Essay Plan: "In what ways does Japanese modernist design reflect the unique native particularities of Japanese culture?"

The essay question I'm going to be looking into is:

How does Japanese modernism reflect the unique native particularities of Japanese culture?


I've picked this topic as I've always been drawn towards Japanese design and culture and Japanese graphic design especially has really caught me off guard in the past year or so, I feel the sense of humour, colour palettes and layouts are noticeably different from a more European style we're accustomed to seeing in everyday life. I want to look deeper into Japanese culture and their sense of design, what inspires them and the unique sense of humour I've seen in works by designers such as Shigeo Fukuda. Also to research into whether it is in fact arguably different to European and Western design I'm used to seeing and why.

From the outset and these early stages before finding out more I've always thought Japanese design has almost been working in hibernation, in Europe and extendedly the whole Western world - the design is so samey-same, we all influence and basically copy each other. It seems we haven't studied Japan enough and they haven't studied us enough, consequently they have such a unique and noticably different design style which fascinates me. I need to find out if this theory could actually hold true and what other writers and designers think about this. If this is indeed the case, I want to increase awareness and argue of the stylistic influence Japanese design may have had which isn't celebrated enough with the Tokyo Design Conference in 1960 being a good example.



These are the books I'm going to be reading through. 'Movements in Art since 1945' and 'Japanese Graphic Design' in particular have been very useful.





Essay Plan:


Introduction to the essay and my reason for researching the topic. What I will be covering in the text

Brief outline of modernism- early 20th century and WW1 and WW2's it's effect on art and design in Europe brief. Influence of military occupation. Mentioning Europe and comparing to Japan because European design is what we've grown up with and see everyday.


Japanese modernisation and industrialisation. It's identity and cultural change. Wartime Japanese graphic design - Post war Japan and the significance and importance of artists in a post-war period.


20th century Japanese graphic design, early international recognition and influence. The need and desire for Japanese to establish design in Japan and Japan as a groundbreaking design community and not just the "land of the Samurai".Tokyo World Design conference 1960 and Tokyo Olympics 1964, chance to show off to the world and show post-war Japan as a forward thinking and thriving empire.

Unique and iconic characteristics of Japanese design, stemming from Japanese culture. Is it arguable Japanese culture reflects it's culture more than 'Western' design possibly does in terms of typography, layout and colour? For example Hiroshima Appeals posters

Japanese culture and sense of humour reflected often in it's design. Examples of this and quotes on Japanese sense of humour, does this happen elsewhere and in Europe?

Japanese being influenced by Russian formalists, constructivists and Bauhaus but in Art history and throughout 20th century design, it's hard to see the inspiration returned. Japan taking 'western' design and giving it a Japanese flavour.

Japanese graphic design today and its legacy

Conclusion. Does Japanese graphic design clearly express unique native particularities, short breakdown in which ways and why it's possibly so unique and fascinating in my opinion, overlooked in todays world?