tailieunhanh - War memory and Mizoguchi’s film

This paper focuses on the Japanese film director called Kenji Mizoguchi who worked not only the making films but gave the caricature impact to the Japanese society. He was touching with the Japanese philosophy and spirit before and after the World War II. | WAR MEMORY AND MIZOGUCHI S FILM Fumie Yatagai ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the Japanese film director called Kenji Mizoguchi who worked not only the making films but gave the caricature impact to the Japanese society. He was touching with the Japanese philosophy and spirit before and after the World War II. He described the common life of the Japanese life especially tracing on how the women were dis-treated because of the context of the machismo in the public and at home. Also the women wereprohibited to have good education. The Japanese women at that time had a harsh moment to find their identity. For instance as I experienced the poverty and discriminations just to be a women Mizoguchi s film encouraged me and opened a door to the new life. INTRODUCTION After 300 years of exclusion of foreigners since seventeenth century Japan had a great effort to learn and absorb the technology of powerful countries such as Europe and America. Since Japan participated in the World War I 1914-18 in the month of August the political and economic relationship between Japan and the Western countries was enhanced and diplomatic negotiations with the West European countries started to be further accelerated. On the basis of the economic power gained by supplying weapons to the war-participant countries and the Mr. Yatagai is an . Research Scholar Department of Journalism and Communication University of Madras Chennai India 42 WAR MEMORY AND MIZOGUCHI S FILM development of heavy industries Japan in this period started changing from the agriculture-centered system to industry-centered system. Inflow of people from farming regions to cities increased the population of city consumers which led to the appearance of a new working class people in the city areas who wished for new popular entertainment. The new popular entertainment was nothing but film. The concept Lewisian Turning Point which was proposed by Arthur Lewis an English Economist in the year 1945 became popular in the .