IDM Mailing Archive

quoted 4 lines Sorry for posting OT, but I thought that the heads on this list might be

> Sorry for posting OT, but I thought that the heads on this list might be > the best ones to turn to. I'm looking to find a couple of books about > Japanese Culture. I know that's quite vague, but perhaps the focus could > be on visual art, music, idiosyncracies, insights...again, vague.

As it happens I'm just finishing a book that speaks to that subject, though it's not an academic or critical or socio-anthropological survey, it's a first-hand account: Pico Iyer's "The Lady and the Monk." It's a quiet autobiographical account of a year lived in Kyoto, full of reflection and anecdote about the points of intersection (and failed-) of himself and the culture. Very subjective; very impressionist; from an outsider's viewpoint -- but perhaps that would give you a point of reference. I'll be sad to finish, it's been an enjoyable read. If you have time you could of course pick up something perhaps by reading the fiction the culture[s] produce[s]. It's the obvious choice but I love Haruki Murakami. I've been working through the short story collection "the elephant vanishes" which contains an astonishing story about knocking off a bakery, but suspect "underground" might give you more of what you're looking for -- it's a set of interviews triangulating the sarin gas attacks from myriad perspectives (including cult members). best ~ aaron ghede@well.com http://www.quietamerican.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

--- Aaron Ximm <ghede@well.com> wrote:

quoted 6 lines As it happens I'm just finishing a book that speaks

> As it happens I'm just finishing a book that speaks > to that subject, > though it's not an academic or critical or > socio-anthropological survey, > it's a first-hand account: Pico Iyer's "The Lady > and the Monk."

that's really bizarre because as soon as i saw the subject line i was going to recommend this book and _underground_... so, i guess i'd second these recommendations. really, whether you're going to japan or not, iyer's book and anything by murakami can only help you to cope with this world. by murakami i'd recommend specifically, like most probably, _the wind up bird chronicle_. also by iyer worth checking out are _video night in katmandhu_ a collection of astonishing travel writing (not a contradiction, seriously-- paul theroux will change your opinion about this too) and _cuba and the night_ also by iyer, though it's fiction. gregory ===== //the fawn// performing live at the lab in costa mesa 09/04/02//////?/ 0123456789!@#$%^&*()_+ glitchitty-poppy-catch-all-phrase- turning-indie-tech *from the people who put the sty in style __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

sorry for going off topic, but how many people here on this list dig on videogames? i've just noticed a strong correlation -- there are quite a few gamers in the crew of idm heads that i know and ... well, yeah. halo + aphex = hot shit. soul calibur + push button objects = hot shit. super monkey ball + plaid = hot shit. rez = hot shit. evan ps - specificlly, are any of you in the bay area? --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

Having not seen the film I can't recomend anything in that 'tone/style', but... Speed Tribes - Children Of The Japanese Bubble by Karl Taro Greenfeld, an excellent book about a range of cultures and sub-cultures in Japan... Greenfeld... 'describes what life is like for Tokyo's Generation X'. HTH Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul." <sonic_tooth@yahoo.com> To: <idm@hyperreal.org> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 6:18 AM Subject: [idm] [OT]: Recommended Books On Japanese Culture

quoted 2 lines Sorry for posting OT, but I thought that the heads on this list might be

> > Sorry for posting OT, but I thought that the heads on this list might be

the best ones to turn to. I'm looking to find a couple of books about Japanese Culture. I know that's quite vague, but perhaps the focus could be on visual art, music, idiosyncracies, insights...again, vague.

quoted 2 lines Perhaps this may help...if anyone has seen Wenders' film 'Tokyo Ga', that

> > Perhaps this may help...if anyone has seen Wenders' film 'Tokyo Ga', that

is the tone/style that I'm looking for. Many thanks, in advance.

quoted 13 lines Paul.

> > Paul. > > ------------------------------------- > Quiet Resonance > www.quietresonance.tk > ------------------------------------- > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!

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