Diaspora
refers to ‘large-scale migration or dispersion of people in general‘ (ALC215
Study guide, Topic 3, p. 1). Immigrants
have tried to seek and establish their original cultures in settled states. Sun (2002,
p. 122) explains that a website signals that diasportic Chinese groups seek
their cultural identification by engaging with historical national trauma, and
cyberspace plays an important role in telling national stories (p. 133). I would agree with this, in Australia, the
internet largely connects me with national identity. I watch my country’s news, drams and films
through the internet. However, if I had
a friend who has same nationality with me but was born and grown up in
Australia, I would tell her/him about more spiritual aspects of Japanese culture.
cultural identity which is linked to animism. Animism means breath, life and sprite in Latin and is a religion of sprites which insists that every object in the nature in this planet carries sprites (Bak n.d., p.1). Animism is historically prevailed in Japan. Also, it is represented in some of Japanese animations. Probably some of you guys have watched ‘Spirited Away’ (2002), and Bak points out that it presents ideology of water and the Nature (n.d., p. 1). I think culture associated with something we could not see may bring more stable cultural identity and sense of belongings Because it seems be able to expand immigrants’ imagination towards the culture and the imagined world may not be easily deprived by environmental changes. In this case as well, media, animations and films, help me to be adherent to my cultural identity.
image source:
Spirited Away Trailer
References:
Bak, M n.d., Animism inside Japanese animations : focused on animations by Hayao Miyazaki, M.A. Visual Communication Design, retrieved 26 August 2012,
Deakin
University 2012, ALC 215 Study guide, Topic 3, School of Communication and
Creative Arts, Faculty of Arts and Education, Burwood.
Sun,
W 2002, Leaving China: media, migration,
and transnational imagination, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp.
113-36.
Hi Yumiko, what a unique and interesting blog post, different from any I have read on this topic. As a Japanese person you provide a really interesting perspective on this topic; I love the picture you included, it's fascinating to see the way Australia is portrayed and promoted to potential visitors/immigrants. I think the post could relate back to the unit and key concepts a little more, but having said that I really enjoyed your writing and the different angle you took.
ReplyDeleteHi Yumiko, thanks for writing up such interesting post. Although I have watch Spirited Away in the past but after reading your post about culture and national identity, it give me more in depth that never occurs me when I watch this movie then.
ReplyDeleteAlso, another film besides the usual manga and anime that I think could greatly reflect to Japanese national identity is - Densha Otoko.