Socratic Seminar

In Praise of Shadows
Open-ended: How does Tanizakis background and past help you understand his viewpoint on
Western or American culture?
Im assuming this question refers to Tanizakis evacuation to Kyoto after the earthquake that robs
his home and his renewed appreciation in Japanese traditional aesthetic and culture. He toured
the East Asia and lived in Western-style house. His earlier interest in the Western culture and
modernism reflected some of his writings include silent film scripts and fictions exploring family
life. Quote that in our day country people have far more discriminating palates than city people,
and that in this respect they enjoy luxuries we cannot begin to imagine (41). The author change
of heart lies in the concept of doing things a certain way that favor the matter of taste over simple
conveniences. In such manner, his viewpoint regards of the modern lifestyle is efficient as it
tends to the need to adapt and advance, but it is also take little into consideration of the art and
the forgotten values. His viewpoint on Western culture suggests that his altered attitude on
aesthetic comes from his desire for seeing the beauty that is more difficult to carry out or rarely
seen in present day.

World Connection: In the 21st century, does the viewpoint of Japanese people on Americans
differ from Tanizakis view in the book?
It is not an easy task to pinpoint or even made an assumption on an entire nations viewpoints
over a specific matter since every word spoken will accompany with the special minoritys

objections or the neutral comments and also the obstinate demands for equal rights; all for the
sake of controversy. Younger generations would most likely to like the Western culture with the
advanced technological devices and the popular attention for the media, but maybe their
upbringing appraise the traditional way and was taught to treasure it, or maybe they came to like
classical Japanese novels or they practice and enjoy Japaneses practices such as flower
arrangement, sumo wrestling or card games in which they grew an appreciation, a certain respect
for the traditional Japan lifestyle. The middle-aged would be the working group with needs for
machinery and intellectual programs to progress business offices, manufactures, or shops alike.
He said I suppose I shall sound terribly defensive if I say that Westerners attempt to expose
every speck of grime and eradicate it, while we Orientals carefully preserve and even idealize it
and then living in these old houses among these old objects is in some mysterious way a source
of peace and repose (12). Perhaps the older generation that looks for retirement and peaceful
life would prefer Tanizakis aesthetic and tranquil shadows. Japans viewpoints of America will
varies what is more important for us to do is to know ourselves and know others, never take it
personal if it comes from a personal opinion.