Post by kempff on Aug 6, 2009 12:25:23 GMT -5
I quote 100% from W.G. Aston's A History of Japanese Literature the following,
Aston lived from the 19th century to early 20th.
The book I hold is a reprint from 1972.
I hardly think this is at all edited from his time (thankfully).
The text on the inside front cover sings accolades of Aston's book.
The attitude displayed here is absolutely disparaging.
And think, Aston lived in the intermediary phase of industrial colonialism.
Don't offer the bullox reasons, "well his time was different."
It's precisely due to this revolting, ethnocentrism Political Correctness came to be. It's due to this kind of attitude that people riot so they are taken notice of.
This little blurb is listed in the end of his book in the last two pages reserved for Christianity, while the rest of the book constantly demeans and calls Japanese literature, childlike, lacking critical thought, lacking sophistication, etc.
The mere inclusion of the Christian bit truly makes me question Aston's motives to put it in. Is he some kind of teacher, master, surveyor of a vastly inferior people to be conquered and taught proper morality?
For what reason did he bother with Japanese literature?
The conclusion I come to is that before the very large changes in the 50's to the literary world, literary criticism and cultural views were a very blurry line.
Back in the day the classical approach of literary criticism was dominant (the romantic movement was basically dead by the beginning of the 20th century), analyzing the author's life to better understand the material (assuming there's a correlation), looking at the time period, even comparing works to one another.
By the 50's the literary world had turned itself upside down, yet cultural awareness and communications became a new focal point in the world and began to grow.
I enjoy reading books such as these as much as reading old dictionaries.
These kind of books do not lie, and for this reason, I hate political correctness. It is good to stop discrimination, but making it harder to discern allows discrimination and ethnocentrism to go unnoticed.
EDIT: I am not painting myself a Japanophile with this, as I'd call myself an Anglophile if any phile. This attitude is textbook colonialism.
By the way, Tuttle (well known publisher today), reprinted this book in 70's.
"There are some considerations which tend to show that important results in this direction may be expected during the century which is nearly approaching us. The previous religious history of the nation has prepared Japan for the acceptance of a higher form of faith. Buddhism did not a little towards fostering ideals of holiness, humanity, and detachment from worldly things. Confucianism provided high, though it may be somewhat distorted, standards of morality, and a comparatively rational system of philosophy. Shinto taught a reverence for the Divine powers which created and govern the universe and man. But none of the three sufficed by itself to meet the heart, soul, and mind want of the Japanese nation. Can it be imagined that when a religion is presented to them which alone is adapted to satisfy far more completely all the cravings of their higher nature, the Japanese, with their eminently receptive minds, will fail to recognise its immense superiority*? They have already accepted European philosophy and science. It is simply inconceivable that the Christian religion should not follow."
*=There are now 113,000 native Christians in Japan.
*=There are now 113,000 native Christians in Japan.
Aston lived from the 19th century to early 20th.
The book I hold is a reprint from 1972.
I hardly think this is at all edited from his time (thankfully).
The text on the inside front cover sings accolades of Aston's book.
The attitude displayed here is absolutely disparaging.
And think, Aston lived in the intermediary phase of industrial colonialism.
Don't offer the bullox reasons, "well his time was different."
It's precisely due to this revolting, ethnocentrism Political Correctness came to be. It's due to this kind of attitude that people riot so they are taken notice of.
This little blurb is listed in the end of his book in the last two pages reserved for Christianity, while the rest of the book constantly demeans and calls Japanese literature, childlike, lacking critical thought, lacking sophistication, etc.
The mere inclusion of the Christian bit truly makes me question Aston's motives to put it in. Is he some kind of teacher, master, surveyor of a vastly inferior people to be conquered and taught proper morality?
For what reason did he bother with Japanese literature?
The conclusion I come to is that before the very large changes in the 50's to the literary world, literary criticism and cultural views were a very blurry line.
Back in the day the classical approach of literary criticism was dominant (the romantic movement was basically dead by the beginning of the 20th century), analyzing the author's life to better understand the material (assuming there's a correlation), looking at the time period, even comparing works to one another.
By the 50's the literary world had turned itself upside down, yet cultural awareness and communications became a new focal point in the world and began to grow.
I enjoy reading books such as these as much as reading old dictionaries.
These kind of books do not lie, and for this reason, I hate political correctness. It is good to stop discrimination, but making it harder to discern allows discrimination and ethnocentrism to go unnoticed.
EDIT: I am not painting myself a Japanophile with this, as I'd call myself an Anglophile if any phile. This attitude is textbook colonialism.
By the way, Tuttle (well known publisher today), reprinted this book in 70's.
I did post in shades of grey if anyone even remembers that lmao