Source: http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/gt_japan_places/ga2_vis_kyo12.html
This is an image of the Great Bell (made in 1633) located in Kyoto, Japan. Placed in the Chion-In Temple, it is Japan’s biggest bell and is the second-largest ringing bell in the world weighing 74 tons. It takes 17 monks to ring it for the New Year ceremony. In the image are the bell and two visitors present. In the background are nature and a dirt path leading to other parts on temple grounds. Behind the two visitors is a wood wall with markings, and to the side looks to be maps and directions to help find your way around the temple. One visitor is gazing at the bell and the other’s attention is somewhere else. The connotation of this image is that of Japan’s national pride because they have this bell which is the second-largest in the world.
This is an image of two sumo wrestlers going at it. Sumo wrestling is a competitive full-contact sport where one wrestler attempts to force the other wrestler to touch the ground with anything besides the soles of his feet and/or attempts to force the other wrestler out of the circular ring. Sumo is the national sport of Japan and originated in ancient times for the entertainment of the Shinto gods. There are two sumo wrestlers and one referee. The two sumo wrestlers have long hair to form topknot which is like that of samurai hairstyle. Each sumo wrestler is wearing a mawashi which is a belt that they wear during training or competition. The connotation of this image is that sumo is an important part of Japanese tradition and makes Japan unique from other countries.
hey I think you notice a lot of small details from clothing to positioning/depth of where people are in the picture, etc. but I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the facial expressions of the people in the images, especially in the picture with the bell (which, by the way, makes the Liberty Bell looks super lame).
ReplyDeleteThe wrestlers and the referee facial expressions show focus. In the bell picture, only the kid on the right has the face of amazement of the bell's size. The kid on the left does not seem to be looking at the bell and face looks serious.
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