Cultures you admire

[WICKES]

Which cultures/nations do you most admire? Personally I'm a Francophile. I love French literature, especially the fearless, urbane wit of the 18th century Enlightenment/encyclopedist writers. I also admire their love of beauty, their respect for art and creativity in any field, their history, painting and architecture. I love Paris, but also Normandy, French cathedrals and old churches etc and the way France has managed to be both modern and to retain a proper respect for its cultural heritage. The French are an unusual people too: not quite northern European, but not really mediterranean European either. Then there is the French language. To my ears it is far and away the most beautiful in the world.

[aabbcc]

Greek, Jewish (in broad sense, not only Israeli) and German, my trinity. :)
Though I am also not far from being a true francophile, I enjoy a lot of aspects of French culture, the language, the art. And then again I am italophile, but that is subjective.

[Kafka's Crow]

Greek, Jewish (in broad sense, not only Israeli) and German, my trinity. :)
Though I am also not far from being a true francophile, I enjoy a lot of aspects of French culture, the language, the art. And then again I am italophile, but that is subjective.

Oh the joys of being uprooted. I think Julia Kristeva wrote about the virtues of being a nomad somewhere. I admire the position of a global nomad. You don't belong anywhere. I like all things French but such admirations can lead to bitter disillusionments. It is always better not to be too attached to a single culture, either one's own culture or the ones that seem more exotic. My best friend is a slavophile and likes all things Russian. She knows the language and wants to go to Moscow. I want to go to St Petersburg because of the Dostoevskian connections with that city. As far as languages are concerned, I would not mind learning all languages and reading all literatures (first I have to finish reading Wuthering Heights that I started reading more than two months ago. How I once loved English Literature!!!)

Adorable sorcière, aimes-tu les damnés? (or les nomades?)

[PeterL]

I think that Western Civilization is the generally best, highest, most creative, and most humane culture that has yet arisen among humans.

[Taliesin]

I like Czech beer.

[Agatha]

I admire truly Ancient Roman culture. I really like and I am intrested in Roman art, architecture, history,beliefs . It's impressive Roman culture is still inspiration for a lots of writers, painters. And I really admire Russian, British, French culture, mainly because of literature in XIX century, 'cause in those countries were plenty of interesting writers/poets. Plus I really like French language, art, painters(especially impressionists).

[stlukesguild]

Kafka... I'm surprised you made no mention of the Persian/Arabic cultures.

[johann cruyff]

I have always admired Russian culture, history, literature, art in general...I would really like to visit Moscow. In general, I find eastern Europe fascinating. It doesn't mean I'd decline a paid visit to London, Paris, Dublin, or Barcelona though :D

[blazeofglory]

I think that Western Civilization is the generally best, highest, most creative, and most humane culture that has yet arisen among humans.

Poor Peter you have not been out of Europe I suppose or if you have visited any other continents you have not read their literautre or anything else and it is something like a child's thinking powers and he sees the mountain stretching before his house is the biggest in the world and he has no capacity for seeing something beyond that.

Peter it is your ignorance or preconditioning that accounts for your misconstruction. The west is not the best and the west borrowed massively.

Read Chinese literature. Taoism for instance. Read the Vedas and you can find philosophies beyond compare.

[Charles Darnay]

I like Czech beer.

Yes! Me too.

As for cultures: I believe myself to be an Anglophile but I am really fascinated by many cultures. I find that each religion brings something beautiful with it (and thus of course, according to Paremedes(sp), must bring something ugly). Judaism has a wonderful sense of tradition and the Talmud is some of the best religious philosophy I have ever read. Christianity brings great morals an a sense of community. Islam - I admit I know far too little - brings a spirituality that cannot be topped and the most poetic religious writing I have come across. Wiccan warms my heart with a love for nature, a believe in energy and a wonderful credo to live by: An ye harm none, do as ye will.

And I could go on....but I won't.

[WICKES]

Poor Peter you have not been out of Europe I suppose or if you have visited any other continents you have not read their literautre or anything else and it is something like a child's thinking powers and he sees the mountain stretching before his house is the biggest in the world and he has no capacity for seeing something beyond that.

Peter it is your ignorance or preconditioning that accounts for your misconstruction. The west is not the best and the west borrowed massively.

Read Chinese literature. Taoism for instance. Read the Vedas and you can find philosophies beyond compare.

Politicially correct or not, European civilization/culture simply has no equal. When it comes to spirituality Asia leads the way, but in music (think Beethoven and Mozart), philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Kant etc), painting, literature (the literature of England alone is equal to the literature of much of the rest of the world, not to mention the Greek tragedians, Dante, Cervantes, Goethe, Proust, Joyce etc ), politics (democracy, first parliaments etc) and so on Europe has no equal.

[Charles Darnay]

Politicially correct or not, European civilization/culture simply has no equal. When it comes to spirituality Asia leads the way, but in music (think Beethoven and Mozart), philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Kant etc), painting, literature (the literature of England alone is equal to the literature of much of the rest of the world, not to mention the Greek tragedians, Dante, Cervantes, Goethe, Proust, Joyce etc ), politics (democracy, first parliaments etc) and so on Europe has no equal.

Politics - Cyrus the Great created an empire that was far better run than almost any Western civilization (like every other, his followers were too ambitious).

Philosophy - as fundamental as Plato and Aristotle are TO WESTERN SOCIETY, do not discount the vast wisdom of the Sufis or the wisdom (especially medical wisdom) of the ancient Hebrews.

Music - oh you need to broaden your horizon! Listen to Anatolian folk music, Peruvian folk music, African music...all wonderful

Literature - I must admit I am not an expect on literature outside Europe and N. America but I do know that South America is home to some of the best poetry and Magic Realism.

My point is that yes, European culture is fantastic but we (Westerners) allow ourselves to drown it and while we listen to Beethoven's 5th symphony over and over (it is BLOODLY INCREDIBLE byhe the way) and read Shakespeare (whom I adore) we remain blind to beauty that lies outside of England.

[WICKES]

Politics - Cyrus the Great created an empire that was far better run than almost any Western civilization (like every other, his followers were too ambitious).

Philosophy - as fundamental as Plato and Aristotle are TO WESTERN SOCIETY, do not discount the vast wisdom of the Sufis or the wisdom (especially medical wisdom) of the ancient Hebrews.

Music - oh you need to broaden your horizon! Listen to Anatolian folk music, Peruvian folk music, African music...all wonderful

Literature - I must admit I am not an expect on literature outside Europe and N. America but I do know that South America is home to some of the best poetry and Magic Realism.

My point is that yes, European culture is fantastic but we (Westerners) allow ourselves to drown it and while we listen to Beethoven's 5th symphony over and over (it is BLOODLY INCREDIBLE byhe the way) and read Shakespeare (whom I adore) we remain blind to beauty that lies outside of England.

Nice try, but not very persuasive I'm afraid. Peruvian folk music and African drumming are not in the same league as Beethoven or Mozart and Shakespeare alone is superior to all the literature of south America. I'm not suggesting other cultures are worthless by the way, but high culture is a largely European matter.

[Kafka's Crow]

Kafka... I'm surprised you made no mention of the Persian/Arabic cultures.

That would take us to the past. If I could go back in time, I'd go to the Moorish Spain and would like to be a translator or librarian there. We are led to believe that nothing positive has happened in Persia since Khomenie's revolution. You can't just snuff out a hugely influential culture with roots going back thousands of years in a couple of decades. Still our media would have us believe otherwise. As far as contemporary Iran is concerned, I would be very reluctant to be associated with a theocratic state in any manner. This particular society has survived cultural and political turmoils over centuries and it will survive this disaster as well. Iran will bounce back.

West is enjoying a very good time in its history but for last few days I had to watch television while on holiday in South Wales (awful weather, stuck indoors with gale-force winds howling outside). I stopped watching television in my mid teens so this was a bit of a shock to the system, too much hedonism for my liking. These are lovely times for us but for some reason we are bothered very much about our rights, our needs, requirements and prerogatives. It is considered extremely 'uncool' to talk about duties. Traditionally societies thrive on a balance of rights and obligations. In despotic societies people were forced to fulfill there duties. Romans knew that they were great but they also knew what they had to do or get done in order to stay great. We can't beat anybody into fulfilling his duties in a democratic society. Social responsibility becomes all the more important in this situation. We are losing this balance between rights and duties and I think this is where the decisive rift will develop which will weaken the West to such a great degree that some non-Western culture would take over the task of leading the world. Consumer society has also encouraged behaviors that inculcate selfishness and disregard for one's duties. Still this is the perfect time to be alive. I would rather be in the 21th century England than any other time or place.

[PeterL]

Poor Peter you have not been out of Europe I suppose or if you have visited any other continents you have not read their literautre or anything else and it is something like a child's thinking powers and he sees the mountain stretching before his house is the biggest in the world and he has no capacity for seeing something beyond that.

Peter it is your ignorance or preconditioning that accounts for your misconstruction. The west is not the best and the west borrowed massively.

Read Chinese literature. Taoism for instance. Read the Vedas and you can find philosophies beyond compare.

I think that you were projecting when you wrote that. I have read Chinese literature, and Persian, and Arabic.

[Dori]

American, of course. :D

I'm a budding Sinophile, though.

EDIT: Also, admiration for a particular culture/nation does not require it to be the "best". I'm quite puzzled at the whole debate that's taken place here...

[bazarov]

I have always admired Russian culture, history, literature, art in general...I would really like to visit Moscow. In general, I find eastern Europe fascinating. It doesn't mean I'd decline a paid visit to London, Paris, Dublin, or Barcelona though :D

Nothing else to add; except Peterburg :D

[Pensive]

EDIT: Also, admiration for a particular culture/nation does not require it to be the "best". I'm quite puzzled at the whole debate that's taken place here...

Yes, me too.

As for me I am interested almost in every culture but if I were to choose top three they would be Indian, Persian and Russian. African, Chinese and Japanese sound very fascinating too! :D

[integrity]

I like yogurt culture.

Just kidding. I'm a vegan.

Culture is overrated.

[MorpheusSandman]

I've been particularly fond of the Eastern/Asian aesthetic my entire life. Especially in terms of film and music. I've yet to delve into Asian literature, but all in due time.


Peruvian folk music and African drumming are not in the same league as Beethoven or MozartLet's not turn aesthetics into a contest plzkthx. African drumming is far more rhythmically complex than the vast majority of classical, including Mozart and Beethoven.

[Leabhar]

Let's not turn aesthetics into a contest plzkthx. African drumming is far more rhythmically complex than the vast majority of classical, including Mozart and Beethoven.

Are you joking?

[Etienne]

Are you joking?

That's what I was wondering as well... :lol: The guy surely has no kind of formation in music...

[MorpheusSandman]

I'm not denigrating their use of rhythm, but it's not typically what they're praised for, as to where it's the primary focus of African drumming. Usually when people speak of Mozart and Beethoven it's in the context of their formal innovations and particular qualities (Mozart's wonderful melodiousness, for example). It could also be we're thinking of slightly different things... I mean, African drumming has been a huge influence on modern Western music including jazz. Or consider the talking drum - Western music doesn't really have its own equivalent.

It's true I've never been formally trained in music - everything I've learned has come simply from reading and studying on my on. But that's what I've heard from people that are studied in music, so take it up with them if you have a problem. In retrospect I just retract the comment. African and Classical rhythms are so different, especially in context and intent, that comparing them is pretty impossible. I might also note I was being a bit facetious there, but, oh well.

[Dori]

I like yogurt culture.

Just kidding. I'm a vegan.

Culture is overrated.

Elaborate, please.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I probably have a romantic image of continental culture, Italy, France and Spain in particular. I would like to travel and take in as much of that as possible, though, the reality of that happening is unlikely for quite a long time. Still there are always the books and the red wine. I just have the image of artistic freedom about the French that comes through particularly well in the influences of English literature at the end of the 19th century, somewhat decadent and free.

In literature I also like the counterculture of the US from writers such as Kerouac and Hemingway and feel that I am too ignorant of the great Russian writers – to my shame I only have one Russian book on my shelf, Crime and Punishment. I nearly bought The Idiot the other day, but I have a small pile of books that I must read first, and it is quite long - though I wish to do my reading in that area for sure.

Oh, and of course I enjoy the English literary tradition, in most cases anyway.

[arabian dream]

I admire Arabic culture and I respect all the cultures in the world but the reason why I admire these culture because it have been concentrated in humans value and it have kept up culture value for many years without big changing and not only religion value but traditional living habit value.

[stlukesguild]

Favorite cultures? Arab Andalusia- (or Moorish Spain)... Kafka could do the work as translator, I'll do the illuminations.: The cities were among the most beautiful in the world... brilliant architecture... art... poetry... a revival of the classics as Christian scribes translated ancient Greek and Roman texts... in many cases the sole known volumes of these texts... a peaceful co-existence of Christians, Jews, and Muslims... although there were continual wars along the borders between the Spanish Islamic rulers and neighboring Christian forces.

Persia- (late medieval-the Renaissance)- again a marvelous production of art and literature. Poets such as Ferdowsi, Rumi, Hafez... and some of the most gorgeous architecture and illuminated manuscripts ever produced.

Italy-during the same period: Dante, Petrarch, Cavalcanti, Boccaccio, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Giotto, Leon Batista Alberti, Bruneleschi... the list goes on and on and on... perhaps the greatest era in the history of the West... certainly true with regard to the visual arts.

Paris/Vienna/Berlin- during the late 18th into the early 19th centuries- the three capitols of high Modernism: in art we have the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Expressionism, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Matisse, Picasso, Beckmann, Bonnard... an era matched only by the Renaissance. In music we have Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, Anton Bruckner, Johann Strauss, etc... While in literature we have Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Verlaine, Mallarme, Zola, Valery, Gautier, Apollinaire, Flaubert, Balzac, Proust, Jean Genet, and endless others...

Japan... during the Heian and later the Edo periods- Japan... as a small island nation somewhat removed from the rest of Asia has produced one of the most outstanding contributions to the arts... perhaps not unlike that of Britain. While Japanese art is certainly rooted in the art of China, I find that it far transcends these influences and produces an even greater... more influential... and in many ways, more "modern" body of art. The Heian period was perhaps the single culture that showed us the possibilities of women's contributions to the arts... and suggested what has been lost by their being shut out of such possibilities. The calligraphic style known as "woman's writing" essentially invented a native Japanese text while producing manuscripts of the most exquisite beauty. Lady Ise, Ono No Komachi, Lady Izumi Skikibu, Sei Schonagon, and Lady Murasaki are among the great writers of the Heian era... and among the greatest of all time. The art of this period includes the most brilliant "zen" calligraphic painting in ink, the marvelous screen paintings with gold leaf, and ceramics and architecture that show a respect for natural materials that will not be seen again until modern art. The Edo period is not far less... and includes more marvelous screen paintings, architecture, and the great Ukiyo-e prints.

I would also add "classical" China of the Song and tang dynasties... except that this period was so wrought by constant wars... internal power struggles and invasions by the Mongols.

Britain would be another culture I would have been fascinated with... but I can't say there's any single period/culture that would have been ideal. Their contributions are more formidable over the long haul of history. Perhaps the mid-18th- early 19th centuries. All the great Romantic poets... artists such as Constable, Gainsborough, Turner, Blake... great architecture... the expanding Empire exploring the world and discovering unknown cultures... Handel and Haydn and other great composers commissioned for the theaters of London...

Obviously I would disagree with Peter's assertion that Western/European civilization is the peak of all history. The contributions of China, Japan, Persia, Turkey, the Arabs, India, etc... can not be underestimated. At their finest their contributions to spirituality, philosophy, literature, and visual art equal anything produced in the West. Music is perhaps the most difficult question for me. I have heard the bit about the complexity of African drumming... which has nothing upon the complexity of a Bach fugue. Neither can I agree with the suggestions that the folk music of Anatolia or Peru can equal the music of Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart... any more than could the folk music of Germany, France, or the United States. Certainly folk music can be quite lovely... and among this I would include bluegrass/country, R&B, rock... jazz? It almost straddles the line. But what of the "classical" music traditions of China, Japan, India? I will admit to having heard very little... and none of it lived up the Beethoven or Mozart. Indeed some of it was quite painful.:sick: But I would certainly leave my options open... or reserve judgment.

That would take us to the past. If I could go back in time, I'd go to the Moorish Spain and would like to be a translator or librarian there. We are led to believe that nothing positive has happened in Persia since Khomenie's revolution. You can't just snuff out a hugely influential culture with roots going back thousands of years in a couple of decades. Still our media would have us believe otherwise. As far as contemporary Iran is concerned, I would be very reluctant to be associated with a theocratic state in any manner. This particular society has survived cultural and political turmoils over centuries and it will survive this disaster as well. Iran will bounce back.

Kafka... I agree with you in regard to Persia... Iran and Iraq. Their current government is certainly not would I would call ideal... but then again... neither is mine. In spite of this I agree that the media have done their best to paint a single picture of the Middle East that ignores anything that does not fit into the desired image. I completely agree with Solzehenityn's comments (posted here earlier) with regard to the Western media's abdication of their role. The Middle east is in no way as backward as we would be led to believe as a result of the actions and beliefs of certain individuals (as if we are completely lacking in idiots in power in the West). Until recently... as an artist I was involved deeply in collage based upon old books. I came across this fabulous artist... as contemporary as any American... living and working in Baghdad... and found this body of work could not fail to speak to the book lover:

http://www.qasimsabti.com/gallery_books-covor.htm

I eventually ended in contacting him via the net... which probably has me on the Department of Homeland Security "watch" list. But then again... I'm already "suspect"- I'm a teacher, a union member (actually a union representative!:eek2:), an artist, and I read entirely too much. Remind me to avoid those 911 conspiracy theory sites.:rolleyes:

[mortalterror]

The irony of it: saving books from a burning library to turn them into artwork that ought to be set to the torch. He writes beautifully though, and I share his sentiments if not his aesthetics.

[integrity]

I admire Arabic culture and I respect all the cultures in the world but the reason why I admire these culture because it have been concentrated in humans value and it have kept up culture value for many years without big changing and not only religion value but traditional living habit value.

We heard you loud and clear. Thank you for sharing.

[JBI]

It's strange; many people seem to claim to admire Arabic culture and such, but no one seems to be going beyond antiquity. Solzhenitsyn died at 89, there was a large thread commemorating him, as fitting, and now a book club choice dedicated to his memory.

Mahmoud Darwish died 11 days ago now, at age 68, and still no thread, which is, of course, no surprise, being that there wasn't one set up before, despite him being more available in translation than many other popularly discussed poets.

This isn't me trying to be a member of the so called "School of Resentment" or such, being that Mahmoud Darwish wrote verses, I believe, of supreme excellence. I am merely just pointing out that admiration cannot only include antiquities, being that culture is still moving.


As for cultures I admire - Italian Culture, I got my first authentic taste of it this summer, and I am counting down the days until I return (with any luck, 2 years from now, if I can get a high enough GPA).

Japanese Culture - With this culture I seem to be looking more into classical texts and art than contemporary, and examining older culture rather than newer. The reason for this is, I really do not understand contemporary Japanese culture at all, and I find it a little bit crazy, especially since you go to a bookstore, and you can find wrist thick pornographic comic books called Manga, which to me make no sense at all.

Chinese culture - no matter what can be said about Chinese culture, even after the Cultural revolution destroyed countless artifacts, that which was achieved is still there, the architecture, sculpture, poetry, and overall culture, which is still alive and cooking.

Indian culture - again, I am drawn more to classical texts, though I would love to do some reading into contemporary fiction beyond Rushdie and Mistry

European culture in general - I love what was done, and I don't think I need to speak at all on European culture, as most people here are somewhat familiar with its appeal.

Icelandic culture - I was there two times when I was younger, and I am still enthralled by the small island's wonders. Icelandic literature too is quite great, though the availability of translations, especially on classical texts, is quite difficult. If anyone is interested, Njal's Saga is definitely worth getting. Its prose is essentially what Hemmingway strove for a thousand years later, though quite uniquely potent.

Overall in general, I think I can read things (assuming I can understand them) from almost any cultural background. At first, of course, getting into Chinese and Japanese poetry was quite difficult, but now I think I am starting to be able to unwind the metaphorical code, and things are coming far more swiftly. I right now am trying to stop looking at the so called "Western Canon" and am striving for some sort of fusion between the two sides of the world.

Perhaps next year when I study some more languages, things will come much better, but until then, I must rely on my English, my Hebrew, and soon my Italian for all untranslated works.


P.S., read Darwish, he is excellent.

[John Goodman]

Japanese Culture - With this culture I seem to be looking more into classical texts and art than contemporary, and examining older culture rather than newer. The reason for this is, I really do not understand contemporary Japanese culture at all, and I find it a little bit crazy, especially since you go to a bookstore, and you can find wrist thick pornographic comic books called Manga, which to me make no sense at all.


Manga just means comic book in Japanese. What you're talking about is hentai, which is not readily available in just any store. I had a friend of mine who reads manga correct me on this once. Manga is essentially the same as comic books with subjects ranging from sports to mysteries to super powered monsters fighting each other in place of your typical super hero in the west. (Note, I have not read manga before, I'm just basing this off my friend who reads it. So please someone correct me if I'm wrong somewhere.)

[MorpheusSandman]

Japanese Culture - With this culture I seem to be looking more into classical texts and art than contemporary, and examining older culture rather than newer. The reason for this is, I really do not understand contemporary Japanese culture at all, and I find it a little bit crazy, What do you mean by classical? I mean, is that pre-1900 or does that include the great Japanese film directors and modern writers? Modern Japanese popular culture is based largely on popular Western culture. The only difference is they're much more... imaginative than we are in terms of what they can churn out. I mean, beyond hentai, modern Japanese culture has also produced those insanely popular rhythm based games (Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, etc.)


(Note, I have not read manga before, I'm just basing this off my friend who reads it. So please someone correct me if I'm wrong somewhere.)The only correction I would make is to note that manga has a tendency to me more mature than its American counterparts. As in animation there are a good number of legitimate, creative, and intelligent modern artists working in the medium in Japan as to where both comics and animation are still generally considered children's fair over here (though there are a few great writers and artists looking to change that perception).

[stlukesguild]

I would not go so far as to suggest that modern Japanese popular culture is largely rooted in Western popular culture. Certainly there are many such borrowings... but these are often so changed as to be quite unique and removed from the original Western sources. I would also note that there are many elements that are rooted in native Japanese traditions. Manga or comics/graphic novels are deeply rooted in the traditions of Ukyo-e prints... as were Western comics for that matter. Such works can be extremely violent or sexually graphic... but this is also part of the Ukyo-e tradition. Shunga prints can verge on pornography... yet with the most gorgeous sense of design and pattern. I'll offer only the most tasteful here... by Utamaro:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=569

Artists such as Kunichika and Kunyoshi could also be quite graphic in their portrayals of violence... often illustrating traditional Japanese stories of warfare or ghost stories. Again... a few subdued examples:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=570

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=571

Wikipedia... which always must be taken with a grain of salt... states that Hentai... the term referring to pornographic comics... is a word that essentially means abnormality. It is noted that such works are not available for sale to those under 18, but for adults they allow for the possibility of erotic fantasies that go outside the constraints of what would be possible in film. There are currently some interesting artists who are building upon a merger of the older Japanese artistic traditions with some of the darker elements drawn from popular culture.

JBI... admittedly I have read nothing by Mahmoud Darwish... although several of his books are on my wish list. As I noted in my posting, "The Other Canon" I am slowly trying to explore literature beyond the borders of Europe and the Americas.

The irony of it: saving books from a burning library to turn them into artwork that ought to be set to the torch. He writes beautifully though, and I share his sentiments if not his aesthetics.

Perhaps Peter Max, Frank Frazetta, or LeRoy Nieman would be more toward the aesthetics you share?:D

[MorpheusSandman]

I would not go so far as to suggest that modern Japanese popular culture is largely rooted in Western popular culture. Certainly there are many such borrowings... but these are often so changed as to be quite unique and removed from the original Western sources.Absolutely. But if you look at a lot of Eastern Japanese narrative art (films and anime are what I'm most familiar with) from the post-war onward a great many of them deal with the themes of Japanese becoming a more and more "Westernized" culture. Two vivid examples are the subtle Coca-Cola billboard in Ozu's Late Spring and the switch from Kimonos to suits in Kurosawa's Drunken Angel. And even their pop music has been massively influenced by Western pop music including The Beatles and 80s "hair metal". In fact, the whole Japanese guitar virtuoso craze is practically lifted right out of the American 80s.


Wikipedia... which always must be taken with a grain of salt... states that Hentai... the term referring to pornographic comics... is a word that essentially means abnormality.AFAIK, from everyone I've talked to that knows (some) Japanese, the definition on Wikipedia is correct. Here's the full quote for anyone interested:


In the 1914 translation of Richard von Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis, "psychology of abnormal sexuality" was rendered in Japanese as 『変態性慾心理』 (Hentai Seiyoku Shinri).

In Japanese the word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 (hen meaning "change" "weird" or "strange") and 態 (tai meaning "attitude" or "appearance"). The term is used as a shortened form of the phrase 変態性欲 (hentai seiyoku), or "sexual perversion." In slang, 変態 (hentai) is used as an insult meaning roughly "pervert" or "weirdo". The term is not often applied to pornography in Japan. Instead, terms such as 18-kin (18禁, literally "18-prohibited") meaning "prohibited to those not yet 18 years old", and seijin manga (成人漫画 "adult manga") are used when referring to pornography. The English letters AV are also used, standing for adult video.

The English use of "hentai" is more similar to the way the Japanese use the slang term エッチ (H, etchi, often spelled ecchi), which refers to any sexually explicit content or behavior. Etchi is simply the spelling-out of the Japanese pronunciation of the letter H. The origins of this term are uncertain, but it may be a shortened form of hentai used as a polite codeword in the 1960s.

"H" in Japan is now broadly used to refer to all sexual content or activity, so "H manga" are manga with sexual content. Also, the term "ero" (エロ), short for "erotic" but closer in meaning to "porn", is now used more often instead of "H".

Exactly how the term hentai came to refer to all sexually explicit content in American anime fandom is unknown. With the rise of the World Wide Web, however, the term was extensively promoted by pornographic sites selling access to (frequently bootlegged) erotic manga. Banner ads promoting these sites might, for instance advertise "live girls and hentai", with the latter meaning erotic manga as opposed to photographs. Compare otaku for another word altered somewhat in this transition.

Even though I'm generally turned right off by hentai, I will admit there is one series (recommended by a friend) that I loved called Slut Girl. It's one of the very few comics that ever made me laugh out loud.

[mortalterror]

Perhaps Peter Max, Frank Frazetta, or LeRoy Nieman would be more toward the aesthetics you share?:D

Frazetta is alright, but the other two don't do anything for me.

I know I've said this before, but I'm still unconvinced by your explanation of modernism deriving from a clash of eastern and western cultures, and I fail to see how the beautiful artistic styles of Zoffany (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/TribunaoftheUffizibyJohannZoffany.jpg), Fragonard (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2Fragonard_Swing.jpg), and David (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/1794-David-Marat.jpg) combining with those of Hasui (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/ZensetsuTempleSanshubyHasui.jpg), Yo****oshi (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/okikulg.jpg), and Hokusai (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/hokusai1.jpg) somehow add up to this piece of garbage (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/Duchamp_-_Nude_Descending_a_Staircase.jpg).

If you would like to know what kind of art I enjoy most I would probably have to say the Romans. I love everything about their culture. I love things just because they remind me of the Romans. I've been captivated by them, bordering on the obsessed for several years now. Since we seem to be sharing a lot of pictures, here's a few rather good ones that should give you an idea of what I'm talking about. 1 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/01.jpg), 2 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2431272060_13c11a611a_b2.jpg), 3 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2462548665_2ddb161715_b.jpg), 4 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2548857263_f28a161d9d_b.jpg), 5 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2549875392_9a8f74268f_b.jpg), 6 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2554255051_91a2408e4b_o.jpg), 7 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2666054210_67a12e3593_b.jpg), 8 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2667991331_706991a130_b.jpg), 9 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2668822870_513ef535a3_b.jpg), 10 (http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/Saliari/2757659593_0e416a28c6_o.jpg). Even that doesn't really begin to show what the Romans are capable of, and it's not just their art or their literature either. There's their politics, their laws, customs, religion, architecture, philosophy. I could go on and on... but that would be inappropriate gushing and I believe I've already said enough.