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Post by spindrift on Jun 22, 2009 21:22:41 GMT
I bow to the genius of Yukio Mishima. I have recently read Confessions of a Mask which was Yukio Mishima's first novel written in 1948 when he was in his twenties. This book is considered to be at least semi-autobiographical about a boy growing up in Japan that is war-torn and militaristic. The boy's thoughts and feelings are thoroughly explored concerning his awakening sexuality, his admiration, indeed fascination, with the perfect young male form, and his preoccupation with violence with sexual connotations. This is not an easy book to read as some of the descriptions filled me with horror but I am fascinated by the author so I persevered. I have also read The Temple of the Golden Pavilon, The Sound of Waves and Mishima's last and greatest work The Sea of Fertility which comprises four novels: Spring Snow, Runaway Horses, The Temple of Dawn and The Decay of the Angel.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2009 21:28:08 GMT
I only read The Golden Pavilion, which I thought was great.
Paul Schrader's movie "Mishima" was quite interesting.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 22, 2009 22:20:36 GMT
I guess I could look this up, but was Mishima the author who started a militaristic movement in Japan in the 70s? I believe he came into repeated conflict with the authorities and eventually killed himself?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2009 4:56:15 GMT
Yes, that's the one.
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Post by hwinpp on Jun 23, 2009 9:19:03 GMT
I couldn't finish any of his books. I started two and can't even remember the titles.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2009 9:27:48 GMT
I read Le Pavillon d'Or in French. Maybe Japanese translates better to French than to English (or German?).
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Post by spindrift on Jun 23, 2009 10:56:57 GMT
Yes, Bixa....he wanted a return to Samuri-style ethics...which was impossible in modern-day Japan. He was immensely brave. To enforce his point he tried to die with style - by commiting Seppuku (ritual stomach-cutting) in front of assembled army personnel. His close friend was there to behead him after the cutting. This is also part of the ritual. After that it was the friend's turn to commit Seppuku.
Kerouac - when you have time do read The Sea of Fertility novels. These give a perfect picture of Japan over a period of about 70 years. The first novel, Spring Snow drew me right in and opened the way to all his works.
I didn't know a film had been made.
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Post by Nic on Jul 10, 2009 7:27:13 GMT
Spring Snow was a brilliant first novel; easily one of the best of the 20th Century. Despite this, I thought the rest of the Sea of Fertility Cycle was muddled, and didn't live up to the reputation of that first novel. That said, I enthusiastically recommend Forbidden Colors. You should also pick up Sun and Steel, Acts of Worship, and Death in Midsummer. For those of you interested in something else, take a gander at the film he made. It's only 27-minutes long, but Patriotism is definitely something to ponder. www.criterion.com/current/posts/517
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Post by spindrift on Jul 10, 2009 8:23:15 GMT
Nic - thank you - I had no idea that Mishima made a film. I will look at it.
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Post by cigalechanta on Jul 10, 2009 16:14:29 GMT
He was nominated three times for the Nobel prize but his mentor got one. He had a sad childhood but an amazing life. I enjoyed most of his books. I never saw the two film in where he acted and one where he sings.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 10, 2009 20:13:57 GMT
Years ago I read the Sea of Fertility cycle. Like Nic, I found Spring Snow to be brilliant but the rest faded somewhat in my memory. Thanks for mentioning his film, (!) I'll look at it.
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Post by Nic on Jul 11, 2009 4:12:04 GMT
I guess I could look this up, but was Mishima the author who started a militaristic movement in Japan in the 70s? I believe he came into repeated conflict with the authorities and eventually killed himself? I stumbled across it the other day, but if you're so inclined, there is a snap of Mishima-san's severed head on the 'net. Google-fu his name in an image search.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 11, 2009 4:24:36 GMT
Thank you, but no.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 13, 2009 17:29:25 GMT
In the Sunday Times I found this notice:
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters 15, 120 mins **** (4 stars)
"Paul Schrader's 1985 film, which is getting a brief rerelease, is a biopic of Yukio Mishima, the Japanese author and nationalist remembered chiefly for having committed ritual suicide in 1970. In his screenplay, Schrader has always been drawn to men who - often to the point of mania - live by rigid routines and idealogies. Here, that fixation leads him to devote two hours of screen time to a tedious nutter. Nonetheless, he comes up with an enthralling movie, thanks to the verve with which he carries off his big idea: combining scenes from Mishima's life (with Ken Ogata playing the author) and stylised dramatisations of three of his novels. "
Well, personally, I take exception to Mishima being labelled a 'nutter'. In addition I object to the word 'tedious'.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 13, 2009 21:07:48 GMT
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Post by spindrift on Jul 13, 2009 21:52:39 GMT
Thanks, Bixa. I have watched the first two interviews. I was fascinated by Mishima's wedding pictures and those of his two children. I had no idea he was so short of stature. It's amazing how he developed his upper body in particular to make it a worthy vehicle for his future actions.
I'll watch the film clip tomorrow.
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