Aguri

1
???Aguri

• By Tanizaki Junichiro

2
Tanizaki Junichiro

• (1886-1965) b. Tokyo
• Began writing in 1909
• Frequented Kabuki Theatre
• 1910 left Tokyo Imperial University (Japanese
  Lit)
• 1910 Moved to Yokohama
• Western style house in foreign district
• Wrote several screenplays for Japanese movies
• 1923- Great Earthquake hits Tokyo and Yokohama
• Junichiro moves to Ashihi (near Kyoto)
• Switches mindset back to the traditional Japanese
  arena
• Shrugs off Euro-American ways

3

• Wrote self-parodies of Western influence on
  Japanese
• ????(Fools Love) 1924
• ?????(Some Prefer Nettles) 1928-9
• In these works, Tokyo typically symbolizes Japan
  under the influence of the West, and Kyoto,
  traditional Japan
• He becomes interested in writing about the
  historical past, which is akin to a sanctuary
  for the values of order and beauty (462)
• During WWII, wrote The Makioka Sisters (1943-48)
• Centered on manners of historical Japan
• Banned during war because thought as an
  impediment
• After war, given Imperial Culture Prize, as work
  showed a way of life which was quickly passing
  out of America

4
??? Themes and Symbols

• 3 Central Themes
• Ebbing away of tradition
• Japans Westernization
• Beauty/Desire
• Feminine as beautiful
• Destructive
• Female as a palette
• Imagination
• Living within

5
Ebbing away of tradition

• The West invades Japan
• Western objects, people, and ideas reflect the
  influx of Western ideals into Japan.
• The West becomes the ultimate other to Japan
• Western clothes
• Japanese kimonos cost more than theyre worth
  (467)
• Notice the Western and the Chinese ladies They
  know how to set off their faces to advantage, and
  without spending too much money at it. (467)
• He would accentuate every curve and hollow
  (470)

6
Tradition vs. West (contin.)

• Western clothes are not so much important because
  they are Western, but because they are foreign.
• Imagined himself as a Chinese gentleman (470)

• Discussion
• Aguri becomes a symbol of the Japanese desire
  for Euro-American culture (464)
• Shopkeeper (underwear anecdote)
• Clothes as oppressive
• Appearance of Okadas family

7
Beauty/Desire

• Feminine as beautiful
• Okada loves his own fem. features
• Desire for Aguri is great, but acknowledges that
  she does not love him

8
Beauty/Desire (contin.)

• Female as a palette
• The Tattooer
• Imagines Aguri as a marble statue
• Cold, plain, yet innately unchangeable
• Aguri comes to life (473), like a painted
  picture, when clothed in Western clothes

9
Beauty/Desire (contin.)

• Beauty power
• Aguris power over Okada
• cannot be held in the gaze of
• the other/society
• Discussion
• Compare contrast Aguri as a palette versus her
  image as a leopard
• What is the significance of the game they play?
• What does sexual desire represent?

10
Imagination

• Blurs the line between what is
• fact and fiction
• Imagination/ Superficial as real
• Clothes
• Imaginations ability to construct the
  beautiful
• Imaginations ability to show subconscious/truth
• Discussion
• Okada lives in this world and refuses to leave,
  even though it is destroying him
• Effects of this?
• What does Aguri represent in terms of
  imagination?