The Art of Japan
April 12, 2020 6:44 AM Subscribe
I'd like book recommendations for the study of Japanese aesthetics.
When I was in university there was a course in the catalog called the Art of Japan which I would have loved to take, but they didn't have a prof to teach it. I'd like to make up for that now by reading more about Japanese aesthetic principles, either in general or as they apply to specific crafts.
Specifically I am most interested in: woodblock prints, pottery, textiles, history up to the 1950s
Not interested in: any kind of comics or anime, tattoos, war or samarai-themed stuff, overtly sexual stuff, or modern technology.
When I was in university there was a course in the catalog called the Art of Japan which I would have loved to take, but they didn't have a prof to teach it. I'd like to make up for that now by reading more about Japanese aesthetic principles, either in general or as they apply to specific crafts.
Specifically I am most interested in: woodblock prints, pottery, textiles, history up to the 1950s
Not interested in: any kind of comics or anime, tattoos, war or samarai-themed stuff, overtly sexual stuff, or modern technology.
Is there any consensus from Japanese people about Alex Kerr’s books? I read another of his at some point and it was interesting, but felt a lot like “white dude attempts to explain a country to itself.” I’m not sure if I over-react, though.
posted by Alterscape at 8:16 AM on April 12, 2020
posted by Alterscape at 8:16 AM on April 12, 2020
Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons by Haruo Shirane is my top recommendation.
Textiles:
Kimono: A Modern History by Terry Satsuki Milhaupt
The Social Life of Kimono by Sheila Cliffe (a bit more academic)
General:
PIE Books publish a lot of great books about Japanese culture, check their catalog for the themes you like.
posted by sukeban at 1:54 PM on April 12, 2020
Textiles:
Kimono: A Modern History by Terry Satsuki Milhaupt
The Social Life of Kimono by Sheila Cliffe (a bit more academic)
General:
PIE Books publish a lot of great books about Japanese culture, check their catalog for the themes you like.
posted by sukeban at 1:54 PM on April 12, 2020
As for history books, there's Premodern Japan by Mikiso Hane and Japan Before Perry by Conrad Totman.
posted by sukeban at 2:01 PM on April 12, 2020
posted by sukeban at 2:01 PM on April 12, 2020
Donald Richie, A Tractate on Japanese Aesthetics
posted by Ghislain Bellec at 2:06 PM on April 12, 2020
posted by Ghislain Bellec at 2:06 PM on April 12, 2020
I just came across this (relatively) new book and thought it might be of interest: Aesthetic Life: Beauty and Art in Modern Japan by Miya Elise Mizuta Lippit.
posted by mustard seeds at 4:44 PM on April 15, 2020
posted by mustard seeds at 4:44 PM on April 15, 2020
« Older Website recommendations for life skills? | Support for Those Impacted by Mental Illness... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by saladin at 7:00 AM on April 12, 2020 [4 favorites]