« Thankyou | Main | A shared moment. »
February 17, 2010
Elegance of the hedgehog
All things Japanese have been growing on me slowly but inexorably.
I used to think the culture too alien, the language too foreign, the people so formal and impenetrable, that it was a waste of time to even try and and comprehend it all. Given choice, Japan was the last place on earth I would ever want to visit. Not so any more.
Curiously, if you open yourself up to the possibility of accessing something, this 'something' it will come and find you, as long as you stay open. Or so I hope.
I have recently read a truly heartwarming novel called 'The elegance of the hedgehog' by the French author Muriel Barbery. It sold millions worldwide (if you're like me and the word bestseller acts as a repellent, stay cool). Apparently, doctors and psychotherapists in France prescribe it to their patients on the grounds that it can do you a lot of good.
Of this I'm sure, as the book is full of wonders.
But, to me, quite an additional wonder is its Japanese character Mr Ozu, through whose eyes we can see some aspects of our Western culture as if for the first time. Take for example interior decoration, and the fact that quite commonly we tend to have two of the same things in our homes: two identical lamps, two vases or candlesticks on the mantlepiece, two ornaments symetrically placed, etc. Of course this is part of our Greek cultural heritage where values such as perfection, shine, solidity and symmetry are as predominant as opposite values of imperfect and understated beauty, fluidity, texture and asymmetry dominate the Wabi-Sabi esthetics of Japanese way.
But it makes one wonder if perhaps we want two of everything not because of our Hellenistic conditioning but because one of anything is never enough; we're simply fearfull and greedy. And our homes are full of superfluous things.
"Have our civilization become so destitute that we can only live in our fear of want? Can we only enjoy our possesions or our senses when we are certain that we shall always be able to enjoy them? Perhaps the Japanese have learned that you can only savour pleasure when you know it is ephemeral and unique; armed with this knowledge, they are yet able to weave their lives."
This I cannot know, for I'm a novice to things Japanese, but I shall hand-sell 'The Elegance of the hedgehog' like there is no tomorrow...
Posted by Marzena at February 17, 2010 08:49 PM