by Midday
To be honest, I was never really interested in crime, gangsters, or murder of any sort, both in fiction and non-fiction. I have studied these topics in class, and have watched/read a few fictional works that focused on these topics as well, but they never really struck me deeply, probably because I was looking more into the unlimited realms of the universe rather than the confines of human society and human life. However, I have always questioned the absolute property of morals and ethics as defined under civil conduct. I would like to focus on the topic of murder, by first starting with the obvious and then investigating the deeper roots of what exactly murder is, and why it is not permitted in society.
I'm not very knowledgeable in law, and law is certainly not something that can readily be understood within a few weeks of shallow research, so I will just borrow a few words from wikipedia. Murder, under American jurisdiction, is defined as the unlawful killing of a human by another human with malice aforethought. Murder is the more severe version of manslaughter, which lacks intention or malice aforethought, and both murder and manslaughter are the major forms of homicide. Satsujin-zai, under Japanese jurisdiction, is defined as the classification of penalty consisting of the killing of a human by another human with the intention to cause death. It is interesting to note here that America is one of the few countries that do not consider euthanasia as murder, while Japan follows majority by declaring it illegal. Also, suicide used to be considered unenforced felony in the United States, but was removed from the classification of crime completely by the 1990s, while in Japan, suicide has been treated as a silent/unwritten illegality that results in no punishment.
There are your definitions. Now, I would like to address the determinist interpretation of murder. I find that from time to time, critical thinkers tend to use determinism as a means of rejecting the idea that punishment for murder is justifiable, and I would like to go about explaining whether that is true or not. Determinists take the following stance. Neither law nor social standards, nor biological human intuition even, are absolute entities that reach a universal consensus. As a matter of fact, humans are seldom ever intuitively against the idea of murder, because killing is a necessary competition within animal nature. What is the objective truth value then in declaring murder as an evil? There is none. Murder is just the name of a particular event that happens when certain situations and circumstances are met. In the universal flow of time, humans are powerless in decision-making, and the whole concept of responsibility and causality become defunct given that human individuals are not granted the power of free will. (Note, this is not an argument about whether free will exists or not, which would spark a whole other topic, but just an explanation of the determinist view. It is nearly impossible to support free will, however, and only one realistic method exists.) Hence, some determinists would claim that law and society are unjust in punishing an event that does not involve any form of responsibility nor goes against human nature.
The greatest flaw in this argument is that the idea of determinism is only being used in a part of the explanation when determinism has to be used for the entire explanation for the argument to pull through. In the case that murder and human nature are subject to determinism, law and society must be subjected under determinism as well. The complete determinist explanation would be that all phenomena are results of determinism, meaning the fact that humans feel the necessity to punish murder is not a matter of responsibility or justification, but just another inevitable entity. Therefore, determinism can never be used to declare that punishing murder is wrong, nor can it be used to describe any phenomenon under an objective right-wrong scale.
However, determinism brings up a significant point; murder is not wrong. It is very true that law and society are not absolute entities. Moreover, as the American law states, law only punishes "unlawful" killings, meaning law does not deny the idea of killing in every respect. The idea of murder exists as a major entity because humans are prone to committing it, easily pictured by the prevalence of warfare. The point I am trying to get across here, is that when you see some major criminal of mass murder, do not just end your thoughts thinking what a bad person he/she is or how sad it was for the people involved. Criminals are humans, much like we all are, and we all have a chance of standing in his/her position. Right or wrong only comes into play within the realms of civil conduct. Think about how that criminal was raised or developed to become a criminal, and blame not only the criminal but the environment. I believe that kind of critical thinking is what is necessary for the overall progress of civil ethics and morals.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Blog#4: Heroism of crime movies
Written by So
Crime movies have been a major genre in movie history. But, why has the people allow these type of movies to become such a giant field? There has always been protests about violent pictures, like video games and comics. We sometimes hear about crimes that were affected by scenes from games and comics, but hardly from movies. The country with the biggest gun problem creates the most movies with gun-fights.
So, how are crime movies accepted by the crowd? The way is how to show the crime as an act of justice, or to get the audience to feel sympathy to the character. For example, evenge is a famous factor which is used from the past (The Outfit(1973), Ocean's Thirteen(2007)).In a recent movie I saw, 3 Days had a motive to save someone. All of these factors are used to change the criminal into a hero. However, a pursuit of heroism does not only mean good. First, such heroism may dissolve the character's feeling of sin. As movies become more entertaining, such conflicts become postponed, or not shown at all. And another, is that the movie loses the crime as the main point and becomes more of an action movie-the good guys beating up the bad guys.
Crime movies have been a major genre in movie history. But, why has the people allow these type of movies to become such a giant field? There has always been protests about violent pictures, like video games and comics. We sometimes hear about crimes that were affected by scenes from games and comics, but hardly from movies. The country with the biggest gun problem creates the most movies with gun-fights.
So, how are crime movies accepted by the crowd? The way is how to show the crime as an act of justice, or to get the audience to feel sympathy to the character. For example, evenge is a famous factor which is used from the past (The Outfit(1973), Ocean's Thirteen(2007)).In a recent movie I saw, 3 Days had a motive to save someone. All of these factors are used to change the criminal into a hero. However, a pursuit of heroism does not only mean good. First, such heroism may dissolve the character's feeling of sin. As movies become more entertaining, such conflicts become postponed, or not shown at all. And another, is that the movie loses the crime as the main point and becomes more of an action movie-the good guys beating up the bad guys.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Blog #4: Gangs in Japan
Hello! This is Koichi Saito.
There are many gangs in Japan now. They've committed crimes, and a lot of people have been killed or hurted by them. For example, a kabuki actor, Ichikawa Ebizo was hurted by a gang.Because of this injury, he was not able to appear on stages for a while.
What do you think about this regulation? Do you think this regulation works?
I think it doesn't mean. It is sure that this has power to save the actives of gangs, but it is not enough. If we really want to decrease tha number of gangs, we should make a law. However, I think gangs' rights also should be respected, because they are people. This is the difficult point. It is true that gangs have caused many problems, but can we stop their activity completely?
There are many gangs in Japan now. They've committed crimes, and a lot of people have been killed or hurted by them. For example, a kabuki actor, Ichikawa Ebizo was hurted by a gang.Because of this injury, he was not able to appear on stages for a while.
These days, some celebrities in Japan have relationships with them. After Japanese comedian, Shimada Shinsuke, these relationships have been regarded as bad habit. Since this news was reported, the Metropolitan Police has tried to arrest gangs as many as possible. To achieve their goal, they made a regulation. This is a campaign poster below.
What do you think about this regulation? Do you think this regulation works?
I think it doesn't mean. It is sure that this has power to save the actives of gangs, but it is not enough. If we really want to decrease tha number of gangs, we should make a law. However, I think gangs' rights also should be respected, because they are people. This is the difficult point. It is true that gangs have caused many problems, but can we stop their activity completely?
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Blog #3: Hollywood Adapts Japanese Sci-fi Novels
by Midday
According to Jeff Sneider, a journalist for Variety. News, "Japanese advertising agency Dentsu and Hayakawa Publishing Corp. have entered into a live-action feature rights deal for Japanese sci-fi novels that have attracted the interest of 'Transformers' producer Don Murphy and 'Shoot 'Em Up' helmer Michael Davis."
Don Murphy is primarily known as an American film producer for his science fiction films, such as the "Transformers" trilogy. "Transformers", "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" will be aired on WOWOW Cinema (charged), starting at 15:45, June 16. (I will get a chance to watch these then for the first time.)
Michael Davis is primarily known as a screenwriter, and has written/directed "Shoot 'Em Up" (2007), which was produced in collaboration with Murphy.
Tow Ubukata （冲方丁） is a renowned Japanese sci-fi author, who has given birth to works such as "Tenchi Meisatsu" （天地明察, probably best translated as "Eureka"） and "Out of Control". Some novels, such as "Fafner of the Azure" （蒼穹のファフナー）, have become hit anime adaptations. Davis is now considering a film adaptation of "Mardock Scramble" which has an on-going anime film trilogy, the third of which will premiere September 29 this year.
Issui Ogawa （小川一水） is also another renowned Japanese sci-fi author with award winning works such as "Little Star" and "the Demon that King Arisuma Loved" （アリスマ王の愛した魔物）. Murphy plans to adapt "The King of Time-Sand" （時砂の王）.
Japanese on-lookers have mixed feelings about Hollywood film adaptations. Most do not deny the excellence in Japanese writers achieving global attention, especially concerning science fiction and fantasy literature, which are clearly neglected in Japanese society. However, Hollywood adaptations inevitably warp the Japanese style of conveying ideas, and many would argue that the works would be better represented in anime media. For instance, "Mardock Scramble" has an intense casino scene where the main characters play roulettes and cards in order to strategically rake in cash. Japanese people have the impression that this entire casino scene may be morphed into a flashy gun-battle scene, which would ruin the originality of the sequence of events. However, no adaptation can readily do justice to the original novel, so then others may argue that there is no problem as long as the adaptation is acknowledged by the original author, and the author is credited within the staff roll.
What are your ideas on Hollywood film adaptations of Japanese literature?
Source: Variety. International News, Don Murphy Official Site, WOWOW Transformers Information Page, Micheal Davis (imdb), Tow Ubukata Official Site
According to Jeff Sneider, a journalist for Variety. News, "Japanese advertising agency Dentsu and Hayakawa Publishing Corp. have entered into a live-action feature rights deal for Japanese sci-fi novels that have attracted the interest of 'Transformers' producer Don Murphy and 'Shoot 'Em Up' helmer Michael Davis."
Don Murphy is primarily known as an American film producer for his science fiction films, such as the "Transformers" trilogy. "Transformers", "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" will be aired on WOWOW Cinema (charged), starting at 15:45, June 16. (I will get a chance to watch these then for the first time.)
Transformers Trailer
Michael Davis is primarily known as a screenwriter, and has written/directed "Shoot 'Em Up" (2007), which was produced in collaboration with Murphy.
Shoot 'Em Up Trailer
Tow Ubukata （冲方丁） is a renowned Japanese sci-fi author, who has given birth to works such as "Tenchi Meisatsu" （天地明察, probably best translated as "Eureka"） and "Out of Control". Some novels, such as "Fafner of the Azure" （蒼穹のファフナー）, have become hit anime adaptations. Davis is now considering a film adaptation of "Mardock Scramble" which has an on-going anime film trilogy, the third of which will premiere September 29 this year.
Mardock Scramble The First: Compression Trailer
Issui Ogawa （小川一水） is also another renowned Japanese sci-fi author with award winning works such as "Little Star" and "the Demon that King Arisuma Loved" （アリスマ王の愛した魔物）. Murphy plans to adapt "The King of Time-Sand" （時砂の王）.
Japanese on-lookers have mixed feelings about Hollywood film adaptations. Most do not deny the excellence in Japanese writers achieving global attention, especially concerning science fiction and fantasy literature, which are clearly neglected in Japanese society. However, Hollywood adaptations inevitably warp the Japanese style of conveying ideas, and many would argue that the works would be better represented in anime media. For instance, "Mardock Scramble" has an intense casino scene where the main characters play roulettes and cards in order to strategically rake in cash. Japanese people have the impression that this entire casino scene may be morphed into a flashy gun-battle scene, which would ruin the originality of the sequence of events. However, no adaptation can readily do justice to the original novel, so then others may argue that there is no problem as long as the adaptation is acknowledged by the original author, and the author is credited within the staff roll.
What are your ideas on Hollywood film adaptations of Japanese literature?
Source: Variety. International News, Don Murphy Official Site, WOWOW Transformers Information Page, Micheal Davis (imdb), Tow Ubukata Official Site
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Blog#3:Religion
Hi! This is Natsumi Akita. Many people may know that news, I want to share opinions in religon with you.
In December 31st 2011, Makoto Hirata presented himself at the police station. And, Naoko Kikuchi also arrested in July 3. Please look at this movie.
It is a movie of Aum Shinrikyo. What do you think about this movie?
That recent surprising happenings seems to make Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway being solved. Sarin incident happened in 1995. In this case, 13 people were killed and many people got serious injuries. Even now, injured people are still suffering from damage in both physical and psychological. Not only in Japan but all over the world, there are so many incidents caused by differences in religion, for example, 9.11 and 2011 Norway attacks. 9.11 was caused by Taliban, and Norway attacks was caused by Anders Behring Breivik, who hates Muslim.
If you want to know it more, please click here. This website shows about 9.11.
I think it is very sorrow that many innocent people are killed by intolerance in religon. I think religon should be extinct because religion cause injury accidents. On the other hand, I know that humans cannot live without relying on someone like Gods. I can't say that believing in Gods is good or bad. It is difficult to prevent from happening. I want you to think about incidents caused by some religion groups.
In December 31st 2011, Makoto Hirata presented himself at the police station. And, Naoko Kikuchi also arrested in July 3. Please look at this movie.
It is a movie of Aum Shinrikyo. What do you think about this movie?
That recent surprising happenings seems to make Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway being solved. Sarin incident happened in 1995. In this case, 13 people were killed and many people got serious injuries. Even now, injured people are still suffering from damage in both physical and psychological. Not only in Japan but all over the world, there are so many incidents caused by differences in religion, for example, 9.11 and 2011 Norway attacks. 9.11 was caused by Taliban, and Norway attacks was caused by Anders Behring Breivik, who hates Muslim.
If you want to know it more, please click here. This website shows about 9.11.
I think it is very sorrow that many innocent people are killed by intolerance in religon. I think religon should be extinct because religion cause injury accidents. On the other hand, I know that humans cannot live without relying on someone like Gods. I can't say that believing in Gods is good or bad. It is difficult to prevent from happening. I want you to think about incidents caused by some religion groups.
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