Felice Beato's Japan

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I feel as if Felice Beato tried to capture a Japanese sort of essence in this photo, while also making it relateable to a western viewing audience by including the myth of a band of musicians.
The musicians here are very plainly dressed in Japanese style clothing, and also sport very Japanese hairdos. Their instruments also appear foreign, and differ from the style of instruments used by western street performers, creating a feeling of what is Japanese to a westerner. At the same time, their instruments are also recognizable enough so that westerners may have been able to guess at what they sounded like, contributing to the street performer myth.

Together, I think these components make this image very marketable to a western audience. The Japanese feeling derived from the way of dress, and foreign instruments combined with the common myth of street performers allows for an image of Japanese life to be painted in the eyes of a westerner. By building upon the base of the street performer myth, they can create something that is familiar and yet foreign, simultaneously allowing them to make their own inferences about Japanese life and see it in a way that is pleasing to them. Together with the description to the left of the photo, viewers are able to paint an exotic picture of Japan while incorporating their own views.


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This image seems to work to capture the grandeur of Japan's architecture and the pristine feeling of the greenery around it. The foreign design style along with the beauty of the land helps to add to the Westerner's sense of Japan's mystery, and foreign, but intriguing looking architecture.

The buildings featured in the picture are on a grander scale, giving them a sense of importance, greatness, and longevity. The stairs leading away to the buildings enhance this effect, as do the tall trees lining the outskirts of the buildings. Together with a foreign style of construction, these factors would build on Westerner's interest in Japan and its perceived nature of being different, and by relation, somewhat mysterious. The people included within the photo are also dressed in a Japanese style, further adding to the 'foreign' feeling of the photo and appealing to western taste and intrigue.

The text included with this photo is also interesting, as it contrasts with the serene scene, but yet also appeals to western interests in their differences with Japan, such as how justice is delivered. The death of a large number of individuals by beheading would be even more so shocking to a westerner, adding to the perceived foreign nature of Japan, and the picture's worth to the photographer.

Portraits

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I really like the contrast between these two. Actually, I quite like the portraits done by the Japanese in general. Anyway...

On the right we have Commodore Perry, and on the left we have his son, Oliver. From looking through his portraits, Perry's drooping features generally tend to be emphasized by the Japanese, along with his more foreign features, such as his nose, and the same is true for this portrait.
I feel this exaggeration of his less attractive features signifies his less attractive actions. Due to the fact that he gained influence in Japan through brandishing his power, I feel as if the artists that painted him painted his face with the same rude message that Perry came to Japan with. (Portraying his face as almost melting off must have been a nice venting exercise. :) ) The exaggeration of Perry's features also helps to exemplify him as foreign, clearly identifying him, and also associating his image with all of the foreignness connected with America.

In contrast to Perry, Oliver is painted much more handsomely. He still bears a larger nose, but not overtly so, has redder lips, a move even complexion, and his eyes definitely aren't attempting to slide off his face. This also helps to make him more relatable. In this manner, I think Oliver signifies both the possibility for more attractive (ideologically) Americans, as he did not directly act as forcefully as his father; and thus can be separated from him. Being young, he also has the potential for growth, like Japan's relationship with America.

Overall, Perry's portrait carries feelings of resentment towards America's actions and foreign influence, while Oliver's gives hope to a successful relationship with America.

OH!NIKKO

So, the plan I originally had in mind was to analyze an advertisement for a Japanese Homestay group. That was when the familiar phrase, 'OH!NIKKO' jumped back into my mind, and made me decide to analyze it instead.


(Photo courtesy of my friend Travis's fb account.)

During the short time 2 summers ago when I was in Japan, my group of friends and I often saw this 'OH!NIKKO' advertisement in train stations near Tokyo.

This ad, in the most basic sense, is geared to bring more tourism to Nikko.
Looking at the background in the advertisement, you can see a lush green forest interspersed with waterfalls. From researching Nikko a bit, it seems that it is known for both its temples and greenery, and as this ad was around in the middle of summer, Nikko would have definitely been green and relaxing at the time, a lure for people looking for somewhere to take some time off at, and signifying Nikko as an attractive place to vaction.

However, what I find to be the most striking part of the advertisement is the happy (and unsettling) mannequin family. We have Mama, Mikey, and Papa, all whom seem to be thrilled at the prospect of Nikko. Mama tells Mikey about how Nikko received 3 stars in the Michelin Green Guide, Mikey is surprised at this, Papa confirms, and also adds a few things I'm not good enough to translate yet.
Now, the Michelin Green guide, as I found out today, is a tourism guide, and 3 stars is the highest ranking that can be given to a specific location. So, again, we see an appeal to possible tourists.

The mannequin family also seem to have an obnoxious tourist-like air about them, which is what makes them fun, and likable. They seem overly happy, appear to be a foreign family with names to match, and serve as a nice parody to a stereotypical family. The tourist vibe of the mannequins also causes the viewer to associate being in Nikko with tourism, consequently giving the viewer thoughts of themselves as a tourist in Nikko. Although they are a little creepy and weird, this aspect also makes them eye-catching, memorable, and funny. Designers of the ad most likely intended to make them so over the top so that viewers would realize that they are one big, happy joke, promoting good feelings about Nikko while also associating it with tourism.
I definitely would not have remembered this advertisement had it not been for the happy family of mannequins. Together with the bold, rhyming (and thus easier to remember) 'OH!NIKKO' at the top of the advertisement, and the beautiful background scenery, the advertisement works to make the idea of tourism in Nikko memorable.

I also feel that this advertisement was aimed at both foreigners and everyday people in Japan. Being positioned mainly around the Tokyo area where there are more busy train stations, it was seen by both groups of people. For foreigners who generally cannot read Japanese, it plainly states 'NIKKO', in big, bold letters, and gives off this 'crazy Japanese' vibe, which dually acts as a parody to the Japanese, as the mannequins are really crazy foreigners. This simultaneously appeals to both groups. In fact, two of my friends whom I met in Japan actually went to Nikko solely due to this advertisement. I also happened to remember this advertisement from a year and a half ago for this blog, both of which I think attests to its memorability.

Overall, an effective, memorable, and fun tourism ad. : )


Also, just for kicks, I found a more fall-like version: