsumomo and Sayuri compete against each other to get more fame and to get the wealth and powerful customers. At this period of time, Sayuri met the chairman who has encouraged her when she was still young. She appreciates him and falls in love with him, but his good friend loves Sayuri so much. Since the World War II broke out, the society of Geisha has no longer prosperous like before. However, the love between chairman and Sayuri goes to a beautiful end.

What’s Geisha?

As far as I know, Geisha is a special culture of Japan. It represents Japanese art, social life and the value of female. It’s a special role in their culture.



In the movie, the definition given by Mameha was that “Geishas are not courtesans. And we are not wives. We sell our skills, not our bodies. We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word "geisha" means artist and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art.” Even though the movie mention the social status of Geisha; however, there’s still plot of “first night” shown in the movie. The plot could lead the audiences into different value toward Geisha. Actually, the Japanese respect Geishas for their performing skills. They are the great artists in their society.



What can we get from the movie?

Geisha is a particular culture in specific area in the world. Therefore, it arouses people’s curiosity to find out their life. However, there are still a lot details unknown to the tourists and people. People would twist the value of Geisha by watching movie or reading book. This movie could drive people’s curiosity to know the truth. Though the plot is not exactly correct, but it can open your eyes to see the special culture and appreciate their art.

America’s culture and art on the streets’ walls－Graffiti

4E3-Alexa-96540348

America’s culture and art on the streets’ walls－Graffiti

      I want to talk about this topic because no matter where you are in America or in Taiwan, there are as these cultures and arts almost every wherever and “graffiti” have a different meanings for Americans especially. What’s more, many people in Taiwan attack and blame the paints and painters, because in their point of view, they do not regard those things as the value. And, this tendency may influence the whole society. Therefore, I want to introduce and analyze in detail to find out many different parts of cultures and arts for the reader and convey the meanings of graffiti.

• History

Why has this word－”graffiti”? The original motivity is that the descendent of African and the descendent of Latin American against white men dominate the country. Their statuses are very low; therefore, they write and paint at the subway’s walls to express their emotions. Besides, gangs paint on the wall to divide the districts. From 60s to now, it becomes one kind of street’s art for the whole world. However, the government regards it as an bad image for the country. As for the word “Graffiti”, it is created by Roman.

• The purposes before and nowadays

For example: Before, they usually express their dejected feelings and now they just paint their own creative work.



• Different styles of graffiti nowadays

As time goes by, graffiti become more and more Multicultural. People paint bolder than before and also modern style appear. More over, many paint in a “kuso” way.

• A new pattern of the graffiti

Now, the same “street culture” and “street style”, teenagers make it into “dressing”, different from painting on the walls. Therefore, cultures and arts become practical things in life. On the other words, they make the culture and art connect with merchandise.

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by Vinia Huang