Schedule:

• no class next week, Jan. 24th
• next class = final class = Jan. 31st. Final test. 持ち込み全て可

Today, we

1. reviewed the definition of proxemics (Proxemics is the study of measurable distances between people as they interact. The term was introduced by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1966. 人に近接した空間領域の文化的研究。他人との距離のとり方は意思の伝達手段の一つで、お互いの親密度や属する文化によって異なるというもの。1960年に米国の人類学者E＝T＝ホールが提唱。近接対人空間学。)
2. reviewed the definition of stereotype
1. ステレオタイプ（英: Stereotype、仏: Stéréotype）は、元々社会学の用語で、紋切型態度とも言う。 … のでステレオタイプである（なお、クリシェ cliché という言葉は、フランス語では、ステロ版のことを意味するので、言葉が一見違うが、同じ内容を持つと言える）(from Wikipedia Japan).
2. 月並みな[定型化した]考え方(など) (from Weblio)
3. reviewed some examples of human culture – “The facial features of the infant stimulate a powerful protective response in human parents. The flat face, large eyes and snub nose all trigger inborn parental reactions. The same response is given automatically to many baby animals that show the same features and certain pets have been carefully bred to improve these infantile qualities, making them more effective as child substitutes.” (from “The Human Animal” by Desmond Morris).
4. reviewed different attitudes to time.

I then told some stories about what attracted me about Japan, both before I came and after I arrived. Essentially two things: Aikido and Seitai

While both these arts were born in Japan, I don’t see them as portals to understanding Japanese culture. Nor do I see Japanese culture as being important to understand Aikido or Seitai. (I used to; it was in the hope of learning more about Aikido that I came to Japan – I thought that if I understood Japanese culture and language better, I would better understand Aikido.  I now think I was mistaken on this point.)

We watched more of the movie Gung-Ho. We see friction develop between the Japanese management and the American workers because of different values: the Americans want time off to be with their families, whereas the Japanese tend to put company first.

Then we watched the beginning of the movie “The Milagro Beanfield War” by Robert Redford. Here we see the cultural conflict between Americans who are efficient, hard-working, eager to acquire wealth, and the Mexicans and Mexican-lifestyle-loving American residents of Milagro who place a higher value on time with friends and family and a slow-paced life.