text by Lulu Shur-tzy Hou
As a non-Japanese, Asian woman, the depictions of women in Japanese art and commercial imagery have profound influence on my life and the life of millions of other Asian women. In magazines, newspaper, posters, through videos, television and computers, uncountable depictions of school girls, nurses, stewardesses, office girls, brides are offered as icons of Japanese womanhood-models to be admired and imitated.
The Japanese mastery of imagery technology and the traditions of its graphic concerns provide a mirror of the national character. Recently, while resident in Japan I saw a reflection in that miriror that was horrifying. Something was looking at me through these images of typical innocent, cute, beautiful women.
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