Applying western theories on japanese films

[amnornes@umich.edu]

Quoting Robert.Geib at gmx.de:

> Though interpreting them through various theoretical goggles may be 
> tempting; I think the close analysis of these films can inform theory 
> and not vice versa.
>
> Again thanks to everybody that helped me with that problem, it was a 
> really great introduction to this discussion group.

I suspect there is a large, silent contingent on KineJapan that was 
watching this thread on the sidelines, dreading the work required to 
plunge in. This group is attentive to the social and historical 
particularities of Japanese cinema, but carefully avoids sorting the 
philosophical ground out between us and them (can you identify any 
filmmakers or critics in Japan untouched by Enlightenment?). For this 
reason, the application of a "Western" theory isn't much of a question. 
How you use theory, what leverage it affords, what questions it raises, 
answers suggested, where it takes you....that is more important.

Markus