My Personal Album- Assignment for Thursday, March 2nd

I am an American tourist who are interested in gardening and flowers. I have been in Japan for two weeks and I have seen a lot of gardens and flowers here, which are really beautiful. The following five images are what I have chosen to take with me to my homeland.

1.

 Japanese people grow azaleas, too. They line roads with azaleas of different colors in parks. The Japanese woman in the image is wearing a yellow kimono, who is simply gorgeous among the colorful azaleas. It is such a delight to eyes.

2.

 Look, two Japanese women in kimono are arranging flowers in a tatami room. They are so tranquil and talented. The flower container is very archaic and quaint, which goes with the mat and the flowers. This is real art. Looking at them arranging flowers would make me feel calm and forget all about worries in life.

3.

 The garden in the image makes me want to settle in the house like that. The stone paths, cute flowers, clear water, elegant maple trees, and wooden gate, comprise a multi-layered dynamic world, much better, more beautiful and interesting than the American lawns which simply cover the earth with a green quilt.

4.

 Look at these chrysanthemums at the flower display. They come with different shapes and colors. I have never seen some many chrysanthemums in the United States. It is so oriental, which goes with the three women in kimono. Look at the women. They look so beautiful when appreciating the flowers. They are like angels or goddess of flowers, pure and innocent.

5.

 The sakura trees are blossoming, so beautiful. But I think if all the Japanese men in the image were substituted by young Japanese women in kimono, the image would look much better and more coordinate. Pink cherry blossoms are like innocent Japanese women. They are very mild, tranquil and beautiful.


A More "Academic" Analysis of the Album and Commentary
The album focuses on gardening and flowers, but it also includes people in many images. In fact, there is only one image which doesn't involve any person in it. The fictional traveler seems to have a fantasy or imagination on Japanese woman to be innocent, childlike, and mild. They are like objects, specifically flowers, only for men to look at. If they are old and wither like flowers, no one would like to look at them. Women in kimono in these images are part of the flowers. They signify virtue, innocence and beauty. Also, the fictional traveler has a fantasy of romanticizing everything in Japan.