In his book Turning Japanese. Memoirs of a Sansei, David Mura writes about his one year long stay in Japan, the country of his ancestors. He talks about how this experience has changed his view on his own country, the United States, and Japan. He writes in a postmodernist way, juxtaposing fragments of text dating back to different points in time. Some were written during his actual stay in Japan, with several pieces looking back at his and his family’s past, and some were written after his stay when putting together his novel. The former look back at the United States from Japan, the latter look back to Japan from the United States. Postmodernism is also an element in so far as the author uses a lot of irony and as it becomes clear how futile his efforts of finding his own identity are. In this existentialist search for who he is, Mura jumps back and forth in place and time. However, I had the feeling that the insights he arrives at with his writing are derived from only very few passages. In other words, these insights are framed by many useless pieces of text which kind of made me feel lost in a nebulous sphere in between the past and the present, Japan and the United States.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Comparing the United States and Japan
- Positive Aspects of Mura's Work
- Critique of Mura's Work
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of David Mura's Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei, analyzing its stylistic choices, thematic concerns, and overall effectiveness in conveying the author's journey of self-discovery. The review assesses both the strengths and weaknesses of Mura's work.
- The search for identity in a bicultural context
- The influence of cultural background on perspective
- Comparisons and contrasts between Japanese and American cultures
- The limitations of a Eurocentric worldview
- The author's use of language and its implications
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This section introduces David Mura's Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei and provides a brief overview of the book's content and style. The author's use of postmodern techniques, including fragmented narratives and juxtapositions, is highlighted, along with the overall themes of identity and cultural comparison. The review also foreshadows the critique of Mura's inconsistent use of language and the perceived lack of action in the narrative.
Comparing the United States and Japan: This section delves into Mura's comparisons between the United States and Japan, focusing on his tendency to use the United States as a standard of comparison despite his desire to identify with Japan. The author's observations on the differences between his experience and that of his wife are discussed, highlighting the complexities of bicultural identity. The section analyzes Mura's seemingly unintentional perpetuation of a Eurocentric perspective, even within the context of his exploration of Japanese culture.
Positive Aspects of Mura's Work: This part acknowledges the positive contributions of Mura's work, particularly his accurate portrayal of Japanese American family life, culture, and history. The review praises Mura's discussion of key issues like immigration, internment, and the psychological impact of racism. It also highlights Mura's insightful observations about Japanese culture, particularly its embrace of syncretism, and its contrast with Mura's own ongoing search for a singular cultural identity.
Critique of Mura's Work: This section offers a critical analysis of Mura's Eurocentric and socially limited perspective, his concept of identity, his use of essentialism, and his portrayal of his wife. The review argues that Mura's life in Eurocentric America shapes his worldview, leading to a limited understanding of Japan. The analysis critiques his focus on an elite intellectual circle in Tokyo, his frequent reliance on Western comparisons, and his inconsistent treatment of Japanese terms in the text. The section concludes by addressing Mura’s seemingly chauvinistic perspective towards his wife.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Japanese American identity, biculturalism, cultural comparison, Eurocentrism, postmodernism, identity formation, Japanese culture, American culture, immigration, internment, racism.
Frequently Asked Questions: David Mura's Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei Review
What is the purpose of this review?
This review provides a comprehensive overview of David Mura's Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei. It analyzes the book's style, themes, and effectiveness in conveying the author's journey of self-discovery, assessing both its strengths and weaknesses.
What are the key themes explored in the review?
The review explores several key themes, including the search for identity in a bicultural context, the influence of cultural background on perspective, comparisons and contrasts between Japanese and American cultures, the limitations of a Eurocentric worldview, and the author's use of language and its implications.
What is covered in the "Comparing the United States and Japan" section?
This section examines Mura's comparisons between the US and Japan, focusing on his tendency to use the US as a standard despite wanting to identify with Japan. It discusses the differences between Mura's experiences and his wife's, highlighting the complexities of bicultural identity and Mura's unintentional perpetuation of a Eurocentric perspective.
What are the positive aspects of Mura's work highlighted in the review?
The review praises Mura's accurate portrayal of Japanese American family life, culture, and history. It commends his discussion of immigration, internment, and racism's psychological impact, and his insightful observations about Japanese culture's embrace of syncretism, contrasting it with his own search for a singular cultural identity.
What criticisms are raised in the review?
The review critiques Mura's Eurocentric and socially limited perspective, his concept of identity, his use of essentialism, and his portrayal of his wife. It argues his life in Eurocentric America shapes his worldview, leading to a limited understanding of Japan. The review also criticizes his focus on an elite intellectual circle in Tokyo, his reliance on Western comparisons, and inconsistent treatment of Japanese terms.
What is the overall structure of the review?
The review includes an introduction, sections comparing the US and Japan, highlighting positive aspects of Mura's work, and offering a critique. It also features a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key words associated with this review and Mura's book?
Key words include Japanese American identity, biculturalism, cultural comparison, Eurocentrism, postmodernism, identity formation, Japanese culture, American culture, immigration, internment, and racism.
What type of writing techniques are discussed in relation to Mura's book?
The review discusses Mura's use of postmodern techniques, such as fragmented narratives and juxtapositions, and analyzes his inconsistent use of language and perceived lack of action in the narrative.
- Citar trabajo
- B.A. Stephanie Wössner (Autor), 2003, Rezension zu David Mura's "Turning Japanese Memoirs of a Sansei", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138136
