For instance, let's have a look at this image. It was taken at Kyobashi station, and shows a woman in traditional Japanese kimono, waiting for a train. She's texting on her mobile phone here, but shortly after this picture was taken, she made a phone call to her husband, apologising for her late running, and promising to be home soon. As a woman who seemed as if she was happy to be returning from a nice day out in traditional dress, I was surprised at her subservient way of speaking.
This picture was taken of the side of a Purikura machine (go here to read about what Purikura is) in Kyoto. The text means "your beauty to God-level!". I can't help but look at the photograph of the girl attached, with her "kawaii!" clothing, pale skin and HUGE eyes. I have to wonder how this is affecting young girls' judgement of what the "ideal" woman looks like, with this unattainable image. I also have to wonder who designed it that way - and what gender THEY were.
Similar, but less damaging (in my opinion) is this picture on the side of a beauty salon in Miyanosaka. Again, we see this beautiful image of a Japanese woman, pale skin, large eyes. At least the image shown in this picture is attainable. And again, I have to wonder, how are these images formed? Is it as a reaction to what women want for themselves, or to what they believe men to want, or is it quite simply what men want?
In a different way, this is a more blatant example of the exploitation and objectifcation of women in Japanese society. The text reads:
"Don't look away. Don't pretend. Let your voice be heard. Don't allow perverts. Big courage."
I feel this to be quite telling. Perverts are a nuisance and a danger on trains, on train platforms and more generally. It has become so much of an issue that Japan's trains often have a "women-only" carriage running at peak times to avoid that thing. Also, for some time now, you cannot take a photograph on a Japanese mobile phone without it making some kind of loud sound effect. This is mainly to deter perverts who could take pictures of girls on trains without their knowing about it. In a society that relies so much on its women, they sure are objectified, sometimes to the point of perversion.
Staying on that end of this unfair scale, we have a sign for "Erotic Teacher XXX Yuka" in Kyoto. Again, I find that suspicious. Did Yuka decide to become this person out of a want to liberate her own self and her beliefs and values, or has she been somewhat forced into doing it by the many demands, both social and (apparently) sexual, made by the dominating Japanese man?
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ReplyDeleteAlthough you raise some good questions about gender roles, it's difficult to tell what exactly you are doing with that last image. If you are actually insinuating that the title is literal of some sort, and not merely a juxtaposition meant to halt attention, I believe you've taken this last image grossly out of context. EROTIC TEACHER ××× YUCA is a photo art exhibit by the well known female Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa. More about her here (http://www.tomiokoyamagallery.com/artists_en/ninagawa_en/)
ReplyDeleteMore information on the exhibit itself can be found here: (http://www.kyobase.com/ninagawa/index.html -- Japanese), and a listing in English here: (http://www.orientations.com.hk/php/page.php?p=event-detail&idn=5&locid=1). It's a free event. In line with your post's questioning, I believe it would be interesting to examine how this artist is representing her work from the female perspective.
Reposted to add proper links.
It wasn't my intention to take the image "grossly out of context". I simply didn't know.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing it to my attention.
Oh my, what is art and what is porn? Recently I re-watched "Arakimentary" about the (im)famous photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. He has some interesting ideas about how art and porn and photography are too easily categorized. Interested mature adults not offended by bondage pictures and nudity from all angles are recommended to see the documentary.
ReplyDeleteUp to the last part of your blog, you bring up several important issues worthy of more thought, research and discussion. Many of your classmates have written on the same things so it might be helpful to check out what they are saying and establish dialogues on each others' blogs.
although the last image is not literal, it is still interesting that the female form is part of the different aspects of art and entertainment that Jerrard has looked at - surely to some degree it is still an objectification of women whether positive or negative? the fact that she does try to attract attention by implying erotica goes to show that the Japanese public have an interest in the subject to begin with and no matter what way she is dealing with the material others can objectify as they like...She hasn't chosen the male form to display which may in itself suggest that Japan is a male dominated society. Not having seen the exhibition it is hard to say, but I can't imagine everyone that sees this sign would know the so called "context" mentioned.
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