New Product Design
The following is a presentation using a piece of Japanese artwork as a reference. I am having the performance recorded and hopefully I will be able to obtain a copy and put it up. For now here’s a rough script. Ignore type-o’s. It’s a speech for goodness sake, I normally don’t even write scripts for speeches. Anywho, the artwork on the left is what I refer to. The poorly drawn picture on the bottom is what I refer to at the end of the presentation. Enjoy the witticisms and look out for the video, which is better than a reading.
Welcome to Microsoft’s production design conference. Today I’ll be introducing a new mp3 player to replace the Zune. Now, Microsoft has come a long way with the Zune, but Apple’s iPod line has continued to dominate the market. Well, starting today this will change. This new product was inspired by Japanese print artist, Kitagawa Utamaro. His artwork is known to depict women in the ideal form and captures their essence with a calculated degree of sexual appeal. This is what we need in our product to rival the iPod. Because the iPod is sexy, while the Zune lacks that quality.
The artwork we’re using to model this new product after is Utamaro’s “Woman in Red Kimono.” First, her setting is simplistic; there is no setting. There are no extras. The artwork focuses on only the subject, the woman in question, wearing a red kimono. Let’s deconstruct this image. Her headdress is carefully tended to. Her moment of action is her tending to her hair
and her image. Utamaro gives detail to the shape of her hair and gives us the ideal. Her pale face and small eyes and mouth give the viewer only the essentials.
Further down, we can see that the woman is actively involved in the process of reading a letter. We, the viewer, do not know the contents of the letter giving the woman a sense of mystery, of “secretism.” The artist only gives subtle clues about the contents of this secret letter through the expression on the woman’s face. It is one of mild excitement. It is this secrecy and intrinsic excitement that we will elicit in our customers with this new product. The designer of this woman gave her secrets that only she knows of. He chose to reveal to the viewer that she has secrets, thus giving the viewer a sense of wonder and makes the viewer think, “What could she be hiding? Is the letter from a lover? Why should she be so delighted at this particular moment in time?” Because of the absence of the woman’s location, we can only speculate. With this in mind, Microsoft’s new mp3 player will help the consumer lose themselves in their thoughts. When they listen to their music, it will be an intellectual experience. Our customers will look for what’s missing and perhaps discover a bit of themselves when they ask these questions as a result of our product.
The element of sensuality is very much present in Utamaro’s print. The red kimono gives the woman a mask except for her head, hands and this: her one exposed leg. Notice how Utamaro does not give the viewer just a leg. The color of the kimono is different here. The under layers of the woman’s kimono draws the reader in like landing signals on a runway. She is so enveloped in her letter that she takes a step and, whoops! Bare skin is revealed. And
you can tell that this woman does not care by the expression on her face. It is almost as if she is saying, “life is to be enjoyed.” She is not aware that the viewer is viewing her so intently. It is this seemingly innocent sensuality that we will make present in Apple’s new rival product.
Lastly, this new product of ours will embody something most profound: that of the color red. Red is the color that is worn by this woman in the red kimono. Red catches the eye. Red says, “Look at me.” Red is vibrant; it is a color of exuberance, a color of lust, a color of sensuality. Red is another part of this print’s masterpiece that illuminates the woman in red kimono’s scandalous and erotic nature. And because she does not notice our noticing her subtle eroticism, we feel ashamed to notice. But we do. Just as when a passing stranger glances at a shiny gadget held by another, they feel ashamed that they looked. But it was satisfying nonetheless. Microsoft’s new mp3 player will be this gadget that everyone notices. It will be that subtle eroticism in society, made better than the iPod. For the iPod is openly scandalous and its promiscuity is a menace, but it works. But what works even better is subtle eroticism. And I believe we have finally captured that essence.
Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado I give you… it.
Notice how it uses all the properties mentioned previously. It has the careful attention to detail. It has hair, in idealized form Notice the arrows of sensuality and the pale ‘skin’ beneath the surface. There are no buttons. It is simple and without physical location. It has secrets. How do you operate this thing? Only it knows and it gives subtle clues that it knows, but the consumer does not know how it knows, only that it knows. And finally, it is red. It is subtly sensual. It does not bleed promiscuity. It attracts attention with its redness, but it does not require it. It is not aware of the attention being paid to it. It is only… it. I’d now like to open the floor for commentary and questioning.
Genji’s Secret Blog
This is a very short play I wrote for a class based on a particular section from The Tale of Genji. Go ahead and analyze it all you Japanese literature fans! See if you can spot all the direct quotations (I used Royall Tyler’s translation). Feedback would be awesome.
Introduction
This play portrays Genji in a modern context and explores his interaction with the World Wide Web. Here he maintains a blog about his doings and reads comments from other people reading his blog. The anonymity of the web allows his readers to criticize him more harshly than the people Genji interacts with in his Heian world. His readers are not taken aback by his almost divine beauty since they cannot see him. Also, some of the comments Genji receives are not all that enlightening and some are not relevant at all, which is typical of a blog. Genji is also not visible to his readers and can relax more than historical Japan allows him to. Because of the informal nature of blogs and their reputation for hosting poor writers, Genji’s writing style has degraded and he presents a different voice on the Internet than he does to his lovers and comrades in Heian Japan.
Genji’s Secret Blog
[Enter Genji.]
[Genji logs into his computer and checks his blog comments.]
Genji (reading): “You, sir, are too smooth.” Oh! Why thank you! Let’s see….. “You must be very attractive to be able to win the hearts of so many. Where do you live?” uh….hm.…[Genji hits the delete button.] “He’s probably making it all up. Insecure dolt.” Hm… [Genji hits the delete button.]
[Genji starts typing, reading his words aloud.]
Genji: Last night I sat in on an adult conversation! Other court members gossiped about what kind of woman a man should marry. Upper class women are apparently too pampered and lower class women aren’t to be considered, but everybody knows that. Now, middle class women, they are supposed to be good. Apparently, among those of middle birth you can see what a girl really has to offer and find ways to distinguish one from another. Not so with other classes. Tonight I will test this theory. I know someone who I think fits the Secretary Captain’s description of the perfect woman. Always think back to the pavilion.
The Captain.
[Genji logs out]
[It is five or six days later. Genji enters and logs into his computer.]
Genji: So that night some time ago was a failure. Of epic proportions. This woman (I will refer to her as “the broom tree lady”) completely rejected me. I was so confused. Usually my looks are completely disarming. I came at night into the broom tree lady’s quarters and spoke to her my need to express my feelings toward her. She yielded a little, which is to be expected because of my extremely good looks, and so I took her. Her servant stood there and understood entirely that my supreme attractiveness is supposed to disarm everyone. But once I laid down my woman, she was stiff as a board! And you can’t very well interact with a board. It just doesn’t work. Anyway, she did not even want me to send letters. I have ordered her younger brother to send my letters for me. We’ll see how it goes. Keep your flute well tuned.
The Captain
[Genji logs out]
[It is the next evening. Genji enters and logs into his computer.]
Genji (reading): “Maybe you shouldn’t waltz into her quarters without telling her first. It sounds kind of creepy.” hm… He’s obviously never tried it. “Aw man. That’s ridiculous.” I know!
Genji: I had the broom tree’s brother send her my letters twice and she is even more resistant to my coming on to her. I just don’t get it. Does she not understand how deep my feelings run for her? Does she not understand that I’m extremely good looking? Everyone else seems to understand that. She is cruel and she is hateful. No woman has ever so rejected me. Oh well. Tomorrow I will try again! I have lost every struggle to drive her from my mind. And this boy will help me a great deal this time. He will take me in a carriage…hidden… and I will be able to see her. I’ll post about how it goes the next morning. Keep your poetry sharper than her calligraphy.
The Captain
[Genji logs out.]
[It is the morning after Genji’s encounter at Utsusemi’s house. Genji logs into his computer.]
Genji: I saw her at last! She is pretty, just like I pictured! She has a delicious mouth and eyes. And her hair is thick and fine, but not long. Anyway, she was playing Go with a visitor, who I did not dislike, but I saw nothing to attract me either. After the game I went in and laid down next to the broom tree lady only to find out that it was in fact her younger visitor Go opponent! It took me for a bit of a shock, but she was not to dislike, so I pledged my love to her anyway. We both agreed to keep it a secret and I left without seeing the broom tree lady. What do you want? She was good enough. She found me horribly attractive and she was so tender! Either way, I was horribly distraught and sent the broom tree lady a letter of disapproval this morning. Why does she hide from me so? I simply do not understand. Why will she not satisfy my longing to be with her? It simply does not make sense. No, I do not need advice, dear reader. For I have met another. She is delicate and innocent. Surely she will want to be with someone as beautiful as myself. Keep the fish biting.
The Captain.
[End]
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Next Places Launch and Research Project
After a long hiatus, hello again. I am back at Michigan State University’s campus enjoying a third year at full throttle. This semester is going to be the best yet. I’ve regained my ground from the tumultuous spring and summer (I will refrain from going into details) and am tackling new projects.
Firstly, I’ve started a mini-company (if you can even call it that) called “Next Places.” It specializes in cultural transitions and I (so far it’s just me) help international students learn English and, perhaps more importantly, teach them how to use English in context here in the U.S. It’s one thing to learn a language, but it is a completely different matter to use that language in its proper context, and the task is absolutely DAUNTING for many students studying outside of their home country. I know because I used to be an international student. So the expertise is there, the advertising is there, the website is here (www.nextplaces.org. www.msu.edu/~stemogar. Check it out!), the business cards are coming and I’m just waiting for the phone calls. By the way, if you know someone who would benefit from English mentoring, hop on over to the website for more information or send me an email and I’d be happy to assist.
Secondly, I’ve found a professor of anthropology here at MSU by the name of John Davis, Jr. who studies human rights with a focus on the Buraku community in Japan. I asked him if I could study under him and produce a work of my own about the Buraku and he was thrilled. I will publish my findings and conclusions on this website as I work. I will then allow you, the reader, to download my final research paper at the end of the semester (December) to read.
Here is some background along with the tentative focus of my work. The Buraku are a marginalized group of people in contemporary Japan, but differ from most other marginalized minorities. Firstly, there are no physical differences between them and other Japanese; they look the same and have no biological differences. They hold the same value systems and don’t have jobs in any specific line of work. Why are they discriminated against? Even more puzzling, how can you discriminate against a people without being able to distinguish them from the rest of the populous? To answer the first question, the Buraku are descendants of a caste in feudal Japan who handled the dead (undertakers, executioners, etc.). They were excluded from the rest of society because their jobs were associated with the Shinto notion of defilement or un-cleanliness.
Today, companies may do background checks on individuals suspected of being Burakumin, a member of the Buraku minority, and decide not to hire them based on their minority status. If you were a father, you may not want your daughter marrying a Buraku, or you may be hesitant to let one into your house.
This is just a brief bit of background knowledge on what is called the Buraku mondai, or Buraku problem. As my research progresses I will give a more detailed account of the Buraku’s history. Enjoy the next few articles!
A “witty little paradox”*
I found this paradox rather intriguing.
Can omniscient God, who
Knows the future, find
The omnipotence to
Change His future mind?
-Karen Owens
*(Dawkins, 101)
Drawing Inspiration
Lance Armstrong is my role model,
A. Lincoln, my guide.
Steve Jobs shows me passion,
Obama, the ride.
~Garrek D. Stemo
New Direction
Welcome to Social Lensing! This blog, formerly known as Next Places, was previously hosted at Blogspot.com and has since taken a new direction and has become a more focused entity. WordPress offers the professionalism and array of services that suit the blog’s needs. Along with a new degree of professionalism comes a new, more focused title and my own domain.
Let me outline the focus of Social Lensing. Social Lensing is an authority on cultural analysis and trending, drawing on my education in the Social Sciences department at Michigan State University. Most of my past posts have revolved around this area, but have been loosely defined. Now they have definition. Topics will include language and literature, social hierarchies, cultural identification, cultural comparison, technological application in society, society and the environment, education, science and society (evolution in particular), different cultural lenses, political entities, cultural conflict, etc. Various sources will be referred to including critical novels and academic essays.
I hope you are as excited about Social Lensing’s new path as I am. I welcome feedback and constructive criticism, so go ahead and leave a comment! As I continue to learn so, too, will this blog.
Podcaster, Tim Burgess, Resumes Kyoto Podcast
Remember when podcasts first became popularized by iTunes and their library of feeds in their online store? There were some great pioneers in the podcasting world including Tim Burgess, the host of Kyoto Podcast. Tim was one of the first podcasters to take advantage of “enhanced podcasting,” whereby audio and images could be combined to give a more vivid user experience and “chapters” could be created within an episode. He had a great show about Kyoto and Japanese culture and had two shows within each episode that brought in other voices and experiences. It was informational and entertaining and then Tim returned to Australia and a great show faded out of existence. Well, Tim’s back and he’s on YouTube. Once again, he takes advantage of some new features and hosts his show in widescreen format. Go check it out and subscribe! I’ll embed one of his episodes below.
Kyoto Podcast
Kyoto Podcast YouTube page
