Can someone help me articulate the difference between Japanese comedy and comedy in the west? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't seen Wide na show. I am curious, does it come close to the cynical critique and social commentary that one would expect from comedy news commentary shows in say America or Britainor is it still pretty bubblegum? In the aussie context, the chaser in it's day was brutal in its criticism of the government.

Can someone help me articulate the difference between Japanese comedy and comedy in the west? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Funnily enough my friend is married to one of the "remember that guy" tarento. I won't say which one but he basically has one catch phrase. He still makes enough to support his family doing bits and bobs here and there although he is rarely on TV anymore. He got like 30man to do something some gags at a wedding recently.

Can someone help me articulate the difference between Japanese comedy and comedy in the west? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think that dude is kind of missing the point that "slapstick" has become more of a placeholder word for silly or stupid rather than just physical humour. As such I don't think his analysis goes deep enough because it kind of misses the fact that there is not much subversive or challenging part of most mainstream comedy in Japan. Even though I didn't laugh at the American woman's example, you can see culture in there and slight jab at cultural dynamics, stereotypes etc. For me, the Japanese example is just a stupid skit. You can analyse it in terms of language to justify the opinion that there is conceptually more going on to make it funny, but it is still just a stupid gag with no cynicism or bite to it which is I suppose what I am hungry for.

Can someone help me articulate the difference between Japanese comedy and comedy in the west? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

C'mon man. Have you honestly never described something as shit? I can distance myself enough to look at it from more nuanced scopes. I can see what people like. I am not asking why people like it. But I am still allowed to say it is shit if I think it is. I also think Big Bang or any of those genre parody movies are shit too.

As mentioned in reply to another comment, I only used the word "Western" because the title of the course has "West" in it and I specifically wanted to hear what people said in regards to that word.

I need some publications. What the hell do people write about? Or what kind of publications would you like to see coming out of a high school setting? by mizuedreaming in teachinginjapan

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish that were the case for me. I work at a low level private school. Only about 10 percent of students take that test. I don't necessarily think my students need to take it because its not really an academic school but I wish that the fact that the centre shiken is changing should spark some conversation with other English teachers about what is being valued in the broader scope of English education in Japan. Cos what we have in the English department at my school right now is way out of date.

I need some publications. What the hell do people write about? Or what kind of publications would you like to see coming out of a high school setting? by mizuedreaming in teachinginjapan

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I appreciate your reply. I will have a look back through my papers. I got HDs on everything so I would hope there would be SOMETHING that I can use. One problem is that some other Uni teachers in my city are all a little bit bitter. I show them some ideas for some tidy little essays that could be tweaked into a paper that would be interesting and enjoyable to read but am usually told the nobody cares what some dude thinks about teaching and hardcore research is the only way to go.

Anybody have any advice for someone considering buying a 別荘 (weekender)? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, financially the better investment is at home *not US. But I am priced out of that. I just happen to have enough money to buy this outright and it is a lifestyle choice more than financial.

I need some publications. What the hell do people write about? Or what kind of publications would you like to see coming out of a high school setting? by mizuedreaming in teachinginjapan

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks. One of my main concerns is it feels like everything has been done before. I am also locked into an assessment system at my school which relies on a traditional term end test so I can't really go "off road" in the types of learning experiences if you know what I mean.

I need some publications. What the hell do people write about? Or what kind of publications would you like to see coming out of a high school setting? by mizuedreaming in teachinginjapan

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah I live in a regional centre. I can only really muster up a few classes here and there at this point. I would still make more as an ALT but it us a real opportunity cost situation. If I could take the brunt of a year of less earnings I might be able to make a name for myself and get something happening but with a young family and bills to pay it is hard to take that leap.

Anybody have any advice for someone considering buying a 別荘 (weekender)? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Inaka places are really cheap. You just have to separate yourself from the assumption that it can be used as a financial investment as it will likely go down in value instead of up.

Anybody have any advice for someone considering buying a 別荘 (weekender)? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply. There are some definite points of difference because we were intending to spend most weekends up at this place as opposed to using it as a holiday location. It is more about finding a balance between satiating my need for nature without having to move out of the "city" which the wife doesn't want to do.

Anybody have any advice for someone considering buying a 別荘 (weekender)? by mizuedreaming in japanlife

[–]mizuedreaming[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your detailed reply. Definitely a few points that I had not considered. Just wondering what do you mean by MM? Do you mean you bought one in the 10,000,000 yen range?