After ww2, in 50s, 60s Japan longed for the western world, especially the U.S. Actually I suppose the TV show "Bewitched"; had influenced the Japanese' image of Life in the U.S. So mannequins in the department stores had this type body and face.. Of course they sold Japanese size clothes to Japanese. Maybe until the middle 70s we could see those types of mannequins in the store. Now it is very hard to find them. Then I think those mannequins got to be a sort of icon/symbol of our self-deprecating humor. You know we laugh at ourselves "Japan longed for the western world very much". "This is our image for the Stereotype of western people"... such feelings.
A visual artist Yoshimasa Ishibashi used them for his visual work; an all mannequins film "Oh Mikey". It was aired after midnight, and got to be popular because of its cynical humor. Hmm I have to tell you that TV show has our self-deprecating humor + irony for the U.S. society. Ishibashi's work always has such poison, if you have an interest, I recommend checking out his Vermillion preasure night.
Anyway Sony Playstation2 will release a game "TOKYO SURPRISE". Their site has no details yet, but as far as I could tell from the info, it will be a roll playing game of people in Tokyo, some are Japanese, a few are foreigners. A setting of each person is an exaggeration of our image for the stereotype. For example, Edgar comes from the UK; he was born on Baker St. He loves Sherlock Holmes very much; Heç—´ often late to his job, every time he makes an excuse why his alarm has suddenly disappeared. Jean Jack comes from France, he loves Japanese Samurai movies, he has a legend about seeing 28 samurai movies without eating, or sleeping. Regarding the Japanese characters, there is IT girl who adheres to her custom PC. A MTB boy goes everywhere by his MTB, but he has no sense for directions. Oh do you remember we have the "er" rule for addicted people? In that way, there are cafers, martial artsers, Japananimatioers etc etc. Are they unique? Or are they just stereotypes after all, which can we categorize? Those old mannequins (they made a surprise version though) are used effectively as a sort of irony.
In commemoration of the release of this TOKYO SURPRISE, those surprise face mannequins appeares in some shopping buildings in the center of Tokyo. They say they will appear in Ropponigi Hills and Marunouchi Building etc,. If you were in Tokyo, you could meet him (weird....) somewhere.
Well, that's what pomo is all about, it's one long argument about what's "valid" and "invalid" to do as art. And nothing is more short-lived than a pomo movement, you can pretty well tell when it's passe when it starts appearing on shopping bags and other commercial graphics. Anyway, just be really glad you never had to take actual art history classes about pomo theory, like I did.
Posted by: Charles | Friday, December 03, 2004 at 01:59 AM
actually, reading this today, I see I sound almost petulant, but the fact is, I was rapidly drifting to beddy bye land when I wrote the above.. what I would like to say Charles (if you actually check back here) is that I will be the first to admit knowing nothing about art. Which is ironic considering I'm an artist, but I have taught myself and so I missed all the art history I might have received had I attended some noble institution. My perception of the Superflat movement seemed to me at least, more than reactionary. It seemed to be a statement of how traditional values can become stale without a sideways glance now and again. It seemed that wry irony that makes fun of its own seriousness. Sort of like saying "this is art, but dont get attached to that concept." It opened the door for alot of innovation, and alot of poseurs some might argue.I also thought it innovative that they used mass marketing strategies to "spread the word"..that is, share the concept on a global level and take it out of the realm of the elite, without disillusioning anyone about the value of their work.It transcended the cultural boundaries it addressed. I'm sure the shock value has worn off after a few years, of course, as trends often go. But I dont think it would be fair to say it was a passe movement any more than I would say the renaissance was passe, no matter how many versions of the mona lisa I see. I think it had a valid point, at least from my perception of it and I guess that's all that really matters..to me at least. ;)
Posted by: robert | Friday, December 03, 2004 at 01:02 AM
:) that's me. passe and unlearned. ;) I still like Murakami & Nara.. yes, I agree I have alot to learn about postmodernism, among other things my friend, I guess I was just generalizing and waxing speculatively albeit incoherently.. I'll blame it on the messed up sleep schedule lately. ;p
Posted by: robert | Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 03:48 PM
You have a lot to learn about Postmodernism, Robert. The Superflats were a reaction to the stereotypical flatness of pomo painting. But it doesn't matter because the Superflats are passe already.
Posted by: Charles | Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 01:20 PM
It is reminiscent of the Superflat movement. Sort of a direct reaction to a cultural standard set by outside influences. It seems every culture has an ideal, but the perception runs into trouble when we look to an outside source for a template. The result invariably is fabricated, and consequently plastic and not at all reflective of flawed organic thinking. So these types of tongue-in-cheek stereotypes are like markers, illustrating the irony and the uselessness of stereotypes. :) personally.. I find those "surprise" mannequins creepy..surprise in such a prolonged state creates images of the mentally disturbed.. but that's probably just me freaking myself out..of course clowns are scary too. :) I'll have to check out those videos..social commentary is always fun. ;)
Posted by: robert | Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 08:41 AM
Hmm.. this seems like a common theme. A long time ago, I posted a video about Rika-chan on my blog, a famous photographer had an exhibit of fashion photos starring the little plastic doll set in real-life scenes.
Posted by: Charles | Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 04:25 AM