Friday, November 15, 2002

Loose Ends We started the week by introducing the notion in Japanese Pottery of the anonymously created art piece and its association to the box which contains the piece and has the name of the artist. We went on to look at how the box is a similar instrument to the pedestal in identifying an object as one that has aesthetic meaning, and to note that since the box can be opened or closed, it signifys a personal event. Taking a change in perspective, we saw the various kinds of textual information that can be on the box, and an ironic one that was missing. Yesterday we looked at another component of the box, the cord, or kumihimo, which is tied around it. We came to understood its own importance as a piece of art with a background in other rope aesthetics. Today, I want to bring this together: As we noted, the kumihimo, is no normal cord. It comes from a rich art background and should be understood aesthetically. Another meaning is similar to the box in that the rope (and it's knot) signify a personal event. It shows an event that took place (tying) and refers to a possible one in the future (untying.) The Tomoboko is no normal box, but a signifier of aesthetic meaning, as well as a medium for textual meaning and instrument for a personal event. The personal event can be understood as a ceremony or ritual. It relates the person with the object in a special way, a way where one is involved aesthetically. All of these are external things that give the piece within a hieghten aesthetic meaning. A piece whos creation comes from a craft / utilitarian background, where the creator is not recognized. 11:02:29 PM