Brief summary of this semester: When I Whistle (approximately 2.5 weeks: ) World Lit papers 1 & 2 revisions (1.5 weeks) Hard Times (3 weeks) Review of Heart of Darkness (1 – 2 classes) IB dead week and mock exams, March 5 – 16 Clear Light of Day (HL only) (3 weeks) Review for IB exams (2.5 weeks) IB exams, May 2 – 22

JAPAN

The Japanese Aesthetic aesthetic(s): branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty; also, a particular theory or conception of beauty or art (Merriam Webster) To the Japanese, aesthetics are a basic part of daily life rather than an academic or philosophical discipline. The ancient ideals into which Japanese aesthetics are traditionally divided are: WABI: transient and stark beauty SABI: beauty of natural patina (sheen on surface made by age and use) and aging YUGEN: profound grace and subtlety

Calligraphy A highly esteemed branch of traditional art in Japan

Modern Japanese Literature Japan’s defeat in WWII greatly influenced writers disaffection loss of purpose coping with defeat A stress on the inner lives of characters is often evident in Japanese fiction Buddhist tradition emphasizes self knowledge and the impermanence of the material world Alienation in the modern urban jungle is another common theme

Japanese high school students and seifuku

Japan in WWII The Axis Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Imperial Japan is created in 1936 Japan at war with China from 1937 Hoping to dominate Asia, in December 1941, Japan attacks and conquers U.S. and European possessions in the Pacific At its peak, Imperial Japan’s possessions include Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, parts of China, Malaysia, French Indochina, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Philippines, Burma, parts of India, and other Pacific Islands Japan defeated in numerous naval battles in 1942 Japanese navy decisively defeated by the U.S.; Japan surrenders when U.S. invasion of home islands becomes imminent (15 August 1945)

Modern Japan

Shusako Endo 1923 - 1996 Among Japan’s most renowned 20th Century authors Unique perspective as a Japanese Catholic (baptized at age 11) Born in Japan, but moved to Dalian (Japanese occupied Manchuria) as a child Began college as medical student, but shifted to literature with focus on French Catholic writers Worked at munitions factory when WWII interrupted his university studies Suffered from poor health: spent 2 years in a hospital; thought poorly of Japanese medicine

Endo: themes and motifs Complex moral dilemmas Christianity; oppression of Japanese Christians Outsiders, foreigners, alienation Hospitals, patients, doctors, disease

When I Whistle, 1974 Setting: Kansei, Western Japan

Kansai…. Western Japan Sumiyoshi – Ashiya - Nishinomiya

WIW: themes - generation gap; clash in values between old and new Japan - futility and tragedy of war; also, its effects on a generation that has known it - Japanese hierarchies and social norms - acceptance vs. ambition - honesty and integrity - brief encounters that give life meaning

WIW: symbols & motifs Aiko’s fountain pen the color white the beach (and its changes) Nada (and its changes) trains diseases (cancer, TB) weather

Useful References Traditional house and apartment building Fusuma and traditional futon preparation Ofuro

the ‘belt’of the kimono Bean Cakes Obi – the ‘belt’of the kimono Useful References Japanese Calligraphy

Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_aesthetics#Wabi-sabi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_literature http://alicetocracy.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/serafuku-a-japanese-school-uniform/ http://zackleey.blogspot.com/2011/06/japanese-high-school-boys.html http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/cultural/hj/japanesecalligraphy.html http://calligraphy-expo.com/eng/AboutCalligraphy/Hieroglyph/East.aspx?ItemID=1589 http://interestingfacts-themur.blogspot.com/2009/02/art-of-japanese-calligraphy-short.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_calligraphy http://www.chocolate-fish.net/img_-2669 http://www.japanesecuisine.info/culture-of-japan/modern-japan http://tokio-tokyo.blogspot.com/2010/10/tokio-cidade-dos-games-das-animacoes.html http://www.dipity.com/tickr/Flickr-shinjuku/ http://www.nybooks.com/galleries/david-levine-illustrator/1982/nov/04/shusaku-endo/ http://www.crisismagazine.com/2011/shusako-endos-borrowed-faith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shusaku_Endo http://www.amazon.com/Wonderful-Fool-Peter-Modern-Classic/dp/0720613205 http://www.amazon.com/When-I-Whistle-Shusaku-Endo/dp/0720614376 http://www.amazon.com/Volcano-Shusaku-Endo/dp/0720614309