Forum - View topicNEWS: Poll: Miyazaki is #2 in Representing Japan's Culture
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GATSU
Posts: 15577 |
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I'm surprised Kitano has that kind of impact on Japan viewers, considering Miyazaki's more successful. Did Miike make the list at all?
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Proman
 Posts: 947 Location: USA |
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And little do they know that it is the tentacle monster who really represents Japan
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.... Just kidding! |
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Kagemusha
 Posts: 2783 Location: Boston |
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Yeah, weren't most of Kitano's films disappointments at the domestic box-office? They certainly didn't gross nearly as much as any of Miyazaki's. Then again, most American's would pick Scorsese as the modern director who "represents" American cinema over Spielberg just on the strength of his reputation. Also being a popular comedian/media-personality means he's in the public eye more than Hayao, who's probably just a name to many people.
gatsu-Isn't Miike viewed as an eccentric film nut, kind of like how most people look at Tarentino? |
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Proman
Posts: 947 Location: USA |
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That wouldn't happen. Spielberg is yet to lose any poplarity contest involving population (and there have been numerous polls) and the "represents" part would work in his favor even more. He would win 10:1, at least. Also, most Americans would probably have a hard time naming one Scorsese movie. And don't underestimate Spielberg's reputation as a serious filmmaker either. It's not all "Jurrasic Park" and "Transformers" (ugh  ), you know?
Kitano has a similar dual strength. As "Beat" Takeshi, he is well known as a wacky comedian and a host of a popular TV show. As Takeshi Kitano he is a very well respected serious director (an auteur even) and actor. Also, Kitano is a very Japanese man (in an old fashined sense). He has been quite vocal critic of Western cluture and influence and because of that he may be seen as someone who represents traditional Japanese (and possibly conservative) values more so than Miyazaki. Remember, this is NOT exactly a popularity contest. And as for Miike... he probably split his own vote .
Last edited by Proman on Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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I would have to agree. Takeshi does things according to the stage name that he uses, and he follows up on it pretty well. A number of movies I've seen with him as Takeshi Kitano shows well for traditional Japanese subjects or messages he may be trying to show.
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Twage
Posts: 364 Location: North Bergen, NJ |
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Very interesting. Though I did find it odd that ANN chose to emphasize BR, MXC, Zatoichi in his parenthetical. To me Takeshi does and always will mean Hanabi.
Untrue if you consider television appearances a sign of success. Takeshi's on Japanese TV virtually 24/7. Also, I agree with Proman that Takeshi definitely represents "typical" Japanese better than Miyazaki, who has always been something of a hippie. A perfectionist workaholic hippie, but nonetheless. |
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JNOtaku
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Even though I am an anime fan (and do like Miyazaki's work), I have to say neither of these two people represents Japan's culture the most. I have to give that honor to film director Akira Kurosawa.
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Proman
Posts: 947 Location: USA |
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That may be wrong, actually. For most of his life Kurosawa wasn't met with high critical or commercial. In fact, he in Japan his movies were often considered to be too Western and not representative of Japanese culture. In later years he even had trouble financing his more ambitious movies and had to turn to western producers for financing. It's kind of ironic in a way, and I do understand where you are coming from, especially since Kurosawa is much more admired and understood in Japan now (one of the top movie awards in Japan is named after him). You could probably make a stronger point for Tezuka but I'm not sure if this poll was only limited to living people. |
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Amasa
 Posts: 340 Location: Japan |
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I agree. I think you just need to switch on a Japanese television to see how influencial Takeshi is. He's on a lot of ads, a lot of talkshows, and the left side of his face is paralyzed! I think it's pretty amazing that Japanese TV, probably the most vein and aesthetic television to watch, is ruled by Takeshi who looks like a monster frankly. |
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