Ancient Literature in our Modern World

Enjoy! 🙂

https://www.pinterest.com/whitdihmes/the-tale-of-genji/

If you visit a museum, take a picture of an artwork (sculpture, painting, installation, etc are permitted) that you’re in (selfies permitted!), and use it as part of your project, you will receive 3 bonus points on your final project.

To receive the points you must, in addition to the above, send me an email and, either in the body of the email or in an attached word doc, answer the following questions. Informal writing is fine.

1. How do you think the exhibit you saw relate to the text you’ve focused on for your final project?

2. Why did you choose that specific artwork to incorporate in your project? What about that artwork interested you?

3. Was this your first time to that museum? Did you like it?

Remember that as a CUNY student, you have free / cheap access to museums across the city with your CUNY cultural pass, link to details here. Consult the museum websites for details, but this option definitely will not be prohibitive price-wise:

Links / Suggestions:

Current Exhibits at the MET, including a “Discovering Japanese Art” collection

Ancient Greek Art at the MET: Overall, the MET is the best place to go for exhibits that come out of the time periods we covered (Renaissance art for The Duchess, Ancient Greek art for The Oresteia / The Odyssey, Medieval Japanese art for Genji)

MOMA (Modern Art – So you’ll have to find a more conceptual / theme link to your text, as everything we’ve read is ancient – and you won’t find anything ancient at MOMA)

Classical art at the Brooklyn Museum

Asia Society

During this passage, in chapter 17, Genji and Murasaki are looking through pictures and artwork, in search of the best ones to present to the emperor. They come across Genji’s journal and artwork he made, during his exile in Soma. During his exiled Murasaki endured massive pain, which she still remembers. She explains how her struggles would have possibly been alleviate had she gone with him. Moved by her words, Genji expresses how he can vividly remember those moments and he’s still recalls the struggle and ordeals he had to withstand.

How would have Murasaki’s life been different if she would a chosen to exile herself with Genji? Would have she been able to deal with his womanizing ways? Would have his daughter, with Akashi, have been conceived?

This image is a woodblock print created by, Japanese artist, Kitagawa Utmaro from his album “Poem of the Pillow” and is named “Lovers in an upstairs room”. This book of images was created around the late 1700’s, during the Edo period. This is an exotic picture of a women having physical relations with a man. Notice the crimson dress draping off the women’s leg, and the transparent fabric showing their legs intertwined. This contrast between the clothing and skin gives the picture a sensual feeling, this feeling is further seen through their hands. She brings in his face closer, while the man is feeling on her neck. Their faces hidden also give the picture a sense of randomness and unknown similar to Genji and female encounters.

This image is a great example of all the relations Genji has had with random women. The amount of women he encountered was so enormous that it was one of the largest points that stuck out, hence the many students in class having opinions towards Genji’s morals and values. The poem of the pillow is far more graphic than this image, which made me question if this was made in reference to the tale of Genji or it’s just coincidental.

http://homepages.uwp.edu/canary/genjicha.htm?pagewanted=all

“She had grown up to be absolutely lovely, and to her great advantage the weight of her sorrows had slightly thinned her once overabundant hair. He was now deeply content to see that she would always be his this way, but at the thought his heart went out with a pang to the one whom he had so unwillingly left. Yes, such things would clearly never give him any rest.”

In this quote, the Tale of Genji is describing the first time Genji has seen Murasaki after she has fully grown and matured. At first, Genji is pleased with what he sees; she is beautiful and as described, lovely. The passage also discusses how the sorrows, which Murasaki has experienced, have thinned her hair. This is to show how Murasaki has not particularly enjoyed her experiences and what she has been through since Genji took her from her home. The passage goes on to state that although Genji is pleased with what he sees, he is still unable to move on and get over the women he loved which he unwillingly left. As it mentions, Genji does not believe he will ever get over her and he wont ever be settled with his feelings.

This leads me to my discussion question for the class:

Do you in fact believe that Genji will never be able to move on? Or do you feel that she will ultimately become just another women which he has experience with and will later forget about? Would you consider this as Genji being dramatic?

The Tale of Genji by Yoshitoshi

This image is a representation of Yugao, a young woman that Genji meets. The flowers in the image allude to Genji’s attention drawn by them in chapter 4.  He also names her after this flower for the beauty resembled. The use of things found in nature such as the moon, the leaves and little vines holding the flowers create the environment in which Genji meets Yugao, “the twilight beauty.” The moon which stands out in the top left corner is a demonstration of the moon’s presence in the chapter as well as Yugao- the center of true chapter-. The moon also adds a night-like feeling and a representation of beauty, light and greyish spirit-like touch. Moreover, the moon’s presence is the source of light people look at night, especially Genji when he meets Yugao- young and tender-. Unfortunately, Yugao dies after been possessed by an evil spirit which is demonstrated in the light colors of her body. The fading boldness of color of the serve as Yugao’s spirit floating in midair.  This can be thought of as Yugao’s spirit in stillness of the night and the beauty she possesses. Her shady colored hair is perhaps the deep sadness that Genji faces after Yugao’s death. Her long gloomy hair gives a sense of extensive suffering from death and the light blue color in the background resembles a sense of detachment from reality and the spiritual realm which Yugao has passed on to be in.

The artwork, titled Akashi, is an old woodblock print from the Japanese Edo Period in 1853.  It is a triptych format, where the artwork is in three sections side-by-side.  This particular work has several artisans: two artists, Utagawa Kunisada I and Utagawa Hiroshige I, a publisher, Iseya Kanekichi, and a blockcutter, Yokokawa Takejiro.  It is uncommon to find multiple names attached to works single works of art, but the complex process suggests its necessity.  It needs to be drawn and painted, then given to a blockcutter to recreate the artwork on certain materials like wood, and finally to the publisher who prints it on paper with various colors by hand.

In the Tale of Genji, the Akashi Novice hopes for his daughter to develop a romantic relationship with Genji.  Although not forthcoming at first, she eventually relents, unsurprisingly, and has a daughter with Genji.  This print depicts the Akashi Lady and her mother looking out to the field, where Genji and the Akashi Novice are walking and seemingly conversing.  The Akashi Lady, sitting, possesses a curious look on her face, with her left hand raised suggesting her considering her father’s preposition.  The mother, behind her, points out to Genji and her husband.  The mother could be a gentlewoman that serves the Akashi Lady, but the various colors and complex designs of her robe would not be clothes that a servant would wear.

The style of the artwork seems consistent with other Japanese works.  Lines are generally thin, giving way to highly detailed depictions of architecture and craftsmanship.  Although not realistic in scale, the portrayals almost feel rigid with exacting measurements, which suggests the importance of achieving perfection in various tasks in the Japanese culture.