So far, I have introduced various ways to enjoy artworks, but there may be some people who say that they are not very interested in any of them.
If you are like that, you don’t have to stick to “art.” We encourage you to find something that interests you among other works of art, such as music and stage plays and create opportunities to get to know them more. However, if you “watch anime and manga” on sites like nonton anime sub indo or “decorate your home with anime figures”, I can’t tell if you really are not interested in art.
If you gradually expand your interest in anime and manga, you will also notice the wonder of artworks.
Anime and manga are often referred to as “subcultures.” A subculture is a culture unique to a particular group of people in relation to traditional cultures, such as academics, art, classical music, and literature. It is sometimes translated as popular culture or youth culture.
Generally, anime, manga, popular music, etc. are included in subcultures. So, are art (traditional culture) and subculture completely different? In fact, the line is blurred.
In the case of Japan, anime and manga are no longer “a particular culture,” and many people may think of them as “art.” I don’t think it’s a mistake. In my personal opinion, a work of art is “a work in which an original concept or a message that appeals to people can be felt in expression backed by high technology.” Technology alone, concept, and message alone do not become an art.
Among anime and manga, there are also wonderful works created with great thought by artists with excellent technical skills. All you have to do is feel the unique personality and beauty, be stimulated, and enjoy it obediently. And if your interest expands further from there, I think you can look at other works of art.
Actually, I didn’t have a good impression of contemporary art before. However, as someone who works with artworks, I thought it would be wrong to make a judgment without knowing it well, so I tried to see as many contemporary works of art as possible.
Then, as I watched the works, I came across contemporary artworks that I honestly felt were “wonderful” and “I want them.” There are also things that I actually liked and purchased.
In fact, Japan’s anime and manga are recognized as works of art worldwide. Takashi Murakami, a contemporary artist who is also known for his collaborations with Louis Vuitton and is active around the world, has combined traditional Japanese paintings with the “flat” perspective of anime and games into a single work (super flat).
Even if you have only seen anime and manga, you may be able to find your favorite paintings and sculptures by looking at various works of art.
Fostering children’s aesthetic sense and sensitivity in their daily lives
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If you want your child to be familiar with the art, what should you do?
Of course, it is very effective to increase opportunities to see artworks in museums and galleries, to go to concerts and stage performances, and to be exposed to works of art in the same way as adults. It is precisely when you are a sensitive child that you come into contact with a variety of works of art.
However, what is more important than that is to polish the sensitivity and aesthetic sense of children in their daily lives. This is the foundation of the heart that sees and feels art and the mind that thinks deeply.
For example, when you are walking outside and you see flowers blooming. It is a good idea to say to the parents, “The flowers are blooming” or “It’s beautiful,” and create opportunities for the child to feel or notice something.
At that time, “What do you think?” or “Why do you think it’s beautiful?” Let’s work to elicit the child’s feelings and opinions. Rather than imposing the ideas of parents, I would like them to nurture their children’s free ideas. When I think back to my childhood, not only my parents but also my kindergarten and school teachers raised us in a free and relaxed atmosphere.
When I was in elementary school, there was a class on the theme of “Poor God,” and at that time the image of a Japanese house with a thatched roof was on the verge of breaking. So I decided to cut the end of the broom in the house and make it look like thatch and make a roof. As a result, because the roof was too elaborate, it was a half-finished product with a thatched roof on cardboard, but the teacher said, “The idea of the roof is wonderful!” and “How did you come up with the idea of using a broom?” I still remember happily being complimented.
There was also something like this.
I wanted a teacup with anime characters that were popular at the time, so I asked my parents to buy it. When I actually used the plastic teacup, what I felt in my childhood mind was that I didn’t want to eat rice in this teacup. There was a strange feeling in the hand and the taste of the rice was not delicious.
Eventually, after that, I was asked to buy a crockery teacup with another character painted on it, and I didn’t use the plastic teacup at all.
Children have more sensitive senses than adults think, and if you develop those senses well, you will develop a strong sensibility and a personality that is unique to that child.
Because they are children, they are not “okay with tea bowls bought at 100 yen shops” or “plastic tableware and cutlery are fine.” On the other hand, because it is a child, I think it is meaningful to let them use proper things.
This does not mean that it is better to let them use something expensive. I think it would be good if adults could choose something that they could look at and think “both quality and design have passed”. By using such things, you should be able to cultivate not only sensitivity and aesthetic sense but also a mind that values things.
