Folk Art Potters of Japan
Beyond an Anthropology of Aesthetics
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:27th Aug '97
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£145.00(9780700706051)
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This insightful book explores the lives of potters in southern Japan, examining their struggles with artistic identity and the concept of folk art. Folk Art Potters of Japan provides a rich historical context.
In Folk Art Potters of Japan, the author delves into the intricate world of contemporary Western ceramics while exploring two significant discourses in modern anthropology: art and aesthetics, and Orientalism. This richly illustrated work provides a candid examination of Japan's art pottery scene, shedding light on the complexities faced by a group of potters residing in a small southern community. These artisans grapple not only with the production and marketing of their craft but also with the aesthetic evaluation of their stoneware pottery, commonly known as mingei or folk art.
The book highlights the diverse perspectives within the art community as individuals negotiate the meaning of mingei, striving to categorize their creations as 'art', 'folk art', or simply 'craft'. This exploration reveals the underlying values and beliefs that shape the appreciation of pottery in this unique cultural context. The author effectively illustrates how these potters navigate their artistic identities amid varying societal expectations.
Beyond its focus on a specific community, Folk Art Potters of Japan offers a broader historical narrative that traces the evolution of 'folk art' itself. By examining the influence of key figures such as William Morris, Yanagi So etsu, Bernard Leach, and Hamada Sho ji, the book presents a compelling account of how aesthetic ideals traveled from Britain to Japan and then back to the West, ultimately reshaping the history of contemporary ceramics.
'One of the strengths of this book is that it contextualizes a rich, tightly focused ethnography within discussions of the implications of the data to larger theoretical questions Although grappling with abstract theoretical matters, this book is well organized, highly readable, and always grounded in the case study of the potters. Influences are always shown to be reciprocal or circular and not linear. The splendid photographs bring the pots and the setting to life. If Blake can "see a world in a grain of sand," Moeran can in a grain of clay, and he has depicted it for us in rich and satisfying detail.' - Karen A. Smyers, Asian Folklore Studies
ISBN: 9780700710393
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 460g
276 pages