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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: <</FONT><A
href="mailto:drainer@mpinet.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>drainer@mpinet.net</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: <</FONT><A
href="mailto:KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 5:01 PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: blanket ignorance</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> <BR>> I think that in the context of
what she said, it made sense, and it wasn't<BR>> meant as a generalization.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"The Japanese are just childish and theatrical
<EM>by nature</EM>." (my italics) You don't get much closer to a
generalization.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>But more so, I think it should be pointed
out<BR>> that she is not American, the "our" is not necessarily linked to
her<BR>> statement. Maybe she was pointing out melodrama in the
media.<BR>> <BR>> "...to simplify cause and effect by asserting instead
that there are<BR>> sweeping national traits to explain specific human
actions or situations.<BR>> " -- But isn't this the defining
characteristic of identity in this<BR>> country? (I am joking, although
such a generalization could be made.)<BR>> <BR>> -d<BR>> <BR>> -----
Original Message ----- <BR>> From: "Mark Mays" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:tetsuwan@comcast.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>tetsuwan@comcast.net</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>><BR>> To:
<</FONT><A href="mailto:KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>><BR>> Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 4:09 PM<BR>> Subject: Re:
blanket ignorance<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> My first thought about the statement
was "there's one in every group" and<BR>> let it slide. It wasn't until I saw
it repeated in another post did I<BR>> consider that there should be some
kind of challenge to the statement. There<BR>> are probably many people who
come to the list seeking some "expertise" on<BR>> not only film but Japanese
culture and some might go away and repeat the<BR>> same idea as an expert
opinion.<BR>> <BR>> I was sort of hoping that a Japanese person would
speak up, however it's<BR>> good you did Joanne.<BR>> -----
Original Message ----- <BR>> From: </FONT><A
href="mailto:j.izbicki@att.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>j.izbicki@att.net</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>> To:
</FONT><A href="mailto:KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>> Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 1:39 PM<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
I expected a flurry of messages to appear about a previous
poster$BCT(B<BR>> blanket comment that "Japanese are childish and
theatrical." Others have<BR>> apparently decided to ignore the remark
but I think some comment is due.<BR>> <BR>> I already deleted
the message but with due respect must assume that the<BR>> writer has had
little or superficial interaction with Japanese people and is<BR>> still
under the sway of 1940s-50s generalizations about Japan. Or have I<BR>>
lost my sense of humor and the comment was meant to be a joke? I
hope<BR>> members of this list have gotten beyond attributing any single
trait or<BR>> peculiarity $BMQ(Bositive or negative$B!&(Bto ALL the people in any
given<BR>> country--or of any ethnic or racial or gender group. It$BCT(B
much more<BR>> informative and helpful to look at specific forces and
contexts at play than<BR>> to simplify cause and effect by asserting instead
that there are sweeping<BR>> national traits to explain specific human
actions or situations.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> In 1951,
Douglas MacArthur made a post-SCAP (i.e., after he$BCE(B been fired<BR>> by
Truman) comment that lost the respect he$BCE(B gained (gained justifiably or<BR>>
not) of many Japanese while he had been Supreme Commander of the Allied<BR>>
Powers. The comment was that $BAU(Bhe Japanese$B!&(Bwere $BEM(Bike a boy of twelve
as<BR>> compared with our development of forty-five years.$B!&(BSPAN<BR>>
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> The $BAP(Bur$B!&(Bapparently meant $BA"(Bmerican,$B!&(B<BR>>
suggesting a too common assumption among stereotypers that their<BR>>
listeners/readers share and approve the stereotype--in this case that<BR>>
Japanese people couldn't measure up to American maturity. Even if
MacArthur<BR>> meant to apply his view only to the political situation in
Japan, he was<BR>> still ignoring a history of sophisticated and complex
political<BR>> structuration and struggle in the country. MacA's
personal history,<BR>> however, suggests he was applying the ! put-down more
broadly.<BR>> <BR>> (MacA$BCT(B comment is from the $BE)(Bearing to Conduct
an Inquiry into the<BR>> Military Situation in the Far East,$B!&(B82nd Congress,
1st session, 1951.<BR>> Quoted in Takamae Eiji$BCT(B $BE*(Bnside GHQ,$B!&(Bp. 7.)<BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Joanne Izbicki<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
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