Some examples of different symbols used;
Chrysanthemums - symbolised the anus
Azeleas - homosexual love.
Clam - the female gentile
Willow - the female waist, a willowy waist
Spear / Sword - the penis
Mushroom / Mountain - the penis
Mirror - the voyueristic pleasure of seeing something that shouldn't have been seen
Kimono Sleeves - a silky, inviting (open) analogy of the vagina
Cherry Blossom - young female, viginity
Plum - male, masculine and represented older men who ripened with age
Tissue - impending ejaculation
Other elements may be subtly used in images such as musical instruments, plants, animals, motifs on clothing and seasons.
The gender of those portrayed in the images can at first also be hard to identify a male or female again we can use symbols; In the following image it is difficult to know if these are male/female or male/male, there are infact male/male the male has a coloured cap covering the top of his head.
Art historical texts often describe these individuals as "young men" or "dandies," but in this exhibition, they are described simply as wakashū (beautiful youth), categorically distinct from both women (onna) and older biological males (yarō). Wakashū can be identified most easily by their hairstyle. While yarō shaved the tops of their heads completely, wakashū shaved only the back half of their heads, and their forelocks remained intact. Sometimes wakashū covered the tops of their heads with brightly colored, brimless caps. Another signifier of wakashū was their long-sleeved kimonos (Kristin Remington, Honolulu Museum).
The next image of a older man and a "beautiful youth" with a woman;
Women also rarely appeared fully nude this was because Japanese were used to seeing naked bodies at mixed bath houses, so it was more erotic to wear something and leave something to the imagination for the partner.
Mixed bath house
These and many more elements help the viewer to construct the story and understand the texts better.
No comments:
Post a Comment