For children of my generation, anime was an escape from Japan's loser complex following World War II. Anime wasn't foreign. It was our own.
Interpretation
The quote highlights how anime served as a cultural refuge for a generation of Japanese children post-World War II, reclaiming their identity.
Takashi Murakami reflects on the impact of anime on his generation, emphasizing how it allowed them to escape the societal shame associated with Japan's post-war identity. Rather than seeing anime as an external influence, he views it as an integral part of their own cultural expression, showcasing the power of art in shaping and redefining national identity.
In practice
This quote is perfect for a panel discussion on the impact of pop culture in post-war societies.
We want to see the newest things. That is because we want to see the future, even if only momentarily. It is the moment in which, even if we don't completely understand what we have glimpsed, we are nonetheless touched by it. This is what we have come to call art.
Anything you do will be an abuse of somebody else's aesthetics. I think you're born an artist or not. I couldn't have learned it. And I hope I never do because knowing more only encourages your limitations.
It's easy to assume that just because you make something in small volumes, not using many tools, that there is integrity and care - that is a false assumption.
You have to create the show anew, and find it anew, on a nightly basis.
A dancer, if she is great, can give to the people something that they can carry with them forever. They can never forget it, and it has changed them, though they may never know it.
I would hate to think I am not an amature. An amateur is one who loves what he is doing. Very often, I'm afraid, the professional hates what he is doing. So, I'd rather be an amateur.
People think because it's photography it's not worth as much, and because it's a woman artist, you're still not getting as much - there's still definitely that happening. I'm still really competitive when it comes to, I guess, the male painters and male artists. I still think that's really unfair.
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