Self-introduction

1       1. Your name (and name you prefer to be called, if different):

    Jin Kai
2. Your hometown: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
3. Your major(s) and minor(s): N/A
4. Class of:  N/A
5. Why are you taking this class?  What do you hope to get out of it?
    Because I am interested in both photography and Japanese culture.
6. What aspects of Japanese culture are of interest to you?
    Animation and tea culture.
7. What, if any, direct experience of Japan or its culture have you had? 
    I have learned Japanese language for a year and like to watch Japanese anime.
8. Add any other comments you might wish to make, including descriptions of image-making activities you may have been involved with (such as drawing, painting, making sculpture, drawing manga, taking photographs beyond casual pictures, etc.). 

        I think it would be a great idea to be involved in some image-making activities in class, esp. sculpture making, which I have never tried before.

My images:

(1) an image of Japan that appeals to me


This is an image of Sakura branches sticking above a river, with a row of wooden houses built along the river. The two men walking along the road seem to be wearing traditional Japanese clothes and all these form a harmonious picture of a traditional Japan that I like.

(2) an image of an art work or some other cultural product that appeals to me


This is an image of the world-renowned woodblock print Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura by the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai. I saw this work of art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was attracted by it immediately. It depicts huge waves off the coast and the boats seem to be struggling not to be destroyed by the waves. Mount Fuji is not far away. I like the colors white and blue used in the print.


(3) an image that I took (a photo) or made myself (for example, a drawing) that I can share with the others in the class. 

This is an image of a canvas painting that I drew last semester at a painting activity. I needed something to decorate my dorm, so took part in the activity and drew it. It depicts several orange flowers, that is because I like flowers and I like the color orange. Thus this painting. 

Assignment for Thursday, Jan. 26

This is an image of a group of girls at a cosplay show in Tokyo. They are cosplaying the famous Japanese anime "Sailor Moon"(美少女戦士セーラームーン). Their costumes, wigs, makeups, weapons and poses represent the original anime characters perfectly. In the image background, other people are doing their own things and they seem to be not paying attention to this group of girls, indicating that they are already used to this kind of shows. In fact, cosplay is quite common in Japan and is now welcomed by other Asian countries. 

This is an image of a plate of Japanese desserts. With a leave, two branches and a bud, the three desserts are made into cherry blossom, camellia and peach blossom. They are scattered in the big plate in an artistic way instead of being piled together. Also, the reflections of the desserts on the plate make the whole plate look like a beautiful picture in which the three kinds of trees stick their branches above a lake as if we could see their reflections on the water surface.  

This is an image of a night view of a street in Japan. The dynamic of this place is not only embodied in the people walking at night, but also in the bright colors such as the red lantern and colorful neon. The combination of the red lantern and the sign board as well as the English letters connote an integration of tradition and modern sense. 

Image Analysis for Tuesday, January 24

    This is a Starbucks ad. When I look at this ad, one of the first things that catches my eyes is the image or sign of a cup with whipped cream on top. This image, combined with the Starbucks trademark on the cup, denotes or signifies three cups of Starbucks drinks put in a straight line. From the viewers’ angle, the crème tops of the three drinks form a shape of a white tree. We tend to associate it with a tree covered in snow, with red decorations on it and a star on its top. The connotation of Christmas is obvious here. What strengthen this connotation are the use of the colors red, white and green, snowflakes with white stars, images of two happily-dancing people on the cup (because all these signs are generally associated with a merry Christmas). Obviously, with the sentence saying “THE HOLIDAY DRINKS ARE HERE”, the advertiser’s goal here is to get us to add Starbucks products to the culturally paradigm of happy Christmas holidays. 

    This is a Pringles ad. The image of the red cylindrical container in the middle signifies Pringles’ new product: pizza-flavored potato chips. It is tilted, and because the word “pizza” on the container shares a similar pronunciation with another word “Pisa” and pizza is from Italy, people tend to relate it to the Leaning Tower of Pisa which serves as a second signifier signifying “Italy”. The diagram of “Italianicity” is further strengthened by the green lawn and part of the building on the left which signifies the Pisa Cathedral. By invoking the “Italianicity”, the advertiser is trying to express the connotation that the pizza flavor in this product is authentic.