Japan Journal
GCD 61304 | Intercultural Design
Week 01 - Week 07
Sangeetha A/P V Supramaniam | 0339644
Instructions
Lectures
Lecture 1 : Introduction to the module
Week 01 - 06.01.2020
We were briefed by lecturers regarding the module and what it requires of us. The overall theme is Mythology. We are meant to investigate the myths and secrets of the place of visit and develop preliminary idea with the infusion of mythical influences in cultural perspectives.
Mr Charles:
What are we going to do there? Why go there in the first place? Where exactly are we going? As students, we are embarking as tourist but also investigators to a foreign land with their own histories and ancient stories to tell. We are to observe and study the mythological influences to current and contemporary design through sociological and cultural perspectives. It is to understand the history and culture of ancient folklore, its motives and the stuff that makes up culture. Also, to understand the stories of old and its backgrounds such as World War 2.
By looking at designs, we are to make the connections and see the patterns within society. How has it evolved to what we see today and how will we redefine it. We need to look at the futuristic and modern, the fusion of the old and new and observe the dialogues, people and posters around us. The task is to redefine these cultural perspectives and experiences. Consider: How do you define their identities? Be observant to your surroundings, to its products, inventions and innovations.
Influences of Mythology > Culture > Identities
Creation of Modern Myths > Synthesis > Symbols
Project 1: Proposal 30%
Project 2: Field Study 30%
Final Project + ePortfolio: 40%
Lecture 2 : Culture & Us
Week 02 - 13.01.2020
Dr Yap Jinchi:
Going back to the painting of Michelangelo's painting called Narcissus, and the origins of the words echo, the word narcissistic and the flower name narcissus - we discuss the roots of things around us.What is Culture? Is it the people, celebrations, dances, food - is that all? According to Edward Hall, he sees culture as an iceberg, there is a visible culture (things that are on the surface eg. touch, taste, sound) and an unseen deeper culture (beliefs, perceptions, difficult to observe, core values). Culture refers to the cumulative deposits of knowledge, values, experience, beliefs, attitudes, meanings, hierarchy, nations of time, roles, concepts, materials objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving. It's a way of life, generally without thinking of them. A good example would be festivals, cause most of the time you do not know why you do it. Culture is also symbolic communication.
Within culture you have symbols (recognized by the same people e.g. greeting and totems), heroes (key people to show the moral values e.g. characters in books), rituals (to show social cohesion) and all of it is to share important values or practices. Mythology is part of understanding how the earth or phenomenons happen in the world.
Layers of culture - national level, regional level (ethnic and linguistic), generational level, social class (education and preferences) and corporate level (classroom and professional). Significance of this study - in line with UNESCO. To Know the connections of different knowledge and perspectives. To Do teamwork and To Live with each other immersed in a different culture. To Be able to develop skills and personality.
What is YOUR narrative of THEIR mythologies in the 21st century?
Week 03 - 20.01.2020
No lecture due to presentation of Proposal
Week 04 - 27.01.2020
No lecture due to Chinese New Year
Week 05 - 20.01.2020
No lecture due to departure to Tokyo, Japan
Week 06 - 27.01.2020
No lecture due to arrival from Tokyo, Japan
Week 07 - 17.02.2020
Project 2 presentation
Week 08 - 24.02.2020
Consultation
Week 09 - 02.03.2020
Submission of Final Project
Project 1
Proposal
30% | W01-W03
We formed a group of 4: Sangeetha (me), Ava, Qaezie and Lee.
Using powerpoint slides and a 200 word statement, we are tasked to present a proposal to the assessors and get it approved in order to be well prepared for the trip to come. The proposal consists of:
1) Working Title
2) Background of study & Problem Statement
3) Research Questions
4) Objective
4) Objective
We are meant to meet the lecturers as a group on Thursday (08th Janua) and present our ideas and suggestions (minimum 5 ideas).
Below is the Round 2 of further research done as a group before placing it on slides.
Feedback from Mr Charles:
It is better to avoid making claims or conclusive statements within your proposal. If you are going to state sources, ensure to cite it but also paraphrase and explain it in your own words. Aim to deepen the understanding and interplay between traditional and modernity. The objectives will guide your research on ground and help answer your research questions. Use action tenses. For the Problem statement and 200 word write up, have strong foundational connections (may have) or make initial assumptions (possible, may), not claims. We may consider also that the essence of Shunga Art may have been corrupted by Western influence. Whereby it shifted from being an art form to entertainment.
After receiving the feedback on our research, we compiled the information into powerpoint presentation slides in order to present it to the whole class on Monday (20th January). Below is the presentation deck:
Overall the presentation went well. However, the lecturers had some feedback in regards how we may refine our presentation and proposal to make it more understandable.
Feedback from Ms Anis, Dr Jinchi, Mr Asrizal and Mr Charles:
Ukiyo-e is not just about woodblock print but it represents the 'Floating World'. Perhaps explain about that aspect as well because it may lead to the understanding as to why the Japanese people are polite and well mannered yet have another side of them which is the opposite. Why is Shunga considered a sacred art? Why has the visuals changed from the Shunga style to the more exaggerated form which is hentai. What do we mean by 'commercialized', in what angle are we looking from. We need to funnel down the terms of commercialization and sacred art. Consider the juxtaposing of sacred and commercial art. How can sensuality be depicted besides visually?
We went back into the research aspect of Shunga and Ukiyo-e. Also to properly define and explain the commercialization and sacred art of Shunga. Below is Round 3 of our research compilation:
After considering all the feedback given. We tweaked the contents of the slides to remove the grey areas of information. Below is the final Proposal (submission 23rd January):
Project 2
Data Collection
30% | W04-W05
We had to compile our research into slides and pre-presented it to Mr Charles.
Feedback Mr Charles:
Feedback Mr Charles:
Next step: Information from Questionnaire and interviews. The good and important thing about qualitative data is narrative, need the detail and explanations. Create categories. Look back on every questionnaire and response, group answers by category for example: entertainment, sexua culture, etc. Under these categories, put the entire reply then state the key words. Its good to make a table. From 5 categories narrow it to 3 or 2. Funnel it till it cant be funneled anymore. Write about what you have discovered, start with a short introduction eg. the above categories presents the findings. Below, the analysis of these findings can be explained by a comparitive study and categorsied findings… connect the dots. The initial assumption was… but the findings show/ the data shows.. The initial asusmptions were debunked. Chart it out accordingly.
- Analysis of data (tables and diagrams)
- Findings (It is discovered that…)
- State your limitations
- Final is Conclusion. Final outcome: A research paper for publication. We found credible information. *Eroticism is necessary. Use Malaysian elements, not too many, but perhaps in pairs to communicate eroticism in Malaysia. Look at the meaning behind the elements we use. Consider looking at Malaysia artists that have done nature paintings before.
Final Project
Final Output
40% | W06-W07
We had to synthesize all the data received and produce an output for our project. It is an outcome of our trip and what we have decided to show as part of the topic we chose to address.
From the research to discover the link between hentai and Shunga art, we learnt that the Japanese people celebrated the sensual side of life because they had a different perspective towards eroticism as a whole. Our research went further then expected in regards to its mythological roots. It is thanks to these roots that allowed the Japanese people to be more open towards eroticism. They looked at it not as something to be ashamed of but as a way of life. Their openness towards the topic became clear and we decided that is what we would like to showcase as part of our final project.
Our group aimed to Redefine Eroticism to everyone and decided to do so in a Photo Series. Using photography posters as a medium, we would like to communicate new ways or perspectives towards eroticism.
With 4 main pillars to represent the redefined concept:
Intimacy, Innocence, Expression and Embrace
After coming up with the four pillars, I worked on writing up the summary and captions for the photographs with guidance from Mr Charles on which words would suit best in each category.
Summary
Redefining Eroticism
A photo series to provide new perspectives towards eroticism. The series consists of Innocence, Embrace, Expression and Intimacy. These are pillars we believe that would help us understand the sensual side of life and prevent its misunderstanding. We showcase the purity in its innocence, the strength in its embrace, the love in its intimacy and freedom in its expression. May this redefined form of eroticism free each individual - mind, body and soul.
Expression
A sense of feeling, curiosity and intensity coming together in layers to form the pillar of expression. There is tranquility in deep inhales and clean exhales that completes us.
Embrace
The paradoxical depiction of struggle and support. A human brace is the last grace one may have at any place. The beauty of a moment to be powerful and fierce in the strong embrace of another.
Intimacy
Love, heart and desire when trusting another with your innermost self. A duality of empathy and compassion as both are grateful to coexist at the same moment in time and living.
Innocence
The purest form of innocence can be found in the sweetest of treats. It is a combination of the purity in friendship and the ecstasy of forming everlasting bonds that kindles joy in our sweetened souls.
Apart from the copy we also had to go through 2 Rounds of photo shoot to get the right photos for our posters. Over 600 shots were taken and only 4 were chosen from the lot.
Overall the trip was a journey of discovery, knowledge and rich with insights. Shunga art indeed represents the epitome of sensuality that is embedded in the Japanese community and our group managed to interact and converse with the Japanese people about this. We focused on this because we were uncertain of the origins of hentai and hypothesised that hentai could have originated from Shunga art and its mythological stories. However, through the research conducted with questionnaires, conversations and interviews, it debunks our initial hypothesis. Instead it was the opposite, Shunga is an entity on its own, separate from hentai altogether. It was enlightening for us to uncover this fact.From the research to discover the link between hentai and Shunga art, we learnt that the Japanese people celebrated the sensual side of life because they had a different perspective towards eroticism as a whole. Our research went further then expected in regards to its mythological roots. It is thanks to these roots that allowed the Japanese people to be more open towards eroticism. They looked at it not as something to be ashamed of but as a way of life. Their openness towards the topic became clear and we decided that is what we would like to showcase as part of our final project.
Our group aimed to Redefine Eroticism to everyone and decided to do so in a Photo Series. Using photography posters as a medium, we would like to communicate new ways or perspectives towards eroticism.
With 4 main pillars to represent the redefined concept:
Intimacy, Innocence, Expression and Embrace
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| Figure: Sketches for analyzing the data collected. |
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| Figure: Sketches for synthesizing the data collected. |
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| Figure: Sketches for executing the project in a form of photo series and its exhibition layout. |
After coming up with the four pillars, I worked on writing up the summary and captions for the photographs with guidance from Mr Charles on which words would suit best in each category.
Summary
Redefining Eroticism
A photo series to provide new perspectives towards eroticism. The series consists of Innocence, Embrace, Expression and Intimacy. These are pillars we believe that would help us understand the sensual side of life and prevent its misunderstanding. We showcase the purity in its innocence, the strength in its embrace, the love in its intimacy and freedom in its expression. May this redefined form of eroticism free each individual - mind, body and soul.
Expression
A sense of feeling, curiosity and intensity coming together in layers to form the pillar of expression. There is tranquility in deep inhales and clean exhales that completes us.
Embrace
The paradoxical depiction of struggle and support. A human brace is the last grace one may have at any place. The beauty of a moment to be powerful and fierce in the strong embrace of another.
Intimacy
Love, heart and desire when trusting another with your innermost self. A duality of empathy and compassion as both are grateful to coexist at the same moment in time and living.
Innocence
The purest form of innocence can be found in the sweetest of treats. It is a combination of the purity in friendship and the ecstasy of forming everlasting bonds that kindles joy in our sweetened souls.
Apart from the copy we also had to go through 2 Rounds of photo shoot to get the right photos for our posters. Over 600 shots were taken and only 4 were chosen from the lot.
Poster Design
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| Poster: Embrace (back) |
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| Poster: Embrace (front) |
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| Poster: Expression (back) |
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| Poster: Expression (front) |
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| Poster: Intimacy (back) |
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| Poster: Intimacy (front) |
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| Poster: Innocence (back) |
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| Poster: Intimacy (front) |
Self Reflection
It was even more interesting that our research brought us to the understanding that the Japanese people, although open to the concept of eroticism, they were also shy about it and do not discuss it openly. This brought me to think that perhaps they looked at eroticism as whole in a completely different light. Their perspective of it was pure and natural. They appreciated Shunga as an art form and saw past the pornography aspect of it and deemed it non pornography.
Their views on eroticism I believe, should be shared and known by others. So I came up with the 4 main pillars that could help redefine eroticism altogether: Innocence, Embrace, Expression and Intimacy. Guided by Mr Charles, we managed to come up with statements that supported these concepts of eroticism. I had lots of fun writing the content and caption for this project.
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