Christian Putnam
3-2-08
EDUC 413
TV Project
Sunday February 24, 7 – 7:30 pm, AZN Network, Japanese
A)
The show opens with shots of deer in a meadow. The show then cuts to a
male probably in his mid-twenties; he appears to be a main character. You
see him at a sports tournament where girls are competing in kendo (bamboo
swords) stick fighting. The show again shows deer. The man seems upset or
worried. Young girls are shown training with kendo sticks. Then the show
cuts back to a kendo tournament where girls are fighting. There are close-up
shots of the male character and others as they stare off into space. Again deer
are shown. A second older man is shown who appears sterner and has gruffer
music when shown. He appears to be in the sports tournament office. The
sports tournament is shown including girls playing ping-pong and badminton.
A girl who was shown training beats the other teams champion, but gets hurt.
The main guy seems to be the coach. The show breaks with more shot of
deer.
B)
At the beginning of the show I was really confused. I have no clue why deer
continue to be shown. I don’t know what is going on since I don’t know what
happened before in the show. It was tough to keep people straight since I
can’t associate names with anyone.
C)
The most important sense was my sense of sight, but some of the characters
looked similar. I tried to watch facial expressions and movements. The music
helps determine the mood, but is harder to notice.
Sunday February 24, 7:30 – 8 pm, AZN Network, Japanese
A)
During the second half-hour, the show starts with the young male coach
talking with a similarly aged woman. I think she is a teacher of the girls who
are competing. As they are talking it appears a lesson is suppose to be taught
or they are showing feelings thru the dialogue. Next an older gentleman is
shown he is talking to a young girl. The conversation seems happy. Then the
coach is shown talking with one of the girls on the team. She gets angry about
something yells at him and storms off. Another kendo tournament is shown;
there are many characters there. While one girl is competing an older couple
is seen, they may be her parents. Also the coach and teacher are there. Many
other girls crowd around to watch the fighting; the coach is surprised by how
many people are watching the match. The girl who yelled at the coach is the
one fighting. She is winning early, but the other girl comes back. The “good”
girl wins in the end. Then there is the middle-aged tournament guy talking
with an older gentleman. Their talking seems shady, like they are plotting.
As the show ends the coach and teacher are talking with the girl competing.
She seems nervous.
B)
I felt like I could follow the show a little more. Although as soon as I feel like
I understand what is going on a new character is introduced. The plot is
slowly making more sense. I am unsure of the exact relationships between
characters because I can’t what type of language characters use.
C)
I felt like I could better determine the sentiments based on facial expressions.
When the young girl got angry I could tell because she made a mad face.
Later, I thought the two older men were plotting based on the music in the
background music. The ominous music makes characters seem evil.
It was still difficult trying to piece things together, but I felt like the show at
least became interesting to watch.
Sunday March 2, 7 – 7:30 pm, AZN Network, Japanese
A)
The third installment of the show begins back at the tournament. The main
girl is having a final match in the kendo tournament. There was very exciting
and tense music in the background. The man who appears to be a tournament
official is watching the match, it seems like a big deal. Everything goes quiet,
the teacher and coach talk to each other. The “good” girl is losing and
running out of time. She scores with 5 seconds left. The match appears over
and the “good” girl has a scratch on her neck. The match goes into overtime
and the scene is in slow motion. The “good” girl wins all the people watching
cheer. The opponent congratulates the “good” girl. Next everything starts
shaking in an earthquake. Then deer are shown running. A plaque with deer
is awarded to the girl for winning the tournament. The coach is then standing
in the dojo holding a box when another man confronts him. The coach seems
nervous during the conversation. The other man tells the coach something
positive and then walks away. There is happy music.
B)
I felt like I was understanding the few main characters, I am still very
frustrated not even being able to know the characters names. The plot is
taking more shape and I feel more invested in the show. I noticed the relation
of music and mood even more during this part.
C)
I used visual to understand what was happening. I have been in tournaments
before and could relate to what was happening. Also by listening to the
background music I could figure out the emotion of the scene.
Sunday March 2, 7:30 – 8 pm, AZN Network, Japanese
A)
The final installment begins with many characters sitting at a table eating.
One girl appears angry. The coach is there with older people. What appears
to be a family are eating and drinking beer and sake while watching television.
The old woman, possibly a grandmother, puts the deer plaque onto an already
made alter. The plaque may be a family heirloom. The coach walks down to
the basement, as he walks past a mirror a deer head is shown instead of his.
The coach prays at the plaque alter. He takes the plaque and runs into the old
woman. Then he discusses the plaque with her. There is pleasant music
behind the dialogue. The coach then appears to talk to the audience. The
coach and woman smile at each other and walk away. The coach is then
outside where he talks to a deer. The coach shows the deer the plaque. The
deer says something to him. The coach has a worried face and the episode
ends with nervous music.
B)
The more I watch the more comfortable I feel with the show. I am confused
about the deer symbolism and I don’t know if it means something in Japanese
culture. I am constantly annoyed with the addition of new characters. I
actually understood one word, Arigato-thank you, which I already knew.
C)
I used previous knowledge and visual cues to decide the group eating was
probably a family unit. I watched the expressions of the coach and woman to
conclude they were having a pleasant conversation. Also at the end I listened
to the tone of the music to tell me something ominous was to come.