Margan Pitelka Tue afternoon 8/5

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

I loved the history of the Tea ceremony; although I have to be truthful I liked the history of the ceramics that are part of the service the best. I do American Raku, which is truly different then its original Japanese process. We put the ceramics in the ground or kiln and take out when it is red hot and place it in a metal garbage can, that is lined with news paper and trash such as coffee grounds, banana peels, and any thing else with an acid or that will create an reaction. I also put rubbing alcohol in just as it starts to cool. It makes for a second fire that is great. I use my deep pit to Raku, in.
I do not do my Raku with students because of the second fire. It is great, when you use horse or cow droppings in the first fire.

I am going to look up the ceramics that where used before the Wabi. The tea bowls are very Wabi. Most of my first pieces are very Wabi, I just didn’t know it.

[Anonymous]

I found this lecture incredibly engaging and interesting. I knew tea was an important aspect of many Asian cultures, but did not know many of the details, espcially the history of the tea bowls. I liked the brief readings Mr. Pitelka gave us -- these will be useful with students to give them glimpses of the importance of tea. I liked his idea of having students write about their own food culture : is it mac & cheese, enchiladas, gnocchi or what? This would be a nice first week get-to-know you exercise. You could also bring in tea for students to sample and have them design tea bowls (on a piece of paper, not in a kiln).

[Anonymous]

I think we'll have a tea party in my class. I think this would engage the kids to appreciate the signifcance of tea in other cultures. Prof. Pitelka kept my attention throughout because I never knew that drinking tea involved art and a ritual. It is good to know the how and why people preserve old art even if it is for different reasons in different situations. As was stated in the lecture that the Japanese did it 1) because they liked it 2) some to show status 3) to show-off. I never looked at Oracle Bone Rubbing an art until it was explained today. The oldest ceramics found in the world is in Japan; never knew that either.
Tea was believed to originate from China, it has caffine and antioxidants, used for medicinal purposes, and perks you up if you drink a lot of it. A myth about tea: Chinese Emperor Shen Nung's daughter accidently dropped the tea leaves in hot water and couldn't sleep all night. She told her father, the Emperor, he dranks some and found it pleasing. Later, it was introduced by monks who where adventurous enough to travel to China. Once tea made its way into China only the Buddhist monks and then the warriors drank it. Later it was used by the Emperor and courts, finally, it was sold to the commoners.
Because of tea the Raku tea bowls made Rikyu and his heirs wealthy until tea drinking disappeared. While it was going strong, it became an art to make tea so tea schools opened up and many students had to learn how to make tea; it was required to do so. This lead to a high demand for the Rakyu ceramic tea bowl. Drinking tea sitting on a chair was not done until the Kyoto Exposition in 1872 took place. Later tea regained its popularity and now girls were trained in tea making. The Rakyu family has maintained the tradition in making tea bowls and it takes up to 3 years to purchase one and it cost thousands; I believe it was stated 30 thousand, correct me if I'm wrong.
"Tradition has endured but the ways people talk about them and use them have changed, there are different versions because of experimental innovations and in the technique the use. However different it is still important."

[Anonymous]

I have to say that I was not looking forward to this lecture after having read all the materials last night. I am intrigued by ritualistic tea ceremony, and I absolutely appreciate the wabi aesthetic but I am not a big fan of reading about the history of pottery-- sorry!

However, I was very engaged in this lecture, and I was glad that Prof. Pitelka split his presentation into 3 parts. I would have liked to learn more about what he called "the grand sweep of art in East Asia," but I totally understand the point of honing in on one tradition and really exploring it in depth.

That said, I would like to share that my sister works at Starbuck's (since he mentioned it jokingly when talking about how there is no tradition at Starbuck's!), and yes, she has the title of "COFFEE MASTER." I kid you not. CM's have to go through rigorous training and testing to earn the title, and they wear black aprons (instead of the traditional green). So if you see someone wearing a black apron loafing behind the counter, feel free to shout at the other barristas-- "Unhand my coffee, I want the COFFEE MASTER to make my latte!" I am not even kidding.

And, if you're like me, I love to use random pop culture bits as a "sponge," so here's a clip from America's Top Model where one of the challenges was to perform a traditional tea ceremony to the tea/T. Maybe some of you can use it in your classrooms. 😀

[Anonymous]

When I was watching the film on the tea ceremony, especially when the characters turn their cups several times before passing the cup, and before drinking, the word "nerdy" pops up to my mind. Yes, I found them very nerdy. However, because that is part of a tea ceremony, people will accept that behavior. Just imagine, some one is invited to your house as a guest. Before the guest eats dinner, the guest will turn the dinner plat several times before he/she eats. I would like to know the reaction of the host. That would be a fun project to take a survey on.[Edit by="vchiu on Aug 5, 9:48:49 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

The fact that Raku and the tradition of tea in general has undergone so many changes and transformations sparks an interesting debate. Does one preserve tradition as it began, never changing the practices and words uttered, or should a tradition adapt to its surroundings and technology? Some would say that preserving the tradition as it began is the only true way, and that changing to adapt is abandoning one’s heritage. The other side of this, of course, is that never changing the tradition is becoming stuck in the old ways and making the heritage inaccessible to the modern world, but allowing it to morph and transform with the times helps to celebrate and keep the culture alive. I would concur with the latter school of thought. Because the tea tradition – all aspects of it – has adapted with time and technology, because it has traveled around the world, it has contributed to the interconnectedness and globalization of society, as well as taken on new subtle changes from other cultures it touched. It has become transcendent through time and space, allowing all people of many cultures to experience the elegance that is the tea ceremony, and learn about a world outside their own. Even if the extent of their knowledge only goes so far as their local sushi restaurant, they are stepping outside of their daily lives and away from their cares to go and enjoy the sushi, and are therefore still experiencing an essence of the tradition of tea.

This very easily relates to the cultural identity crisis many first and second generation Asian-Americans face. Many parents want their children to keep the traditions their ancestors practiced, so they immerse them in a language school and pack them smelly lunches, and often the children rebel. They give up learning about the culture at all. There needs to be a balance. Keep the traditions, but adapt to the surroundings. Inspire a child to learn more about their culture and to share it with others rather than forcing it down their throats so that they hate it. Realize that some traditions and rituals made sense in the 5th century, but because of the advancement of technology, they are unnecessary or need to change to achieve a similar goal.
Borrowing from and transforming the culture promotes growth, advancement, and study of the history.

[Anonymous]

I find the idea of the Tokonoma a very appealing entrée into the Japanese culture. It appears so simple – just a vase, flower, picture – but the items selected must reveal self-awareness, compositional skills, appreciation of the guest, recognition of the moment in time, ability to stimulate thought and conversation. It would be like a puzzle presented to a guest as they enter the house. And then, because there are so many moments of quiet, the visitors have a chance to reflect and gather their thoughts before responding.

As an introductory assignment, I am tempted to require students to somehow create their own Tokonoma – maybe with pictures rather than actual objects? Perhaps they would have to write a reflection on their own creation and a second reflection on the creation of a classmate. I could file these into their portfolios and return them at the end of the year, at which time they would have to create another Tokonoma to reflect the changes in themselves, their contacts, their environment.

Once again I am struck by possible comparisons to English literature. Andrew Marvell's famous (infamous?) seduction, "To His Coy Mistress," is often taught as a sensual example of carpe diem, seize the day. Although both the tea ceremony and Marvell revel in the sensual pleasures of the moment -- smell the tea or smell the roses, whatever is available -- their perpetrators have different motivations. I suspect that the Japanese tea ceremony is serving a higher purpose….but, then again, didn’t Dr. Dube tell us that the tea houses were camouflage for military scheming?

[Anonymous]

Although I knew about the Japanese tea ceremony I did not know about the Tokonoma (decorative alcove) which would house a vase with flower and a scroll art piece above it. I liked the idea about how personal they made it for themselves or others. The movie clip about Rikyu showed this concept well. You could easily tie this into some art project associated with the tea ceremony.

I was also interested in the Raku ceramics, since I have always been somewhat fond of plain ceramic cups. I think I'll look for some knock-offs on E-bay. overall this session made me think of infusing more art while simultaneously addressing the history standards.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed today's lecture. He did a great job of sharing with us the connection of art, ceremony, and history.

Like Sharon and a few others I really would love to find a way to have students create their own Tokonoma. It could be a great way to start the year and have students share who they are with the class. I wonder if it might be interesting in addition to a Tokonoma that reflects themselves, one could have students make a Tokonoma that they would have at the entrance of their home for when their parents come over, their best friend, and their hero (this can be some in history or some they know personally). The latter part of the assignment can be something they turn in and don't have to necc. present to the class, but I think it could help me understand the students better. They can attach a paper explaining each of these items.

The idea of having them sketch their Tokonoma is a good idea but adding to the assignment. It would be cool to allow them to use magazine clippings, computer generated clips, and photos if they want to.

I am curious what ideas you all have for making this successful in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

What was the name of the website he got the artwork from?

Have any of you used it before?

[Anonymous]

I think they are going to give out the powerpoint and if you look at the handout Miranda gave us yesterday it might be on there.

[Anonymous]

I look forward to reviewing this Powerpoint among others. I didn't envy Professor Pitelka's position in that his lecture followed a fantastic lecture by Professor Notehelfer, but I was impressed with him as well. His talk about Japan's Handmade Culture was very informative. It seems to me that art and culture have a relationship in the East that is different than anywhere else in the world. I appreciated how Professor Pitelka attempted to translate the untranslatable (a word?) by giving us examples of the idea of "wabi". He described it in terms I could understand like; it is living one hundred yards away from the ocean, as opposed to on the edge of the ocean, where you can still hear it but you can't see it. Another example is; a little bud is nicer than a flower because of the possibilities it holds and for the enticement that it provides. What an incredible concept. I often see the world through this lens but until now I had no way to describe it. Perhaps this has been a life-changing discussion. Without getting too dramatic, I will continue to learn and let all of this information fall over me as I continue to be intrigued by the East. I will go home and perhaps create a tokonoma in our front room. What an incredible gesture...what a great way to live (thinking of others).

[Anonymous]

I was truly engaged in Pitelka's presentation and the notes. At one point in my under grad program I had taken art. We were engaged in pottery making and I loved it. It brought back memories. Interesting facts about integrating religion and art, from oracle rubbing to glazed stone ware to tea bowls. Also interesting was the communication through the 'decorative alcove.' The word 'wabi' is part of my voacabulary now. So in the future if I indulge into pottery making, it would come out to be rustic, because I would be an amateur. Ha Ha.
I absolutely enjoyed my almond flavored tea at the Lsi Lai temple. This topic was right down my alley as I am addicted to drinking Ceylonese tea.

[Anonymous]

Transience, Tea and Tokunoma

We move at warp speed and hardly have time to look into our loved one’s eyes, never-mind our friends, acquaintances and strangers on the street; we gobble our food, wolfing it down in the car, trying to avoid a mishap with the kamikaze idiot in front or in back of us, who is attempting to make us road kill so he can get where he is going three seconds faster, our digestive juices dripping with acid as we navigate another day; we get an education from kindergarten through the doctorate as if each of us and each of our students were so many sausage skins on a conveyor belt to be stuffed with knowledge before being packaged and consumed by society at large; we communicate via email, web forum, instant messaging, cell phone; someone asks a question (maybe for a telephone number and physical address) and the answer is, “Oh, it’s on the website.” Moving right along! We call this living?

As Thoreau put it, man: “He has no time to be anything but a machine.” But, if you throw tea ceremony into this monstrous mechanized so-called “existence,” the whole mess shatters, throws off sparks, pours out smoke, explodes and stops. What has happened? You have made a cup of tea. That is, if you really have made a cup of tea. Handmade Culture and Art in Daily Life? LIFE IS the Art, and here, you have Art imitating what a Life should be. Life was not meant to be zoomed through at light speed, ripping up the track to get to the end. The end of what? Life? Slow down. You don’t want to arrive at your final destination so soon, do you?

If you live it like this, it is not life; it is sleep until the Big Sleep; it is a living death; it is a trap. Those of us with mortgages, kids, jobs, cars and taxes know exactly what I am talking about. Those of you who don’t quite get this; you will.

While at Deer Park Monastery a friend was doing a chore (working meditation) and the bell rang for tea. He only had a bit of sweeping to go to finish, so he thought he’d finish and sprint down to the hall, arriving just on time. A monk saw this and kindly took the broom out of his hand. My friend was highly annoyed, quite insulted and told me he might not return if they were going to treat him like that! After all, he just had a little to go to finish up. What’s the big deal? And, where does that monk get off, after all?!

I wish I could take that kind monk with me everywhere I go. He would tell me gently, “Please stop and breathe now. And, shall we have a cup of tea?” Well, I had the chance to have a monk who had fled Vietnam sit with me and share an orange and a cup of tea after we had finished cleaning the dinning hall. Actually, we didn’t finish. A woman’s and a monk’s work is, after all, never done. But, before the afternoon was done, we sat on a hill, looking over the valley at the clouds and the mountains, spoke to one another quietly about our lives, looked at one another in the eyes and had a cup of tea.

For those of you who are thinking that tea ceremony was a way to show off, that, my friends, was and is a bastardization of tea ceremony. That is why Rikyu cut all the flowers off, except for one. We, like the foolish samurai, think that the more flowers, the better; the more knowledge, the better; the more stuff, the better; the more experiences, the better. No, it’s not better. Drink in your loved one’s eyes, including all her or his joys and sorrows. See the flower. See the flower of your LIFE. Then you will see all the flowers. Have a cup of tea. Get a life.
[Edit by="canaise on Aug 10, 3:10:16 PM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="canaise on Aug 11, 2:40:06 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

My school has a thirty minute homeroom period before lunch every Monday - Thursday and I am definitely going to use the idea Professor Pitelka gave us about having our students go through the exercise of writing down the process of something they eat. This would be great assignment during the first week of school as a tool to help the students get to know one another through a favorite meal or custom. Not only will it be a good writing assignment but also a great beginning to a discussion on one's culture.

[Author]

Posts