Japanese Subcultures

This article was to establish the comparisons between British and Japanese subcultures.
Five Japanese subcultures are:

• Roppongi-zoku
• Miyuki-zoku
• Harajuku-zoku
• Futen-zoku
• Boso-zoku

Zoku is another word or type of tribe and can be linked to British sub-cultures according to what time  they appeared/ were around. The youth tribes are linked to media, comics, music, TV and magazines.

Roppongi-zoku, Miyuki-zoku and Harajuku-zoku were a similar authentic code which was close to the Mods, Futen-zoku was similar and corresponded to hippies and Boso-zoku had similarities to Punk subculture.

Key Words:

• Japanese Street Style
• Subculture
• Youth culture
• Consumer Society
• Globalization

The zokus were most popular in Tokyo changing fashion and using different items and forms of clothing in an urban space. The media in Japan used the word Zoku to describe the fashion groups of the young people in the media, this was a similarity to British media as they present youths in a manufactured way that has formed subcultures. From having studied media I can see that youths are only presented with in the media when they have done something wrong, this links to what Dick Hebdige said "In our society, youth is only present, when its presence is a problem". This means the only deviant youths have become visible from the media in the same form that each Zoku has attracted a great proportion of media coverage, making them so easy to document today.

Consumerism and style in the Early 1960's

First half of the 60's was when three major subcultures appeared from different areas of Tokyo.

These areas were Roppongi, Miyuki Street in Ginza and Harajuku. These lent their names to the zoku subcultures which were invented by media reporters.

In 1960's Japan had Americanised meaning many Japanese cultures were abandoned and became westernised. Westernised consumerism began in Britain in 1029's but only became established in th main areas of Japan in the 1950's

Westernisation meant that male attire was a smart suit and neatly cut hair or casual t-shirt and jeans. Women's style was difficult to determin but showed that they favourtised and were influenced by the 'Euro-America' skirt by the British 60's.

Hemp-Coffee bean sacks were popular to carry around as coffee was imported from overseas making it fashionable to drink.

"Dandyism-male fashion- 'looking the part' constantly. Miyuki-yoku conscious of their appearance.

Uniformed appearance, hinted at the power if consumerism, style controlled people, correct way to behave.

Anti-middle-class Style of the Late 1970s

Boso-Zoku

• Biggest and most notorious deviant group
• Caused nationwide moral panic
• Motorcycles gangs like 'bikers' e.g British Rockers and American Hells' Angels
• Boso-Zoku were younger than over seas counterparts.
• Referred to their risky, dangerous and fast driving
• Were similar to the behavior of the punk sub-culture e.g Antagonistic towards the dull, middle-class character of society
• Some of the radical groups turned to bombing, highjacking and fighting.
• Eventually calmed down and became more appropriate updating their cars, motorcycles, clothing and flags.
• Maturing of Boso-Yoku had children and led to new groupds within the Bobo. 

                               -Yankii (Yankee)- High school drop out

                               -Yakuza- Japanese gangster

                               -Tsuppari- Flamboant Defiance

• Costumes were given nicknames from dour or frightening images

                               -Tokkofuku- Suicidal Kamikaze party

                               -Sentofuku- Combat suit

                               -Dokajan- Construction worker wear

                               -Jimbei- Traditional summer suits worn by their fathers

                               -China- Chinese suits

• Symbols were embroided into suits for a shock effect not as Nazis
• Binbags, Safety pins, Old Schol uniforms, Bondage and tape were often used in their general catwalk.

Politics of Location: Subjectivity on the Street

• The main aim was to portray themselves on the public roads
• Each having their own location, the Yokus were named from where the styes originated from similar to British subcultures. 
• Mods-Soho
• Hippies- London Street Commune (empty mansions in Piccadilly)
• Punks- Kings road
• Skinheads- from football terraces 

Each subculture was developed behind closed doors and only publicised with in media and favourite habitats.

2012 Olympics Logo

The logo for the 2012 Olympics was unveiled by Seb Coe, chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, in June 2007. The logo was designed by the Wolff Olins agency and cost £400,000. 

Ever since its unveiling the logo has had scrutiny from all over the country and also other countries. The logo for the Olympics has to be bold, modern, flexible, noticeable and relevant both in 2007 when it was created and in 2012 during the games. With its bright colours and jagged edges I feel that the designer has created a modern logo for both years.

One of the claims against the logo was the Iranian believe that the word "Zion" can be read using the numbers which to them is a very revolting act. In some way it is visible but only if you over think the logo. Another problem some had with the logo was that it looked like a sexual act using two well known cartoon characters. Unless one would of heard about it, no one with a decent or clean mind would think of any obscurity or absurdness of the logo.

I personally think the logo is eye catching and noticeable, but there are other logos that the public have designed which are more suitable for the olympics in London and that represent the country in a better and more neutral way.

For instance this logo designed by a viewer  James Wren was sent into the BBC with some other images, illustrating different ways in which the logo can be designed. I prefer the simplicity of it and the way in which he incorporated the Olympic rings.

5/10/11 History of Photography

I really enjoyed this lesson on the History of photography as researching photographers is one of my favourite things about the subject.

We began looking over ethical issues within each subject area of photography, graphics and fashion. Getting into small groups to discuss them we came up with.

Fashion :

• Health issues, models weight and exposure of skin
• air brushing
• textiles and fabrics used including animal products, leather/fur.
• designer brands exploiting cheap labour

Photography:

• Laws considering peoples privacy
• taking pictures in a street
• using photos illegally, without consent 

Graphics:

• Use of words used in adverts, they can be miss leading or read wrong
• Copyright, using others pictures to make photomontage. 

What is photography:

-The art of process of producing images of objects 

-The art, practice, or occupation of taking and printing photographs

-A body of photographs

Here is a list of some of the photographers and their work that interested my whilst look through a power point presentation.

Andy Rouse- Wildlife Photographer

I clearly remember his pictures and how sharp and in focus the animals were, he used a short depth of field so that the back ground was blurred making the colours merge together.

Daguerre, 1838/39, Boulvard du Temple

He was the first photographer to capture a person in an image because cameras had such long exposure times in the early stages of photography.

Oscar Rejlander

He used over 36 single plates to make a single image. This made people question the truth of a photo and just because you can see it, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is true.

Alice Boughton 1909, Nude

She was allowed to take photos of children with out being scrutinised unlike men. This was because women were more trusted and not penalised or judged for it.

Paul Strand 1915, Abstraction

I love the use of shadow, pattern and shape captured in Paul Strands photographs, as it makes them endearing and questions why he took a picture of it.

A Film Clip- James Bond Casino Royale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZLFfyzEUX8&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLC7EDB90535C577B5

This is one of the many fight scenes from the James Bond movie "Casino Royale" directed by Martin Campbell.
I like this clip in particular as it uses many techniques and devices to create the 'perfect action scene'
The main reason i like it is because of the sound effects used throughout creating its own story without images needed. When comparing it to the creative practices it shows good lighting and camera angles needed to perfect a shot much like in a studio set up for photography. An example of this is when they start the fight in the stair well and the camera is below them and the lighting is dim, this makes the scene more tense and adds suspense. I also like how the lighting makes the figures of the people bold and stand out.

A Link- Dominic Pote

http://www.dominicpote.co.uk/ 

Dominic Pote is a surrealist landscape photographer. I only recently came across his work and found the movement in his pictures magical. I like that he has his own unique style in which he captures a scene.

An image that represents me.

I think this picture represents me as it can show many aspects to a person. I am naturally calm and i feel that the pastel colours represent this compared to the fun facial expressions of the girls. I like to keep myself busy and am an active person this is shown by the busy and hectic compostion of the image.