The highlighted Television

 

 

 

 

Nowadays, television has become one of key factors in order to build human daily lives. It is one of the must hold furniture not only among families but also popular in young generations. In addition, the television had played an important role by influence each individual.

 

     Therefore, what made television so attractive to the masses? Let us just define in the literal sense of the word “Television”. Generally because in 1927, Philo Farnsworth from the U.S firstly made the world's first working television system with electronic scanning of both the pickup and display devices,[1]  ‘Tele’ according to the dictionary means over a long distance, ‘Vision’ means the ability to see or the area that you can see from a particular position. Thus, the television can be basically defined as to be able to get the message which is from a long distance though television. It allows people know everything around the world from one small screen. When people watch television, they have virtually connected to the world. This unilateral connection therefore required television must be able to service different viewers. The television itself is not that essential compare to what kind of information it brings out to the public. It broadcasts various types of programmes such as news, music, movie, variety shows and so on in order to fulfill viewers. Those programmes somehow in a way just in viewer’s favor. Followings are some examples: by watching morning news, people will bring an umbrella with them when it is said rainy. In Japan, when it is Typhoon season, the viewers can exactly know the progress by watching television. Without watching television, people are likely to get into trouble and that had made people believe that they can not live without television.

 

       Another obvious reason is that of enjoyment. Personally, to watch television is as same as relax. To make brain have a long breath without thinking too much about what is said, have a laugh and forget what seemed less important. In Japan for example, a great amount of people love watching ‘Manzai’ at home after one day hard working. Manzai is a sort of comedy. The so called Japanese humor is easy to understand and suitable for different age of citizens in Japan. As the television programmes are made by people, human beings know what their expectations are from television. As a result, they made programmes to meet everybody’s need, to entertainment.

In addition, television could classify as the most convenient media. Although there have many other ways to spread the message, television still own the most viewers. These days, along with the improvement of technologies, the internet, smart phone and computer gained more attention. However, for a few senior citizens and children, television is comfortable and simple tool owing to the lack knowledge about electric products. In countries such as Japan, advanced age society, television apparently serviced numerous citizens.

 

In conclusion, there are three key elements made television highly popular and significant. The television helped human beings to have a better life ought to connect the world to each individual, supply enjoyment and handy electric product.

 

 

 

 

1 "Philo Taylor Farnsworth (1906–71)", The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco

World Famous Monsters

     There are things that remain in your memory with a sense of joy. Think of your favorite toy from your childhood, best field trip, birthday party with friends, first pet you had, and so on. While some of the events are impossible to repeat in exactly same way you did before, reading your favorite book could offer you a chance to feel the similar sentiment every time you pick up and read the book.

     On the other hand, you may agree that going through the same contents after few years give you different thoughts on them. For instance, at my age 5, Sailor Moon was the best art piece I could proudly name; now, I can see many flaws in the storyline that makes me laugh. (The protagonist looks almost the same from her normal daily appearance even after the transformation but the enemy would never recognize her, hilarious!) I still think the animation was fair enough, but now I can observe the same work from the different perspective of view. This kind of process is possible because new experiences influence previous opinion on the subject matter.

     The improvement of the subject matter itself may also change your thoughts on it. Simply, you get amazed or disappointed at the change. This, however, does not “seem” to take place often, because there are limited number of forms that can actually show these contents have improved. What do you suppose the enhanced form of a certain movie would be? It might be a sequel in the form of a remake or vice versa; it may change the platform of the story, such as a book. Sadly, I have seen people recommending good movies that depicted the story of the original novel in sound quality but vice versa, not many. Sequels are not so successful all the time. Disney’s sequels for the most of the cases did not carry the drama I felt in the ‘first’ movies.

     Assume that we can clearly sense the change on certain piece of work; will it be able to attract both the original and new fans?

     Let me introduce my blog topic at this point. Can you recognize the little thing  in this picture?

Pikachu![1]

Mates, you have seen this one and its fellow creatures via game, animation, comic books, movie, cards, stickers, fluffy dolls, and in many other forms. From 1996, since the first appearance in the world through game, their name has been one of the most renowned words. I chose Pokémon, or Pocket Monster and reasons for its continued popularity as my blog topic. The popularity of this thing is surely undoubted. Even my Microsoft Words corrected misspells for Pikachu automatically just now!

     When I was in elementary school, Korean television channels broadcasted two animations that almost every Korean around my age can feel nostalgia when they hear those titles: Digimon and Pokémon. Both were super popular, and kids would talk about their favorite monsters or what happened in yesterday’s episode so cheerfully. The stationary in front of my school would stock the merchandise with Pokémon or Digimon pictures on them, and kids searched the pile of goods to find the one with the picture of the favorite character on it. However, while Pokémon series are still producing new animations, movies, games and many more, Digimon has gone below the surface. What made such difference?

     The series of postings I will write will include my game experiences. It may also include drawings or photos both presented by me. It will be mentioned in later postings but I am a classic Pokémon game player and, ironically, a new fan of this series. One more: I am an amateur gamer, and I believe such status would allow me to approach this topic in rather understandable manner to dear readers whom I assume would not welcome a review by the hardcore game nerd. After all, it will be about ‘why Pokémon is so famous’, not ‘why Pokémon games are so interesting'.

Sophie

Picture retrieved from

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:025Pikachu.png on 11:50 30 Oct 2012

---

[1] Art work done by Ken Sugimori, the official image of #025 Pikachu, introduced in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen(2005).

Myanmar (Burma) is making a soft landing

 ~ Democratization in process under the military government~

After the independence of Myanmar from the Britain in 1948, the civilian government under the military control by Ne Win, which would give citizens and the country itself about hard time about for 50 years later on, came into existence. Myanmar controlled by Ne Win seemed to be so far away from democracy at that time. Not only citizens there but people all over the world would never imagine the existence of democracy in Myanmar.[1][2]

However as the military government system was controlling the country, objections toward its system increasingly arouse from other countries including U.S.[3] It also deteriorated relationships with foreign countries, which worsen economy as well. While neighbor countries spreading stable relationships with other countries and were growing economically.

As the growth was taking place in countries around Myanmar, the citizens’ desire for democracy got increased. This will enable the following that the government realized that the military system would never work on modernizing Myanmar if they continued the same system and it also acknowledged the necessity of new movements in government itself. It is the movement that is the way to democratize the country slowly as remaining military system in it.  The relation between government and citizens became well-balanced, which can be thought to create relatively the stable condition in Myanmar today. Saying it more simply, the existence of military has made today’s Myanmar under stable condition. The condition of today’s Myanmar is being democratized with military government which is controlling citizens moderately.[4]

That kind of dramatic process has started since Thein Sein, a Burmese politician and former military figure who has been President of Myanmar, became a prime minister of Myanmar in 2007. Leading with the new system of governing by him, a national referendum also became be in adaption and further democratization was getting in process. In 2010 The Burmese military authorities finally released the pre-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been in house arrest for anti-military activities .Moreover Thein Sein has been a prime minister of Myanmar since March 2011 and NLD led by Su Kyi was reregistered as one of political parties.[5] Through seeing those changes briefly, democratization in Myanmar seems to be in process gradually with its military government. It is not progressing sharply and rapidly but it is surely and moderately making steady process. How process for democratization in the country is being made looks exactly like how a plane is trying to make a soft landing on ground. Slowly but steadily.

What if people in Myanmar should defeat military government? A condition would become serious unlike the stable one in the current Myanmar. Here is a typical bad example. It is Tunisian revolution, a democratic movement against government taken place in Tunisia from 2010 to 2011. Movements against government were spread to a whole country and they contributed to the end of 23 years in dictator power. Such demonstrations opposing governments would not stop and which were expanded to the other nations including Libya and Egypt in the Arab nations. Dissatisfaction towards dictatorship was into explosion, which led to the situation no one could control a country at all. Revolutions can sound to be success since there is no government which annoys citizens. Citizens must have felt that they finally could gain freedom being away from governments. However was it really great to them overall? There is no one who controls, or rather saying organizes a country and citizens fall apart with their own desires. Therefore a condition would be deteriorated worse than before. Economy is also stagnant because of it. Under such conditions, there should be no way to make progress towards democracy.[6][7][8][9]

              Myanmar didn’t follow such path but chose its own path as remaining military power in the government. What’s more, it has being trying to make great process in making the country democracy not in a brutal or rash but a sober way by using military power. The new act in military government itself can be said to contribute deeply to the steady democratic process. It tells us that initiating a reformation with brutal and bloody fights is not always a helpful way to solve a problem. Now look at Myanmar. People there definitely didn’t initiate a dramatic reformation at all. Nevertheless they are keeping up the present government in order to change a country gently. It represents a new way of reforming.

---

[1] Brief information about History of Myanmar http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/myanmar/index.html

Brief history of Myanmar

[2] http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/02/world/asia/myanmar-timeline/index.html

[3] Relations with foreign countries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Burma

[4] new movements in the government

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2012/0330/Reforms-in-Myanmar-4-reasons-the-military-changed-course/Leaders-protecting-themselves

[5] release of Aung San Suu Kyi

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11749661

[6] Worse conditions after revolutions

In Tunisia

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2011/11/14/nearly-one-year-after-the-tunisian-revolution-sidi-bouzid-remains-a-neglected-town/

[7] In Libya http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/09/13/parry-libya-arms-embassy-attack.html

[8] Libya

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-libyan-revolution-a-brief-summary

[9] In Egypt

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/11/06/egypts_struggle_ahead_111959.html

Formula One

Formula one

There are many kinds of car race. Most popular race in the world is the Formula One. Formula One racing car has the only one driver seat and the wheels are shown outside of the body, which is open wheel type of racing car. And the Formula one is the highest rank of race among the Formula One races. And the original name of Formula One is FIA Formula One World Championship and we can call it shortly, as F1 or we can call this race as GrandPrix race. Officially, it started in 1950 and it has the longest car racing history among the car races. The racing tracks have designed for normal roads (special track) and only for F1 race track. And Formula One travel 19 countries and each race gives points by the ranking. And after the whole race, they calculate the points and elect the synthesis champion. And the champion will get the World championship Trophy. And the Trophy is divided into two parts, one is Driver's championship and the other is Constructor's championship.

The main part of Formula One is Europe. So most racing team and the tracks are located in Europe and the market for Formula One also focusing on the European people. But after all, the trend has been changed to also focus on other part of the world. Such as, the new tracks are made in Asian countries and in 19 races, few Asian countries included. Recently the Bahrain, China, Malaysia and Turkey held the Formula One race. And the more and more countries are trying to hold the race.

And also Korea also held the GrandPrix in Jeonra-Namdo Young Am. And it called as F1 Korea GrandPrix. The Formula One is the most expensive car racing car. Each single car cost more than hundreds of millions dollars. And they maintain fee for one single team cost more than thousand millions dollars. Also the number of the audiences are more than 38 million are come to watch the race annually. And more than 150 countries are trying to broadcast the race. And almost 23million people are watching the race annually. It is the most commercially beneficial sports sector out of currently existing sports. Because of these reasons, most countries try to hold the F1. So we can see many things about the fund and political purpose has been included to hold the GrandPrix.
Moreover the Formula One is organized by International Car Association. And the Formula One or F1 is actually, FIA Formula One World Championship. Also the rules only one driver and managed by Federation Internationlae de I'Automobile.

And the racing cars are developed through few generations, and it has the most developed technology of the aerodynamic down force. By this, the car (F1 racing car) can get the ability of high cornering speed, and it’s one of the most fastest in the world. The maximum speed is up to 350km/h and engine has maximum 18,000rpm power. In the corner, the car can axel when the car goes over 100km/h. Although, after 2008, many new technologies were forbid, still it contains a lot of high technologies rather than other cars including the racing car.

In 2010, the viewer of GrandPrix was around seven-hundred million from all over the world. After 20 century the GrandPrix is the most popular race in the world. Formula One Group is the owner of the commercial rights of GrandPrix and they also make a lot of new jobs and other benefits. Because of this, there are many conflicts among the countries such as, political way and economical way. The Formula One came after the race which was held around 1920-30 years, which is Grand Prix Motor Racing. And the meaning of Formula is all participations should follow the rules. And after Second World War, the new rule has been established. Since during the war, some GrandPrix has been paused so before 1947, the World Driver's Championship has not been officially accepted.
The first World Championship was held at Great Britten Silverstone in 1950 and after 1958, they also choose the constructor champion. And few days ago, the GrandPrix was held in India for three days (Oct 26-28).

Reference

none. (n.d.). formula one. Retrieved from http://www.koreangp.kr/html2012/formula/f1intro.jsp

Tom, C. (2012, 10 28). Vettel wins indian gp to extend title lead. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/

NHN Corp [출처] 포뮬러 원 | 두산백과. (n.d.).formula one. Retrieved from http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1287429&mobile&categoryId=200000377

Muslim’s thinking

When non-Islam people hear the word, Islam, this word brings to their mind images of violence or something negative. In non-Islamic countries, especially in western non-Islamic countries, most of the information about Islam they can get by news or some movies are negative. When I went to library to find some book about Islam, I found many books that pointed out misunderstand about Islam. It is clear that the interpretation that Islam is violence religion is wrong.

There are some group called “radical Islamism”. In 1990^th, when there were some military fights between governments and Islamic power, many citizens supported radical Islamic power. In Egypt, a lot of member of Muslim Brotherhood, the group that tried to construct Islamic state and were supported by many young people who had dissatisfaction with social situation and government, were arrested and this incident make the origin of Islamic radicals. After that, the military fights between Islamic power and governments happened one after another. In Algeria, in 1989, new constitution was established and Islamic political party was elected democratically. But nation’s armed military forces intervened and this election was declared invalid. This incident cause military fights in Algeria. The time when this Islamic power became the object of the oppression by government, the number of people who support Islamic power were increased.

But Since 1997, some groups that use too much violence are isolated by other Islamic power and their acts came to be more radically and violently. The military fights between Islamic power and governments ceased and most of Islamic power came to criticize governments nonviolently. Some Islamic radicals came not to be able to act in their own countries. Their objective was changed. It is no longer to construct of Islamic country. When they tried to do so, their action based on theory of Islam. But at present, they act to show their existence or even if based on theory of Islam,their interpretation is wrong. We can say most of Muslims (the genetic name of Islam believers) do not support the Islamic radicals who act of terrorism. So, at present, what do they think about non-Islam people?

We may get some hint from looking the region that has both Muslim and other believers. Istanbul is the only transcontinental city between Asia and Europe. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish person live together. This city has unique history for until 1453, Byzantine Empire had had this city, and after that Istanbul fell into Osman Empire. It is said that at one time the great poet said to Turk general that he sang Greek songs in Istanbul and sang Turkey song in Athens and he said “I am a real modern hero, isn’t it?” We can see unique and attractive spectacle in this city. At a bar, Turk and Greek enjoy drinking, singing and dancing. There are many historic spot and we can see Islamic and Christian buildings and arts. At Saint Sophia, now it is a museum, we can see the Christian mosaics drawn in Byzantine Empire era under the plaster. Why not these mosaics were destroyed by Osman Empire and covered by plaster? It is said that when Osman Empire get this church and tried to change it to Islamic mosque, Mehmet 2, the king of Osman Empire, were amazed the beauty of this church and he did not destroy the mosaics. There are a lot of church and mosque in Istanbul and next to each other. Can we say that Muslim look non-Islam people as enemy? This place may teach us how we should understand each other and live together.

I have to write more about the concretely system how Osman Empire dialed with people believed other religions. I will write about them comparing other era and other countries in next blog.           

Satona Kato

 

                

Reference

Paul, L. (2002), ISLAM: A BRIEF HISTORY. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London.

 

John, F. (1996).Istanbul: the imperial city. Viking.

 

Nagaba, H.(2005) Istanbul. ISBN, Japan.

 

Kawakita, T. Momoki, S. (Eds.) (2010). Tapestry. Teikokushoin, Japan.

 

Matsumoto,H.(2004). The social position of islamic radicals. The terrorism of Islamic

Radicals and measures.(pp39-47) Japan research institute of international problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observation of Japan's craftsmanship through 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'

"exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". – The Michelin Guide [i]

Three stars on Michelin guide can be interpreted as the quotation. This one is the world’s famous restaurant guide book and also well known for its severity. Such Michelin guide appraised one tiny Japanese restaurant by giving their best grade. Compared to a historic and fancy restaurant in French, this sushi restaurant has very poor facilities. Its capacity for customers is only for ten people and it is located nearby subway station. How could they impress all the conceited Michelin inspectors?

It takes approximately ten years to make 'proper' tamago-yaki(grilled egg). Apprentices, their first job is squeezing a hot towel. This is very hot, the temperature is very high, at least hundred degrees. It is almost torture rather than training. All kind of chores including going fish market at four o’clock in the morning, cleaning the toilet are asked to be certified his/her sincerity. They are allowed to ‘practice’tamago-yaki only after ten years doing that. This is just one example showing their rigor.

Jiro, who is the main chief of this restaurant, is eighty-five years old and he spent all his life on sushi. He literally dedicated his life for sushi. He entered this world when he was twenty years old. About sixty years, he always wears a hand gloves when he goes out, to protect his hand. He does not like holidays because he cannot work. He even works in his dream as well.

It is easy to find someone like Jiro in Japan. Usually, a family succeeds their own techniques and spirit for generations. How did it possible? Interestingly and unexpectedly, the theory comes from samurais. After the war, the demand for samurais was getting lower. In order to survive, they needed to find another ‘job’and that was joining in a cottage industry. They had to work very hard to be selected as a successor, since as the place was limited. With this desperateness, the peculiar spirit of samurais,　一生懸命[ii], which means ‘work hard even if it is dicing with death’ created this Japan’s unique craftsmanship.

One food critic commented Jiro’s sushi as, ‘eating his sushi is same as understanding his philosophy.’ In general, money is the drive to make people work. But someone like Jiro, for them, job is not only for a living, but a life itself. They love their job and work every day with a sense of duty. Sushi, it would seem insignificant for some people. Jiro raised it to a higher level. He had elevated this to a beautiful artwork. That is how we call them as ‘Master of Crafts’ This spirit made the world fascinated including Michelin reviewers.

Young Ah








Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Director : David Gelb

Cast : Jiro Ono[iii]

* Last modified on : 29 October 2012

---

[i] The New Yorker, 23 November 2009, p. 44

[ii] 鎌倉時代の武士の生活は、先祖伝来の領地を必死で守るというのが基本だった。

「武士の館」: [図説日本史] (1997) 東京書籍

[iii] The official website. Retrieved from http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/

We are all designers?

Here is a quote from a famous designer on the meaning of design before moving on to the question:

“Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, sensorally and emotionally.

My real desire is to see people live in the modus of our time, to participate in the contemporary world, and to release themselves from nostalgia, antiquated tradition, old rituals, kitsch and the meaningless.”

–Karim Rashid, Industrial designer—

 “Huh? What the hell does that mean?” I suppose most people will give a big frown on the face. You might catch a glimpse of it if you study design, do design or work on design. But for some people, it just does not mean anything. So what exactly does that mean?

Design = art?

Design = for the rich?

Design = fashion?

Design = decoration?

Design = aesthetics?

Design = branding?

Design = beauty?

Design = utility/ functions?

Design = meaning?

Design = ideology?

Design = quality?

All these may be part of the answer but definitely not the final answer. This quote is what most designers see in the value of design:

“To design is to purposely put things together to accomplish something better.

Humans are design-beings. We cannot help but design all day long, because we are all designers.”

 – David Butler, Vice president of global design of The Coca-Cola Company.  

Nowadays, design has become a form of new language or a new subject, like English or Japanese, Maths or Science. This creates a huge barrier of communication for those who think that they do not engage in design work, just like people who will immediately shut off the computer the moment they see the word “design”. The theory applies to those who do not study in that particular language or subject.

Whether you are a junior designer, senior designer or even a creative director, designer is not just about a job position. This job position comes in only when we talk about the value of money.

We design our career path, design our image, design our study program, design our plans for tomorrow, we design who we want to be. Even at this very moment, I am designing how my blog post should look like to the audiences.

For example, every lecture we attend is a form of design created by the conductor of the lecture. As lecture is often designed for mass audiences, there is no guarantee that every single individual will take likings to the design. For people who appreciate the design, they get engaged in the lecture. And for those who are not, they either shut off or sleep. If the majority of the class dozes off during the lecture, this might show that the conductor may not be a good designer for his lecture. Some reflections may be needed.

If designing is all about problem solving to our lives, why not design?

Jasmine 

Rashid, Karim. (n.d.). Quotation at Karim Rashid. Retrieved on 27 October 2012 from http://www.rashidglobal.net/?page_id=212

Butler, David (2009). Redesigning design. Retrieved on 27 October 2012 from http://www.aiga.org/video-makethink-2009-butler/

Lupton, Ellen (2009). Modern Design Theory. Retrieved on 28 October 2012 from http://elupton.com/2009/10/modern-design-theory/