The Last Samurai

There was nothing in our lessons asking for a discussion of the movie, "The Last Samurai" so I decided to make a brief comment.

First, it disturbs me that the films we've watched so far to illustrate cultural differences have both included massive amounts of death, blood and general violence.

In the movie, Western culture is depicted as one of greed and progress at any cost while traditional Japanese culture (and Native American culture, by reference) is poetic and contemplative. The Samurai are honorable soldiers while the American-trained troops are generally portrayed as much more callous. Western culture is very one-dimensional in the movie, whether as shown in the quest to conquer on American soil or on Japanese soil. While I would never defend our actions against the Native Americans, the movie leaves you with the impression that Nathan Algren is the only American with a conscience.

To my original comments about Japan, I found the scenery and the architecture stunning in its simplicity. I was especially taken by the scenes where Nathan was practicing in front of the sunset.

Simplicity

·What are your first impressions when you think of Japan or Japanese culture?
·What makes you laugh?

My first thoughts of Japan are paintings of Mt. Fuji, sushi, discipline and Buddhism.
I find the two-dimensional style of much of Japanese art calming. There’s a simplicity of style that excludes too much detail – leaving only the important parts to make a complete image. I also mentioned discipline. This characteristic comes mainly from my business background. The ability to think truly long-term (generations into the future) is amazing and something sorely lacking in American culture.


I think of Zen – meditation and mindfulness – a turning inward. I am not very good at meditation. I am easily distracted by thoughts and external sounds. I prefer a quiet environment or one in which natural sounds are the only intrusion – the ocean, thunder, bird song, rain.
I've never been to Japan so I only have pictures to go on, but the architecture in less populated areas seems to me to be very much in tune with nature.


The simplicity of style and lack of overly grandiose ornamentation I find very appealing. I believe I like this style because I wish to achieve a greater simplicity in my own life.
I feel like I've only touched lightly and bounced several key areas. As I reread the beginning of the this blog, I realize, my overwhelming impression of Japan is simplicity. I realize that isn't really the case, but in the Art and in the architecture and in a representative spiritual path, that is a common theme.
One more comment that is somewhat off the topic of Art. I love to cook and I appreciate beautiful food. Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto creates some of the most beautiful sushi I've seen.

Laughter is an interesting concept. I once heard a stand-up comedian say that working a club has become more difficult because so many people now get their comedy from the TV that they have forgotten how to laugh out loud. I started noticing that when I found things funny on TV I was more apt to laugh in my head rather than out loud. I’m not a very noisy person by nature so this didn’t come as a big surprise to me – just something I had never really thought about.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I really enjoy laughing with my Mom. Silly things can get us started and we’ll laugh until it hurts. I remember going to a comedy club years ago with friends and laughing/crying the whole time the opening comedian was on. The headliner, in contrast, was not funny to me at all. I don’t remember why I found him so funny, but he probably told jokes about things I easily related to in my everyday life. I find Dilbert very funny because there is so much truth to the comic strip. (That makes me a little sad, too.) It’s difficult to discuss laughter when I’m not laughing – if that makes any sense. The next time I find myself in hysterics, I’ll think more about what’s making me laugh and add another blog entry.