Comparing Eastern and Western Cinema (eventually):

with a viewing of Infernal Affairs (2002)

LAAF Series # 3

July 27th, 2008

David Kitani

Rationale

Many of the differences in Eastern and Western Cinema are related to the difference in aesthetics (values of the senses) which are themselves rooted in cultural beliefs.

With this is mind we will explore the arts of these cultures, then look at some underlying beliefs, and finally arrive at a comparison between the two films which can continue through the viewing of our film. (oh yes, and our LAAF Advice Column will be somewhere in there!).

ART OF THE PAST

West

Da Vinci, Leonardo (1452-1519). The Last Supper. Milan, Italy.

West, Art of the Past“The first object of the painter is to make a flat plane

appear as a body in relief and projecting from that plane” - Leonardo Da Vinci

• Full, detailed• People in prominence• Round• Big (15 x 19 Feet) • On the wall of a church

East

Tang Yin (1470-1524).

Seeing off a Guest on a Mountain Path

China, Ming Dynasty

East, Art of the Past

• Minimal

• Nature in prominence

• Flat

• Small (roughly 4 ft x 2 ft)

• Hanging scroll

POETRY

WestSONNET 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date;Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;But thy eternal summer shall not fade,Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

East

THE BLOOM IS NOT A BLOOM The bloom is not a bloom, the mist not mist, At midnight she comes, and goes again at dawn. She comes like a spring dream- how long will she stay? She goes like morning cloud, without a trace. - Bai Juyi (772- 846)

MODERN ART

West

Animation is a children’s genre

Comic books are for little boys

EastAnimation is valued as a serious art form

Comic books are read by all ages

BELIEFSWEST• More is more• Freedom• Fullness• Verbal• Meaning through what is

said• THE DECLARATION OF

INDEPENDENCE: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

EAST• Less is more• Restraint• Emptiness• Visual• Meaning through what is

not said• CONFUCIUS:

“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceed in his actions.”

CINEMA

The Departed / Infernal AffairsThe Departed (2006 - Hollywood film) was inspired by

Infernal Affairs (2002 Hong Kong film).

More like copied!

West : The DepartedSOME DIFFERNCES:

Of course there is

Leo who plays a cop

mole in a gang. He

talks, yells, and

gets angry to

express his

feelings.

Urrr…how did I get into this f*^#*^d up predicament!?! Who am I?! I’m depressed And angry! BLAH blAH bLAH BLaHHH!

East : Infernal AffairsThe original character on which Leo’s

character was based is played by…

TONY LEUNG(s eyes)!

‘Nuff said!

West : The Departed

Then there is this guy

(played by Mark

Wahlberg). Basically,

this character talks a

lot (more like curses)

and administers

his own brand of justice.

East : Infernal Affairs

This character did not exist in the original.

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Infernal Affairs / The Departed

SIMILARITIES

• the dilemma of having to pretend to be someone you are not

• Cop is a gangster / Gangster is a cop

• What is good and and what is evil?

• justice must be served

The Differences

• THE DEPARTED• Catholicism: to die is

judgment• Love story is major• Hollywood ending:

resolution• Value of fullness and

speech (IMDB has 13 pages of memorable quotes)

• INFERNAL AFFAIRS• Buddhism: to continue

living is judgment• Love story is minor• Asian ending: open-

ended• Value of empty space

and silence (IMDB has 1.5 pages of memorable quotes)

LAAF ADVICE COLUMNDear Mr. Kitani.

There are two boys in my life and I can’t decide which one to date. One speaks so sweetly to me but kinda ignores me when he’s with his friends. The other treats me well but he doesn’t really talk much. What should I do?

Sincerely, Confused Girl Dear Mr. Kitani.

Man, im in a jam! There’s this one girl that is so hawt with some crazy curves but when I hang with her she’s kinda boring, but this other girl…she is off the hook fun but she is how do I say it…not as well endowed. Who should I go with yo!?

Sincerely, Confused Dawg

Dear Confused Girl and Confused Dawg, Wow, well it seems you two are in quite a pickle. It’s

interesting though that your issues are not actually too different from each other. You both seem to have a conflict of interests and aesthetics. Consider that what you think is soo great may be shaped a lot by the culture you were brought up in. Its hard to always know what is more important in this changing world so you must go to the unchanging standard of God. He knows what is best so you should ask Him! Remember “Beauty is fleeting and charm is deceptive but a woman (and man) who fears the Lord is to be praised!

Sincerely, Mr. Kitani

Dear Mr. Kitani,

My dad is not around very much because he is always working to put food on our plates. He makes sure we are provided for but he doesn’t really talk to me that much. Does he love me?

Sincerely,

Child of an Asian Father

Dear Child of an Asian Father,

Its hard for me to really say how your father feels about you but his actions seems to show to me that he cares for you and your needs. Sometimes, to Asian dads this is their way of saying to their child “I love you.” Remember just because he doesn’t express himself like your friends’ dads, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care. He may just value certain actions more.

Sincerely,

Mr. Kitani

Dear Mr. Kitani

My father left me and my family at an early age. I was really broken up about it. I used to be a pretty happy guy but now I kinda keep to myself. What hope do I have to make it in life?

Sincerely,

Young Tony

Dear Young Tony,Don’t be too down Tony. In fact, your hard experiences as a child will become a rich well of blessing for you. You will develop very soulful eyes that express much and will make you an incredible actor that can channel your feelings into your work. You will go on to win at least 14 prestigious acting awards and inspire many people to sit at a lecture just to watch your film!

Sincerely, David Kitani