Being someone who digs about piles of Japanese cinema looking for interesting titles to watch and books to help me understand the medium I was quite happy to hear of the publication of this book. When I ran into a copy of the book at the Berkeley Art Museum shop I bought it immediately.Over the years I have read about Suzuki Seijun on occasion and was curious to learn more. I rate books by how much I learn from them and this one I rate very high. From the beginning I found material that put Suzuki's work in the context of the industry of the time his early films were made. Mainly this was that of Nikkatsu's churning out B films for double bills. Suzuki got in trouble several times for his efforts to make his films more interesting by using new and experimental effects, effects that could be jarring to the viewer, and wre disliked by his boss. I should say delightfully jarring as I have found myself more than once holding by breath as I focused on what was being presented to me on the screen. The book gave me a better perspective regarding the context of the films and how they contrasted to the works of other directors of the time. Also covered is his firing and blacklisting, successful lawsuit against Nikkatsu and popularity among members of cinema clubs at the time.I was also highly delighted to see a section on the influence of kabuki in Suzuki's films. I have long felt that kabuki has had a strong influence in Japanese cinema, after all many of the early actors were kabuki actors and for many years onnagata played the roles of women in Japanese silent cinema. Vick's book dealt with the specific influence on Suzuki, who is a fan of kabuki theater, and other directors. There is even a reference to kabuki influences in Shinoda Masahiro's The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan, itself a film based on a kabuki play by Kawatake Mokuami.Then the book goes further than most of what I have read, going into the films made after Suzuki's return to the director's chair in 1977. It is these films where Suzuki had greater freedom to experiment with the structure of cinema, narration, and visual presentation and produce unique works.If you are interested in cinema, Time and Space Are Nonsense is a book I feel you should strongly consider reading, even buying to add to your own library.Now on to the next book in my to read pile. Edo Kabuki in Transition.
Jul 13, 2016 • Subscribe
More like this
A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (悲愁物語, Seijun Suzuki, 1977)
An aspiring golfer begins to lose her sense of identity after being picked up as a brand ambassador in Seijun Suzuki’s surreal consumerist satire.
Carmen from Kawachi (河内カルメン, Seijun Suzuki, 1966)
Suzuki’s anarchic take on Bizet’s opera sees its heroine transcend the forces which oppress her to find true freedom and independence.
Tokyo Drifter (東京流れ者, Seijun Suzuki, 1966)
A recently released yakuza attempts to join the new society by going straight but finds his efforts frustrated by upstart gangsters in Seijun Suzuki’s postmodern noir.
Brief Thoughts On: Royal Space Force – The Wings of Honnêamise
An anime space race
Brief Thoughts On: Space Family Carlvinson
With its fun comedy and peak adorableness, Space Family Carlvinson is a movie that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Japan Society New York to Host Seijun Suzuki Centennial Feb. 3 – 11
At Japan Society New York, Feb. 3 – 11
What are your thoughts on fansubbing and scanlations?
So it was kind of hinted at in my last post, What is Goblin Cave? But I am currently doing some research into the history of fansubbing and…
Thoughts on The Conditions of Paradise: Our First Time
The Conditions of Paradise: Our First Time is a collection of yuri love stories written and illustrated by Akiko Morishima. It is the second volume of the The…
Brief Thoughts On: Crossing Time
The tiniest slices of life
Banner of the Stars: The Screech of Space-Time
By Hiroyuki Morioka and Toshihiro Ono. Released in Japan by Hayakawa Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Giuseppe di Martino. In the Afterword for…
The Princess of Snow and Blood #06 — Impeccable Nonsense
You are not as smart as you think you are, show. Impressions: Another floundering episode, although when it begins by going "So, I said this drug kills…
Brief Thoughts On: Are You Lost?
Disaster has struck! A plane crash during a school trip leaves 4 girls stranded on an abandoned...
Kounodori : Doctor Stork by Suzuki Yuuju
I was actually looking for a little fun yaoi to read when I came across this medical thriller, Kounodori: Dr. Stork. about an jazz pianist who has a…
Thoughts on Korean Netflix Shows “Hellbound” and “All of Us Are Dead”
Thoughts on “Hellbound” and “All of Us Are Dead” and “The After Party”
Here Are My Thoughts On The First Episode Of Solo Leveling
Here are my thoughts on one of the most anticipated shows of this season.
My Thoughts on Summer Time Rendering
For those who are waiting for Disney Plus to release this anime outside of Japan…don’t. If they’re not releasing their Chinese dramas in the US, they’re not releasing…
The Otakusphere: Speculation, space trains and fezes are cool
Here we are again at the end of the latest week of coronavirus craziness. We should coin the term coronavirus cabin fever because alliteration is awesome. Or cool…
Tom MacDonald “Dear Slim” (Produced by Eminem) Lyrics Breakdown And Explanation
Tom MacDonald finally released the song “Dear Slim'' and the internet couldn’t seem to handle the heat coming out of MacDonald's mouth. The rapper has been
What are your thoughts on Zom 100?
Do you like zombies anime or zombie related shows! I love Zom 100 bucket list of the dead
Single review: “This game” by Konomi Suzuki
Konomi Suzuki is a Japanese singer who won the 4th Animax All-Japan Anison Grand Prix in 2011 at the age of 14. This game is her 6th single.…
Permet Space Fortress of Death: Quick Thoughts on “Gundam the Witch from Mercury” #21
The following will contain spoilers for episode 21 of Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury. Episode 21 of Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury, entitled “What…
I★CHU – Idols and Nonsense
There aren't many idol show fans out there, certainly not boy idols. But I am! And I will never stop talking about it. This time I look at…
Brief Thoughts On: Why the hell are you here, Teacher?
You might wonder how it's even possible to get into situations like that, which is exactly what Why the hell are you here, Teacher? wants.
Thoughts on The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Volume 3
Once again, the two of them – you know what, nope. Let’s not do that any more, it’s way too obvious. Both Ellie and Wanko are working hard…
Thoughts on The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Volume 1
The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This is a yuri manga written and illustrated by Takashi Ikeda. It focuses on the definitely, totally strictly professional relationship…
Thoughts on The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Volume 2
Wako and Ellie continue to be pretty much like this in the second volume of Takashi Ikeda’s The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This manga. Like…
Was Zeke Targeted by Tom Ksaver to Inherit the Beast Titan?
Was Zeke Yeager targeted to inherit the Beast Titan the same way Grisha Yeager was to inherit the Attack Titan from Eren Kruger? This is an Attack on…
Zenjikuu Senbatsu Saijaku Saiteihen Ketteisen (Weakest Contestant of Space and Time)
Welcome to the Weakest Contestant of Space and Time Championship, where the god of each space time enters their weakest sentient being. First off, they compete in a…
Anime: The Seven Deadly Sins by Nakaba Suzuki (Season 1)
This highly popular anime, The Seven Deadly Sins by Suzuki Nakaba, has finally hit my eyeballs! The third princess of Liones, Elizabet...
Celestial Moon Entertainment Reviews
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Fairy King, Holy Knight, The Seven Deadly Sins
Thoughts on Our Teachers are Dating! Volume 1
Our Teachers are Dating! is a yuri manga written and illustrated by Pikachi Ohi. As the title implies, it is about two teachers who are dating. Seven Seas…
What are your thoughts on “next generation” sequels?
Thoughts on the trend? Is there an especially successful or disastrous example? What are the main do’s and don’ts?
Thoughts on Our Teachers are Dating! Volume 4
Hayama and Terano both have something that they want to say to each other in the fourth and final volume of Pikachi Ohi’s Our Teachers are Dating! manga.…
Thoughts on Our Teachers are Dating! Volume 2
Hayama-sensei and Terano-sensei have plenty of cause for celebration in the second volume of Pikachi Ohi’s Our Teachers are Dating! manga, with a couple festivals to attend and…
Thoughts on Our Teachers are Dating! Volume 4
It’s a new year in the fourth volume of Pikachi Ohi’s Our Teachers are Dating! manga, and Hayama and Terano are closer than ever. There is a problem…
Thoughts on Summer 2011 – Fun things are fun
It’s hard to say with three episodes alone what shows are worth blogging. Whether this shows my inability to measure potential or my lack of experience in blogging…
The Mystic Archives of Dantalian, Penguindrum, Natsume's Book of Friends 3, No.6, Sacred Seven
The Sailor Moon Cosmos films are coming to Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on December 20th
Good news for those who like to spend a lot of money to import movies they don’t understand! The official Sailor Moon site has announced that Sailor Moon…
Thoughts on the Fragmentation of Fandom
Now that summer pop culture convention season is over, it's time to reflect as we're slowly heading to another year. This year, I really got into K-Pop via 4th-generation…
(Some Early Thoughts) The Wheel of Time TV
This holiday season has suddenly become a pretty busy time for me when it comes to Live Action shows. Besides that one anime live action adaptation that people…
Thoughts on the Ending Of ChainSaw Man and It’s Future
***Spoiler For the Whole Manga (Mainly Talking About The Final Arc)*** Now I will start off by saying that the final arc with Makami was an acid trip…
Edge of Empire: Thoughts on “Siberia Under Snow” by Kuroshima Denji
Kuroshima Denji’s Siberia Under Snow is, on the surface, a powerful critique of Japanese expansionism and warfare. Denji uses the theme of isolation to highlight war’s unforgiving nature…
HERE ARE SOME THOUGHTS ON THE FIRST TWO GUNSMITH CATS VOLUMES
Or the first Revised Edition really big omnibus collection thing with 16 chapters. WHATEVER. 1) For a dude who has apparently never shot a gun or driven a…
Impressions and thoughts on Noragami
Noragami (12 Episodes – Winter 2014) The world of the gods is often a popular subject for anime just because how religion works in Japan which is to…
Impressions and thoughts on Baccano!
Baccano! (13 Episodes – Summer 2007) So it is around this time that I have come to the realization of two things, the first is at the time…
Manga Review | A Strange & Mystifying Story by Tsuta Suzuki
Aki’s family is cursed, specifically on his mother’s side. Unfortunately, the curse isn’t limited to his mother’s side. His father, who married in, suffered from the same af…
Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith
Rarely have I read a more captivating biography and rarely have I read so beautiful a comic. Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia…
These Anime Are a Waste of Time
This video is about anime that wasted my time being : Edens zero created by hero Mashima creator of fairy tail , a lull in the sea animated…
Thoughts on the End of Priconne Global
Thanks for the fun, Priconne! You'll be missed.
The Garden of Sinners (Films)
Blog about anime and manga
Thoughts on Breasts Are My Favorite Things in the World! Volume 6
The school culture festival approaches in the sixth volume of Wakame Konbu’s Breasts Are My Favorite Things in the World! manga. The feelings between Chiaki and Hana seem…