nature specificity in art

[mindstalk]

I started reading this Japan book I got from Boskone (This Country Japan [Edward Seidensticker]); turns out to be a lot of disconnected essays. First one is about the use of nature and seasons in art, especially the Tale of Genji. Japanese art tends to be very specific, with recognizable plants, not just general foliage. Likewise, for a harem story, Genji is very aware of the seasons... though people die in a suspiciously symbolic pattern. By contrast, despite characters strolling a lot, Austen and Dickens mark nature only when (in)convenient, like preventing travel or providing a good time for a picnic.

Second essay is on Japanese conservatism: they import and imitate a lot, but don't throw out their old stuff. Still reading.