This is a picture I found on someone's flickr site. It is of a little taiko drum from a taiko drumming video arcade game in Japan. I can't remember what the name of it was, but I remember getting very excited by all the cute things when I played it, so I searched for it. Anyway, I'm glad I found it, because it is obviously very cute. I love how the creators were able to take a drum, personify it by giving it a face, and turn it into a cute animal-like thing. Although the legs of a taiko drum are inanimate, this little guy seems to possess the ability to move, jump, and encourage players with that little wink (which it does very well.) These qualities are enhanced more when seeing a cartoon of it on screen, but I think one could derive such suspicions by looking at this little figure too.I guess my point is that drums are not cute. That really did not seem obvious, but it is my point. Taiko drums are not cute; they are inanimate objects that produce orotund, resonant rhythm. Their sound is big, loud, deep, and powerful when you hit them - hardly what this drum seems capable of. This drum is small, making it seem capable of making shrill, high-pitched noises. Plus, who would want to strike this guy with a drum stick?! But when paired with equally cute-faced, energetic drum sticks like in the game, this feat no longer seems as cruel. But we can't know about those from this picture. Suffice to say that this cute little taiko drum is not taiko drum-like at all when thinking about what that embodies. But it is adorable, seemingly energetic, friendly, etc., proving that one can take virtually anything and turn it into something cute by personifying it with the right attributes.
© Marianna Boesky GalleryBan Chinatsu 2005
This is a picture of a work done by Ban Chinatsu, provided by the Boesky Gallery. The structures are made of acrylic on fiberglass, called "January Snowy, February Flowy, March Blowy." There was another work of hers called "Digital Elephant Underpants" that really caught my eye, but for the sake of the assignment I thought that this seemed to be more in Japanese "cute" style to me. These elephants scream adorable. They are light-colored, innocent, and baby-ish. Even the larger one, which one could presume to be the mother of the little elephant, seems incapable to need a caretaker. My guess is that's because it is wearing underwear that looks like a diaper. In any case, the simple face of the elephants give them a sullen feeling. As adorable as they are, they both look somewhat sad. The soft colors evoke a sense of vulnerability. They are subtle, understated, and child-like - something one may find in a nursery - as opposed to the more vibrant, aggressive colors she chooses to use for the summer version of this piece, called "July Moppy, August Croppy, September Poppy."
Finally, there is the poop. I admittedly feel awkward addressing such a topic in an academic setting, but it is undeniably part of the piece. This is the ultimate proof that pretty much anything can be made cute. Who makes elephant poop cute?! Ban Chinatsu can, I guess. Anyway, the poop adds to the elephants' infantile feel, because it gives an impression of being unable to control their bowels. I don't know if I would feel that the piece was incomplete without it, but I think it certainly gives some sense of completion to the overall picture being painted.
The Game you're thinking of is called Taiko no Tatsugin, and it was re-named Taiko Drum Master in the US. I have a few of the Japanese games, the US one, and another DS one if you'd ever like to play.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, Ikimsu-don! I'll start with the character itself for a moment, and move onto the image/keychain. When the drums talk in the game, they always use the suffix "don", like the sound a drum makes. This is a continuation of a long line of suffixes that are used that evoke a "kawaii" feeling. Similiar to "nya" for a cat, "won" for a dog, or any other you might think of.
As can be seen in the image, the drum has tiny little stubby limbs, devoid of any digits. In the game, the drums... "Katsu" and "Don", pictured above, wave about their limbs to the beat in a cute dance.
Their Eyes are simple dots, devoid of any eyebrows, which makes them simple and happy looking. Their mouths are catlike, and associated them with the cuteness of felines... well at least I think felines are inexcapibly cute.
Moving to the elephants... I think you nailed it. I wonder what the size of these sculptures are though? I see the juxtaposed infancy of the sculpture with diapers and poo with the majesty and sheer size of an elephant that you usually expect.
First off, awesome pictures! They are both very cute, and I enjoyed looking at them! I too have played that taiko game, and yes, making a taiko drum cute is pretty impressive. It looks like something I would keep in a hamster cage, only happier. Totally lacking any intimidation and removed from the power felt from Taiko performances, its joyful, excited expression also suggests it has nothing to fear, making it seem as though being in this cute, powerless state is a-ok and totally great, no bad things on the horizon, here!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm more interested in talking about this elephant picture- I looked at the one you linked to, as well, and had a fun time counting the elephants, and got 7, plus some other smaller mammals that seem to eb keeping them company in the sidelines.
But as for this image itself- holy cow(*cough*elephant*cough*)! Can you say Extreme Infantialization? These massive creatures look as smooth as a baby's butt, equipped with diapers and pretty, feminine sparkles. No mouth again- Not that elephants are predatory, but it empahsizes their inability to bite, and those stubby little trunks certainly couldn't grab you or have any power behind them- they look as though they would lack any coordination, like a baby's arm. The shortened legs emphasize their childlike qualities- being so low to the ground, even on an elephants scale they would be short, and look at the effect given to the head being connected to the body!
We've mentioned in class several times how an over-sized head appears more childish and cute- removing the neck leaves the roundness of the forehead the only definition to the head hear- it almost resembles a head on legs! With just enough extra to have a butt to diaper.
And yes, you are right- even the poop is cute. Looking at this parade, I get the impression that this is the most dastardly deed these two are capable of- pooping. They eat, they poop, they look cute. This is their day. And don't forget to sparkle.
I do wish there was another image of these elephants, particularly the first one, form head on- the extra set of lashes makes it look as though there are four sets of eyes? I can't tell if there's another one on the other side form this angle, it looks sort of like there might be, but a bit uneven with this one. if so, the lack of symmetry and multiple eyes give it an alien effect that evokes Murakami.
Also, what are those on the elephants diapers? Between the snowflakes? Fruit cups? Random pretty things? Wait- no. Oh yes. Yes they are.
Girl's panties.
I think becca is right about the don suffixes and the idea of infancy with the elephants. the elephants again are infantalized pictures.
ReplyDeleteI also used an elephant picture, of course out of my own warped love of elephants. So if you like please look at my entry and the comments about it too.
Elephants are cute and therefore comforting. They are sweet and gentle. I saw a documentary about retired circus elephants. They're the only elephants that I've ever heard of that attacked another human being, and that's only b/c they have post traumatic stress disorder and will suddenly become stressed and attack a human. But also in that documentary the elephant that had a freak out and killed its trainer also very clearly felt badly about it. It stayed in its pen and wouldn't eat for a week. It's head was down for a long time after that. So elephants are very loving. The sculptures that Chinatsu makes of them I think really captures their loving side. Who wouldn't want to go up and hug one of these elephants? so adorable.