Which is brings an interesting question to mind: Will Kanji spread through western countries in such a way that people will recognize them as a sign for a specific shop or so…..more than that people just think: *oh, it’s a Chinese restaurant*
Because you see them in both Bladerunner and this drawing.
Well, this drawing is done by a guy who lives in Tokyo and draws his inspiration from it, so it’s not strange to think that he uses a bunch of Kanji. However, with Blade Runner it’s a different story; it relies heavily on cyberpunk literature in its look and feel, and during the early 80s Japan was such an economic force that many (predominantly) Americans thought they’d one day rule the world, or at least dominate the world culturally much in the same way America dominates right now. I think that cultural saturation is what you see in Blade Runner. It also lends a level of mysticism to an image since for most of us Kanji is outside of our comprehensive reach.
It’s very nice but personally if I were going to be putting something up on the wall I’d probably go more for something like this one called ‘Angel City’ by Stephen Martiniere. Ellne posted it on her LJ an age back.
But I have no bloody taste so don’t take any notice of me. Hell, I’ve got pieces of Sade’s work up on the wall. ;)
[i]However, with Blade Runner it’s a different story; it relies heavily on cyberpunk literature in its look and feel, and during the early 80s Japan was such an economic force that many (predominantly) Americans thought they’d one day rule the world, or at least dominate the world culturally much in the same way America dominates right now.[/i]
If memory serves the film also mentioned a kind of new bastardised language – city speak or something like that – made up of a combination of Japanese, German and Spanish. Japan and Germany probably because they were the scary economic giants of the time and Spanish for the cheap replaceable underclass of workers.
[i]I hadn’t really thought of that yet. I foresee an amalgamation of English, Chinese and Hindi! :)[/i]
Hindi? And of course you’re completely non-biased on this. :)
Off the top of my head I can only think of a couple of things that have used China like people did Japan back in the 80s so far, the Transhuman RPG – China and the US are the two main powers in space with the EU just behind them and sci-fi television show Firefly which created a world where Chinese and US culture and power were equal, only then to relegate ethnic Chinese actors to background actors. I’m sure that there are many other examples but that’s all my memory is throwing up at present. Personally I’d [i]love[/i] for someone to come up with a setting like this in whatever medium and do it well but no luck finding anything so far.
Reminds me of both SR and of Bladerunner. Primarily the latter.
I really want a canvas of this for my birthday. I love it.
Which is brings an interesting question to mind: Will Kanji spread through western countries in such a way that people will recognize them as a sign for a specific shop or so…..more than that people just think: *oh, it’s a Chinese restaurant*
Because you see them in both Bladerunner and this drawing.
Well, this drawing is done by a guy who lives in Tokyo and draws his inspiration from it, so it’s not strange to think that he uses a bunch of Kanji. However, with Blade Runner it’s a different story; it relies heavily on cyberpunk literature in its look and feel, and during the early 80s Japan was such an economic force that many (predominantly) Americans thought they’d one day rule the world, or at least dominate the world culturally much in the same way America dominates right now. I think that cultural saturation is what you see in Blade Runner. It also lends a level of mysticism to an image since for most of us Kanji is outside of our comprehensive reach.
So with the advent of China as an economic force to be reckoned it is still a feasible scenario, or not?
I hadn’t really thought of that yet. I foresee an amalgamation of English, Chinese and Hindi! :)
I admire this guy’s works but it’s really not something I’d hang over a dinner table. Were would you put it if you got it?
Probably over the dinner table. :D
Should have known. :D
I think its fantastic! And It would rock above you’re dinner table!
We don’t have a wall above our dinner table. It would have to be over the sofa.
I like some of his other ones too… This one especially: http://www.lokjansen.com/Lok_Jansen/Cityscapes.html#8
Mmm, chicken.
I like it.
It’s very nice but personally if I were going to be putting something up on the wall I’d probably go more for something like this one called ‘Angel City’ by Stephen Martiniere. Ellne posted it on her LJ an age back.
http://www.martiniere.com/imagepages/angelcity.htm
That or Craig Mullin’s ‘Hovership Hall’.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8329/hovershiphallom3.jpg
But I have no bloody taste so don’t take any notice of me. Hell, I’ve got pieces of Sade’s work up on the wall. ;)
[i]However, with Blade Runner it’s a different story; it relies heavily on cyberpunk literature in its look and feel, and during the early 80s Japan was such an economic force that many (predominantly) Americans thought they’d one day rule the world, or at least dominate the world culturally much in the same way America dominates right now.[/i]
If memory serves the film also mentioned a kind of new bastardised language – city speak or something like that – made up of a combination of Japanese, German and Spanish. Japan and Germany probably because they were the scary economic giants of the time and Spanish for the cheap replaceable underclass of workers.
[i]I hadn’t really thought of that yet. I foresee an amalgamation of English, Chinese and Hindi! :)[/i]
Hindi? And of course you’re completely non-biased on this. :)
Off the top of my head I can only think of a couple of things that have used China like people did Japan back in the 80s so far, the Transhuman RPG – China and the US are the two main powers in space with the EU just behind them and sci-fi television show Firefly which created a world where Chinese and US culture and power were equal, only then to relegate ethnic Chinese actors to background actors. I’m sure that there are many other examples but that’s all my memory is throwing up at present. Personally I’d [i]love[/i] for someone to come up with a setting like this in whatever medium and do it well but no luck finding anything so far.
That Angel City one is beautiful.