God's Dust by Ian Buruma: again, one of my favorite writers of Asian culture, he is thorough and has an ability to see into a culture and characterize it accurately and fairly. In this book, written in 1989, he goes on a tour of Asia (Burma, Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea) and gives an analysis of the politics and culture of each county. I found the sections on Burma, Taiwan, and Malaysia the most informative since I knew the least about these countries. Despite the fact that it was published 15 years ago, it stands the test of time well, since the basic national character of a country doesn't really change.
And that is where I found his analysis of Japan to be spot on. He cites his own personal love/hate relationship with the country where he spent nearly a decade of his life, so that despite his language ability and long presence there he felt chagrin at never being able to be fully accepted into that society. He states: "Japan is the most "Westernized" country in Asia, yet, somehow the country in East Asia least touched by the west. I am never sorry to leave, but I always yearn to go back." A sentiment that many would agree with, and I would concur in relation to trip to America and abroad, I will always feel the need to leave at least once a year, but I often miss it while I am away.
Perhaps the most incisive comment is how Japanese stubbornly hold fast to the notion that Japanese are unique and that foreigners are unable to understand certain Japanese concepts that reflect the Japans spirit. (Click here for some recent examples of this concept) He uses the example of a neurologist who made a name for himself by writing a book about the uniqueness of the Japanese brain, which he claims is uniquely sensitive to the sounds of temple bells, waterfalls, cicadas, and other natural vibrations.
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett: apparently Akira Kurasawa got his inspiration for Yojimbo from Hammett's detective novel (incidently I am waiting for the Criterion Edition of it to arrive as we speak). I really enjoyed the hardboiled narration in it and saw how it informed the work of Joel and Ethan Coen as well. At one point he uses the term "Blood Simple" to describe the rampant number of murders that have taken place. I am under the impression that Miller?s Crossing is based on another Hammett novel, The Glass Key, which I haven't read yet, but some of the 30s terminology finds its way into Miller's Crossing. Most notably: "What's the rumpus?" and "twist."
let me know how Yojimbo is. Maybe I'll put it on my to rent list.
Posted by: phatrick | January 17, 2004 at 09:27 AM