Transcript May 9th Section B

AIM: How can we find examples of a
‘cultural aesthetic’ across texts?

Thursday, May 8th, 2014
Do Now
At your tables, share your homework with your neighbors (i.e., exchange
notebooks, or verbally explain to them).
Answer in your notebook: To what extent does your text fit into what
we learned about a “Japanese aesthetic”?
(HW Reminder)
Viewing: Select and watch one of the following videos:
(FLCL; Mushishi; Gundam; Haruhi)
→ Jot down notes as you watch (esp. images/sounds/style).
→ Respond: What storytelling techniques are distinct to the medium you are watching? What do
you notice in the artists’ “style” (writing/music/images, etc) that seems distinctly “Japanese”?
Agenda
1. Do Now
2. Presentations
3. Homework Discussion: Anime/Style
4. Viewing
5. Tonight’s HW
Presentations
Remaining:
(Jasmine), (Brittany), (Elijah), (Rachel, Armani, Osvaldo)
Note-taking:
Presenter Name
Topic
~2 interesting details
Other comments
Homework Discussion / Media /
Techniques/ Qualities
Questions
Texts
 What storytelling
techniques are distinct to
the medium you are
watching?
 What do you notice in the
artists’ “style”
(writing/music/images,
etc) that seems distinctly
“Japanese”?
 FLCL
 Mushishi
 Mobile Suit Gundam
 The Melancholy of Haruhi
Suzumiya
Mushishi (2005-6)

The story features ubiquitous creatures
called Mushi (蟲?) that often display
supernatural powers. It is implied that there
are many more lifeforms more primitive
than "normal" living things such as animals,
plants, fungi and bacteria, and Mushi is the
most primitive of all. Due to their ethereal
nature most humans are incapable of
perceiving Mushi and are oblivious to their
existence, but there are a few who possess
the ability to see and interact with Mushi.
One such person is Ginko (ギンコ?), the
main character of the series. He employs
himself as a Mushi master (蟲師 mushishi?), traveling from place to place to
research Mushi and aid people suffering
from problems caused by them. The series is
an episodic anthology in which the only
common elements among episodes are
Ginko and the various types of Mushi. There
is no overarching plotline.
FLCL (フリクリ/ Furi Kuri/ Fooly Cooly)
[2000-1]
FLCL revolves around Naota Nandaba,
a 12-year-old, working class boy living
with his widower father and
grandfather. His life in the city of
Mabase is interrupted by the arrival of
Haruko Haruhara, who runs over
Naota with her yellow Vespa 180 SS
scooter, gives him CPR, then hits him
on the head with a blue vintage
Rickenbacker
4001
left-handed
electric bass guitar. Naota discovers
that the blow to his head created an
"N.O." portal, from which giant robots
produced by a company known as
Medical
Mechanica
emerge
periodically.
Writing Practice (Comparison)
In a paragraph, respond to the following prompt:
Based on today’s viewing of FLCL and any other anime film or
episode we have viewed, what aesthetic (stylistic) similarities
across these texts are noticeable [especially consider how
perishability might represented]? Be as specific with your
examples as possible. To what extent do these aesthetic
qualities seem essential, or even unique, to the medium of
anime?
Complete your writing based on today’s prompt; make sure you have:
• Provided specific examples
• Clarified your thinking and ideas as your writing progresses
• Pushed your thinking towards creating an original claim/thesis
• (i.e., you are saying something that you find relatively interesting and not too
obvious)
Complete your writing based on today’s prompt; make sure you have:
• Provided specific examples
• Clarified your thinking and ideas as your writing progresses
• Pushed your thinking towards creating an original claim/thesis
• (i.e., you are saying something that you find relatively interesting and not too obvious)
Notebooks will be collected/checked tomorrow; ensure that you’re up-to-date (see
website/old emails as needed). Online notebooks that have not been shared by tomorrow
will receive 0’s, with old assignments no longer accepted.
(Due tomorrow)
Homework