A symbol becomes the culture: Reinventing Japanese cherry blossoms
(2015) ACET35Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
- Abstract
- A major concern of this thesis was the changing meanings of cherry blossoms in Japanese history, and the images of Japan created through the flower. With a peculiar emphasis on today’s international context, when cherry blossoms have become a unique culture of Japan, this research inquired into the process of symbol-making. The Zenith concept of nyoze and poststructural discussions on language-power relations functioned as critical theoretical tools in revealing the articulation of knowledge within meanings related to the symbol, which empowered certain “truths” at different historical stages. In addition, the thesis illustrated that aestheticization and commodification were the two prominent forces in reinventing meanings, making them... (More)
- A major concern of this thesis was the changing meanings of cherry blossoms in Japanese history, and the images of Japan created through the flower. With a peculiar emphasis on today’s international context, when cherry blossoms have become a unique culture of Japan, this research inquired into the process of symbol-making. The Zenith concept of nyoze and poststructural discussions on language-power relations functioned as critical theoretical tools in revealing the articulation of knowledge within meanings related to the symbol, which empowered certain “truths” at different historical stages. In addition, the thesis illustrated that aestheticization and commodification were the two prominent forces in reinventing meanings, making them appear natural or commonsensical. Meanwhile, supported by interview findings, the thesis investigated into the uniqueness and authenticity of cherry blossoms in Japan, and contended that they reinforced the asserted cultural homogeneity of the country. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/7861548
- author
- Ye, Hanyan
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- ACET35
- year
- 2015
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Nihonjinron, commodification, aestheticization, reinvention of traditions, nyoze, national symbols, cherry blossoms
- language
- English
- id
- 7861548
- date added to LUP
- 2015-09-08 13:42:58
- date last changed
- 2015-09-10 08:28:32
@misc{7861548, abstract = {{A major concern of this thesis was the changing meanings of cherry blossoms in Japanese history, and the images of Japan created through the flower. With a peculiar emphasis on today’s international context, when cherry blossoms have become a unique culture of Japan, this research inquired into the process of symbol-making. The Zenith concept of nyoze and poststructural discussions on language-power relations functioned as critical theoretical tools in revealing the articulation of knowledge within meanings related to the symbol, which empowered certain “truths” at different historical stages. In addition, the thesis illustrated that aestheticization and commodification were the two prominent forces in reinventing meanings, making them appear natural or commonsensical. Meanwhile, supported by interview findings, the thesis investigated into the uniqueness and authenticity of cherry blossoms in Japan, and contended that they reinforced the asserted cultural homogeneity of the country.}}, author = {{Ye, Hanyan}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{A symbol becomes the culture: Reinventing Japanese cherry blossoms}}, year = {{2015}}, }