Japanese Culture
Folk and Popular Artists
What is Japanese Folk Culture?
Folk art in Japan is very wide ranging and has influenced many types of artistry overtime in southeastern countries. The most well-known type of cultural folk art in Japan would be Ink Wash Painting also known as literati painting. This form of art was practiced by many people in Japan such as scholars, amatuers, etc. Ink wash painting is known to capture the aesthetic value rather then copy its image on piece of paper. The Japanese like to consider this as a form of art that captures the unseen value. Ink wash painting is able to use shading and tonality to paint art with more detail. Shading techniques depend on the density of the ink and the pressure that’s put into a single brushstroke.
Another very well known kind of folk art is ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Woodblock prints were commonly used in the eighteenth century to disseminate Buddhist scriptures. However, in 1765 new technology allowed for colors and printing was not just used for reproducing texts, it became a way to create art. The woodblock printing process included four workers; the designer, the engraver, the printer and the publisher. One of the most famous results of this art is The Great Wave At Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai.
Folk Culture Examples
Katsushika Hokusai
This is an older style of art called ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Originally this was used to disseminate Buddhist scriptures. Around 1765 though, new technology allowed color to be added to print projects inciting even more creative ways for printing to be used.
Suzuki Harunobu
This demonstrates the same printing style as Katsushika but with a different subject and different purpose. After this, Suzuki used colored prints commercially. He created ads using printing techniques and colored ink.
Nakabayashi Chikutō
This piece is an example of literati or ink wash painting. This is a gray-scale piece, in which only black ink was used. The variation of shade was achieved by applying varying amounts of ink. The less ink applied the lighter the shade and vice versa.
Nakabayashi Chikutō
Nakabayashi Chikutō was a Japanese artist committed to literati theory and technique. He is considered an "academic" painter, meaning he was a skilled craftsmen that strived for marvelous affects on his works. Although literati poetry developed during the Tang Dynasty in China, literati painting was recognized much later. The art form was present all around Asia. Chikutō is one point historians use to create the picture of where the art form was present.
What is Popular Culture?
A form of popular cultural art in Japan is probably well known all over the world, but has mostly originated from Japan. Japanese pop-art is a defining culture in Japan, as Japan is known for their large collection of “Manga” and their wildly popular on-going production of “Anime”. Manga are comics created by artists and have been a popular art style since the late 19th century. In Japan, Manga is read by people of all ages and isn't just popular in Japan but is just as popular all over the world.
Popular Culture Examples
Pokemon
Pokemon has been a famous manga, anime, and video game for more then 15 years. The games encourage strategic thinking and, in many cases, basic math skills. The anime follows the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his squad as they ultimately try to catch and record all the Pokemon.
Deathnote
Death Note is a manga/anime created by writer Tsunami Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata. The series centers around a high school student who finds a book that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name in the book while picturing their face.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is a manga/anime series written by Reki Kawahara. The setting takes place in a video-game distopia as players who experience the virtual reality become trapped in the game and can't escape. If you die in the game, then you die in real life.
Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator for studio ghibli. Through a career that lasted five decades Miyzazaki is considered one of the greatest storytellers to have ever lived. Miyazakis skills compare to those of Walt Disney and other great animators. Miyazaki produce amazing films such as "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro".
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