Melancholy Japanese Aristocrats is the newest line at Hot Topic!

The modern version of those melancholy Japanese aristocrats from the John Green video. 

Heian got it goin' on!

This is Roloefs if you get between him and his fried chicken. 

How did you enjoy our brief exploration of the Heian period in Japanese history? Pretty cool, huh? I loved John Green's point that it is pretty fascinating to learn history through the prism of literature and artistic expression. It is very different than digging through more traditional sources. Take a look at this amazing stuff...

I can totally read this. 

Looks like Open House at the local preschool!

I feel like they should be more alarmed by that red guy across the water. 

That is one seriously large cat. 

I have nothing witty to add here. I just think that monster IS SO COOL. 

 That is just a small sampling of some of the amazing images created in this time period. As we mentioned in class, keep in mind this overarching idea of the transitory nature of existence. It permeates the art of east Asia - especially Japan. I think you'll find a similar tone in the medieval paintings of Western Europe. We'll look at that soon as we head to the Renaissance. 

Soundtrack of the Week:

How's your Spring Break playlist coming together? I hope you're giving it the thought and attention it deserves. THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE IMPORTANT!

What did you think of Jens? I'm a big fan of that song. I really like the juxtaposition of a somewhat lighthearted melody with lyrics that have a melancholy vibe to them. Embrace the tension!

Today, we're going to take things up a notch on the groove meter. "Hot Thoughts" is the latest single from the band, Spoon. This is a bit of a departure from their previous work, but it sounds like classic Spoon to me. My favorite moment is when the entire instrumentation kicks in and things get funky. They've got a full album coming out very soon, and I am excited for it. This band always does great work. Enjoy "Hot Thoughts"