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provaprova's review against another edition
4.0
Main use for this book: encyclopedia entries, Murakami's long essay, the dialogue with Okada - rest is completely impenetrable, featuring fine gobbledegook.
mandaazzi's review
5.0
A deep-dive into the realm of animanga, otaku culture, and postwar Japan's (exploding) artistic subcultures!
keu482's review
4.0
This book was very interesting, but too advanced for me I think. I was surprised that I knew so many of the artists involved in this since I don't really follow art, but I guess I've been studying Japan through it's culture long enough that I managed to pick it up by osmosis.
I think the main point of this art project goes something like this. Japan is haunted by the legacy of the atom bomb, and by the American occupation that followed but is in denial because these events are too horrific to process. Because of this Japan is like a child to America's parent and it has lost depth while gaining too much colour and cuteness. The artists are using this phenomena to express the horrors of WW2, while also playing with that culture. Or something like that, again I'm not an artist I just really like anime.
I think if I was still friends with the other Brian I would recommend this book to him, because he first introduced me to Murakami. No one else I know would read this, although it's really informative. Well maybe Erin, because she knows art :)
I think the main point of this art project goes something like this. Japan is haunted by the legacy of the atom bomb, and by the American occupation that followed but is in denial because these events are too horrific to process. Because of this Japan is like a child to America's parent and it has lost depth while gaining too much colour and cuteness. The artists are using this phenomena to express the horrors of WW2, while also playing with that culture. Or something like that, again I'm not an artist I just really like anime.
I think if I was still friends with the other Brian I would recommend this book to him, because he first introduced me to Murakami. No one else I know would read this, although it's really informative. Well maybe Erin, because she knows art :)
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