In Praise of Shadows: Tanizaki and Japanese Aesthetics

This talk is a discussion of the Japanese writer and novelist Jun'ichiro Tanizaki's little gem of a book on Japanese aesthetics called "In Praise of Shadows" (1933, English translation 1977 by Thomas J. Harper and Edward G. Widensticker, published by Leete's Island Books, New Haven). In this essay, Tanizaki offers a short and to some minds slightly meandering discussion of Japanese aesthetics -- moving from lighting and toilets and cuisine to architecture, writing instruments, aging, and conceptions of beauty. What might have happened if the fountain pen had been developed in China or Japan rather than the West? Why is it that for the Japanese architect it is important not just how the building looks but what kind of shadows it will cast? Why is the Japanese toilet the most important place and what can we say about the fact that it does not invoke the same feelings of uncleanliness that the toilet does in the West? Tanizaki offers some tantalizing insights into Japanese aesthetics and I suggest why these insights are important--for those in the West, India, and elsewhere. I also offer some of my own readings about aesthetics and its relation to politics.

[@AmritPalSingh3D]

Absolutely love the recent book series, thank you for this. It's always such a pleasure to listen to you.

[@mashfiquehaque3150]

I was watching your video series on the History of south east Asia and quite independently came across a recommendation to read " In Praise of Shadows". Suddenly you came up with this video a day later!
Keep up the good work sir. Many people like me is getting immensely benefitted from your video series. Also, if you could sir, could you please make videos on the History of Bangladesh in particular? I felt like there is a serious lack of material on that particular focus

[@newsesofworlds543]

Glad that one can see that one of the major differences between Japan and India is that while Japan is almost uniquely culturally homogenous, India is almost uniquely culturally heterogeneous, and indeed has always been

[@Prashantyadav-cr4fr]

who is great Ashoka or Akbar? make the summary and discuss it.

[@contemporiser]

Can you give me your post address professor? I will order some cheap microphone from Aliexpress, it would really improve the audio.

[@dillichalo]

Very kind of you to offer to buy me a microphone. I take the hint that I should use an external mic to improve the video and I shall look into this right away. Cheers, Vinay

[@annapavelova9584]

All bullshits