Description
Book Synopsis: Visualizing modernism in prewar JapanModernity took many forms in 1930s Japan, but in the tumultuous years before militarism pushed the country toward global aggression, it was most visibly associated with a glittering consumer culture. Inundated with western jazz-age trends and new technologies, Japan’s big cities, especially Tokyo, offered the most enticing attractions to a newly liberated generation: bustling streets of department stores, cafés and teahouses, movie theaters and ballroom dance halls. Modern architecture, industrial design and fashion overshadowed traditional arts as Japan strove to take its place in a cosmopolitan world. The Brittle Years examines the different ways in which designers and artists visualized what it meant to be modern in Japan in the years leading up to World War II. Its 160 full-color illustrations of paintings, textiles and graphic arts are astonishing not only for their great visual impact but also for the insight they provide into a rapidly transforming nation. Among the more surprising images are kimonos bearing patterns of tanks or futuristic cityscapes, paintings of fashionable Japanese women with bobbed hair in western dress and handbills of factory and agricultural workers joined in solidarity. Essays by leading experts on Japanese art and history, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning author John W. Dower, elucidate the many tensions within Japanese society and show how and why such images of power, progress, and beauty helped the nation celebrate and divert modernity to new purposes during these brittle years.
Details
Discover the captivating world of prewar Japan with "The Brittle Decade: Visualizing Japan in the 1930s". Immerse yourself in the visual manifestations of modernism as you explore the glitz and glamour of Japan's bustling cities during this transformative period. From western jazz-age trends to cutting-edge technologies, Japan's big cities pulsated with a newfound sense of freedom and cosmopolitan charm.
With its 160 full-color illustrations of paintings, textiles, and graphic arts, this book offers a mesmerizing visual journey through the rapidly evolving nation. Marvel at kimonos adorned with patterns of futuristic cityscapes and tanks, witness fashionable Japanese women embracing western dress and bobbed hair, and experience the unity of factory and agricultural workers through captivating handbills. These images not only astound with their visual impact but also offer profound insights into the complex dynamics within Japanese society.
Featuring essays by esteemed experts in Japanese art and history, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning author John W. Dower, "The Brittle Decade" delves into the tensions that shaped Japan during these transformative years. Gain a deeper understanding of how power, progress, and beauty intertwined to redefine modernity in a nation on the cusp of global aggression.
Embrace the allure of Japan's past and uncover the hidden stories behind its visual expressions. Experience the art, the culture, and the profound changes that shaped Japan's path towards modernity. Order "The Brittle Decade: Visualizing Japan in the 1930s" today and embark on a mesmerizing journey through time.
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