Identity. Who are we and what do we do with our lives? Finding our true identity is a hard task to accomplish which makes stereotypes the easiest to categorize ourselves. The film Lost in Translation is a movie all about lost identities and the confusion that comes with trying to clarify who we are.
In general, the movie depicts that we are all lost and confused. We spend our whole lives thinking we know who we are and suddenly we are hit with an identity crisis and our whole world turns upside down. Throughout the movie, the characters suffer a lack of communication and never really listen to the other person. This is portrayed between Bill Murray’s character and his wife. A lot of blame occurred in the conversation as she said his kids were getting used to the idea of him not being around and he kept pretending that nothing was wrong and that he was okay. The movie also depicts that we are all looking for a purpose in life. Scarlett Johannson and Bill Murray spend a lot of time sleepless and reminiscing always wondering about the point in their lives they are stuck in and can’t escape from. However, they finally discover each other and cling together for support. This relates to everyone, as we are searching and searching for something we probably will never find and cling on to things familiar.
This clip gives a great representation of how we’re always thinking and critiquing our own lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQMNzB7laRU
This movie also suggests stereotypical behaviors and identities comparatively between east and west cultures, primarily American and Japanese cultures. For American identity, we first noticed that Bill Murray, while filming the liquor commercial, was in a suit and tie, was drinking the best quality liquor, and was in a very luxurious setting. This type of American identity is portrayed a lot in film and music videos, which is sometimes believed across the globe, despite having our own internal national issues. American men were suggested to always want and need sexual satisfaction, as an “entertainer” was sent to Bill Murray’s room to supply him with sexual favors, however he was very set off by this. The entertainer was screaming, “Please, No, Let me go,” which suggests that men prefer to take control and advantage over women. Americans were also suggested to be superficial, materialistic, and stupid, as the role played by Anna Faris as the dumb blonde celebrity. During the entire movie, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson were both very unappreciative of the Japanese culture, felt nothing while watching a religious ceremony, and laughed and mocked Japanese language.
Japanese identity was depicted on a somewhat negative side. The movie played on the stereotype that Japanese are very short and very compliant and subservient, as the scenes in the lobby and the elevators suggest. The language was shown to be very long, extensive and confusing, as a lot of words were used to explain short phrases. Religion was shown to be very ancient and unimportant, as Johannson explained she felt nothing by it. This shows supremacy of the typical Christian/Catholic religion over all else. The women were found to be very exotic and the men were found to be very feminine, as there were Japanese strippers and an eccentric talk show host. Japanese diet was also suggested to be very unnatural and weird. This was shown during the sushi scene where Murray explained to Johannson that they love to “eat black toe here.”
This movie was a great representation of how we are all searching to find ourselves and how our lives turn out to be something we never imagined, which leaves us seeking and wanting more.
You brought up an idea that I did not even think about! The American Identity of Bill Murray doing the commercial, I didn't even think of the setting or viewed as a way of showing this is how America is. Also, i like the point that you bring up about the "entertainer," I didn't really touch upon that, but it is quite funny how people think that women like to be taking advantage of...quite an interesting topic to bring up. That whole identity is so miscommunicated, it's hard to even start to dissect!
ReplyDelete-Nicole Hicks (forgot to add my name! :P
ReplyDeleteI really liked your viewpoint on American culture within this film. It seemed to me that Japanese culture was also portrayed as in need of American culture to define it's identity. I enjoyed reading both your take on American identity and Japanese identity and agree that the Orientalism in this film does portray Japanese identity and culture in a negative light. It was interesting to read your discussion of religion in regards to identity within Japan and America. I think it would be interesting to know if someone who is not in a country greatly defined by Christian ideals would feel the way Scarlett Johannson did if they were to attend a religious ceremony in America.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Fry
The American Identity of Bill Murray doing the commercial,that was a good catch. Its crazy how people are viewed from other point of views. I guess i would of never caught it because the norms that we live in todays society. Great point yall
ReplyDeleteDominique J. Fagaautau
The way japanese identity was depicted did seem very negative to me. The japanese character were either flamboyant like the tv host or quiet and confused like the guy preparing food in the resturant when bill murrays character is taking about black toe. its pretty sad that this occurs but who knows if americans would accept anything else but these steryotypes because they have been force fed them since youth.
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