Research project

My research project is on representations of same sex love is represented in Japanese art. I will be looking at shunga (erotic ukiyo-e), manga, and also contemporary art.
I haven't done that much research yet, but I have found a decent amount of sources to look at.

Cute Culture

The readings made me think about how cute, child-like things are far more accepted in Japan than they are in the United States. When I was in Japan, I got a cute Rilakkuma 8 pocket folder. I bought it because it was functional: it was cheap, durable, and able to hold a lot of paper. I also got it because I knew it was a print that would remind me of Japan. I used it all the time when I was in Japan, and students, both international and Japanese, thought that the folder was adorable. The reaction was not the same when I tried to use it at Ursinus. One of the first days back at Ursinus, I pulled the folder out during a politics class and immediately saw about three people stare at the folder, but they said nothing. I continued to use the folder for a few more weeks, but I felt so self conscious using it that I eventually bought normal folders.

I think that in general, American society is not as accepting of the retention of "childlike" qualities, whether that is in personality, clothing, or other consumption of goods, especially for people who are past their early twenties. To me, it seems like there is an encouragement for teenagers to mature faster, and the kind of child-like regressions that are permitted are nostalgic hobbies.