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<DIV><FONT size=2>Gosh, my email has never been so busy. My minor subject
in my degree was IT and one of the papers I wrote for that was on the difference
between computer mediated communication and written/spoken communication.
We set up a conference and then had to observe the results etc. At that
time I had not had much experience on the net or with emails and was slightly
cautious about the technology. However, since starting research for this
dissertation as I am now on line at home I am finding it really helpful and
interesting. I have found a few web pages for various people (relating to
other assignments) and am amazed how willing people are to respond so am
beginning to see that there are some really excellent ways of making use of the
technology.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>But I digress - to get back to Ozu. I have to say that I
have really started my enquiry into Japanese cinema generally from a place of
very limited knowledge and am always rather cautious as to how - what is
effectively a subjective response by myself. is received - especially in
academic circles as it is easy to say things that can be misinterpreted by
scholars who like a tight focus. At the moment I am still trying to build
a broad picture in order to feel that I have a slightly more solid basis on
which to express an opinion.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>I do certainly feel that Ozu's films contain an essence
of what I understand as being Zen although, I believe Ozu himself was rather
dismissive of the West's interpretation of Zen in his films ("The Noriko
Trilogy" by Robin Wood in Cine-Action no. 26/27 Winter 1992). I confess
this is one of the articles waiting for my attention so I am not sure what he
says in it but there is a quote by Ozu on the front page that says "They don't
understand - that's why they say its Zen or something like that" ..
However, it seems to me that despite this protestation the attitude or 'essence'
of the Zen philosophy is in all of his films. And for myself I find that
the pacing and 'empty scenes' (as described by Ritchie definitely imbue the
narrative with meaning. I haven't watched enough films from other
directors (with the exception of Kurosawa) in sufficient depth to comment yet as
to whether this essence is still there. For example, in western films
generally the individual is privileged whereas landscape and environment are
given a much greater role in Japanese films. Perhaps that is why Kurosawa
liked westerns as they also allow the landscape to play an important role.
As I think I mentioned in my earlier e-mail the first Japanese film I saw was
Shindo's Onibaba and that was precisely the thing that stayed in my mind - the
power contained within those incessantly moving reeds to shape the lives of the
two women in the story. I was therefore, interested to read in Joan
Mellen's interview with Shindo that he wanted the reeds to symbolically
represent the world - the society that surrounded the women. I think it is
to his great credit that he was able to communicate this idea visually to (at
the time) a young girl who really knew nothing about Japan or indeed about
films. Its now 20 years later and I still remember how that film made me
feel in this respect. I therefore think that this does demonstrate that
the essence of a philosophy that accepts the multiplicity of life and the
oneness within nature is inherent in these films. What I hope to explore
in the future is whether this has continued in more modern Japanese films.
Personally, I did feel that it was there in Kurosawa's film "Rhapsody in
August".</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>I take your point about Kurosawa and Ozu using a form closer
to classic cinema although I think the content and the way in which Ozu uses
simple dialogue and yet tells a much wider story is in a way in opposition to
the dramatic narratives of Hollywood. As I have only occasionally seen
other Japanese films I don't feel that I can make a comparison at this
stage. I am not quite sure what you mean by the last mythic and symbolic
example of our civilisation. Could you expand a bit on that for me
please?</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>Anyway, thanks for replying. Its very good to have input
from other people especially when you are studying something that most people I
know have very little awareness of. You said you were looking at Zen and
psychology in Ozu's films for your doctorate. Are you having success
finding material?</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>Janet</FONT></DIV>
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