Leibovitz and Nachtwey

In this picture of Nachtwey I see a little, very skinny boy, who seems desperate. I think he tries to hide something about himself behind that white body paint. His body language tells he is calm and strong when needed. He is looking to left, to past. I think he is at he moment memorizing some bad memories from the past, maybe the white color refers to sadness and mourning toward people he might have lost. Also the blue sky with some clouds refers to calm peaceful moment after storm.

Next picture is from Leibovitz have famous lady in it, with very glamorous look. She is independent, seductive and fragile at the same time. Because of her gentle and light as a feather body language, she looks untouchable.

To me these two photographers represent totally different kind of intelligence. 

James Nachtwey seems to be always there where discrimination, chaos, death, poverty, sadness and cruelty happen. He definitely gets peoples attention with his pictures. On the other hand Annie Leibovitz has also eye catching photos, they also have strong message, but her vision is more towards to beauty also. Leibovitz don’t need any crisis to make fascinating pictures, good settings, make-up and costumes are enough. For me more innovative and more creative photographer is Leibovitz. When watching her photos in some weird way I usually get very inspired. Despite major settings for photo taking, in her work you notice how much attention she gives also to tiny details, that’s what I really admire in her pictures.

Images are from: 

https://www2.bc.edu/~wilsonc/43010.html

http://janicehasabadmemory.tumblr.com/

Japanese person

I have met Eri as early as the school here in Kansai Gaidai started. I hade some problems with my computer’s internet connection and Eri kindly offered her help. During the whole two weeks taken preparation process we spent some time together. I got to know her a little and found out how many things she has going on; lots of different projects, schools’ free time events arrangements and of course studies. After hearing our next blog assignment I realized that Eri would be perfect to my blog. I was very pleased to hear that Eri would gladly participate to my blog assignment. 

 We first met in cafeteria and from there we decided to go to have dinner. She suggested this quite new very elegant place. In the restaurant we were taken into private separate room, it was perfect for our conversation. We had very nice time there eating. We discussed about various matters, got to know more about other as a person, time went like flying. 

She will graduate after her Japanese language training, basically in three months. She told her dream is to become a Japanese language teacher and she is willing to work hard and make sacrifices to reach her goal. In Japan it’s very difficult to become a Japanese language teacher; you have to have good grades and Masters Degree without exception. She has it all already arranged and clear plans for the nearby future.  She is attending Kansai Gaidais’ Japanese teacher internship program, which takes her to Ecuador for a year. This program will start on next summer. After her one year in Ecuador, she has next challenge waiting, her Graduate School in USA. Her major there will be Japanese pedagogy.

 

We discussed about the meaning of family and when would be good time to start a family of your own. At first her family tried to convince her that there are easier ways to get a proper fixed job and career, but Eri worked hard and has now showed them what she really wants for the future.  Her family supports her and her decisions on every step toward to her dream. 

Having a family of her own is not relevant to her at this point of life. Many of her high school friends are already happily married and some of them have kids too. Eri represents more career-oriented person and wants to be good and successful in her career chosen. She also added that now many of her friends in school think this way also.  I found this information very interesting; shufu may not be new generation’s goal of life. Today’s’ young Japanese woman perhaps want to be economically stable, more independent, international and goals of life focuses mainly around career. I’m not making any generalizations, only trying to learn and understand Japanese culture better. 

 

 Eri is person whose strong willing to reach for goals I really admire. If she decides to achieve something I’m sure she will eventually have it. I wish I could have same kind of fearless and relentless attitude in life.

Information and statistics about Japanese woman career, marriage and much more can be found:

http://www.jiwe.or.jp/english/situation/general.html 

http://www.gender.go.jp/english_contents/women2004/statistics/s02.html