The Semiotics of JDorama

[��]

After having watched many Japanese TV shows, I started to notice the "language" of drama that is used to communicate to the audience. There is an academic discipline that studies this sort of thing called Semiotics, the study of symbols used in communication. With respect to the arts, these can be the characters, props, situations, language used, etc. that deliver cultural context and additional meaning over and above the literal script.

Here are some recurring symbols and my interpretation:

The playing "catch-ball" memory. This often occurs as a nostalgic memory of bonding between (often hard-working absent) parent and protagonist as child. It's often presented as fond memory after the parent has croaked, or as a cause for bitterness if the parent never had time to participate.

The omiai situation/pictures. These seem to often be introduced as a counter-point to the possibility of romantic love, providing dramatic tension between the potential for arranged marriage (usually supported by parents, of course), and the potential for romantic love, which is the usual winner.

The onsen trip. This seems to often serve to introduce a lighter mood to the drama, or to add a little bit of spice because you get to see people in the bath. There's almost always a strong suggestion of romantic possibility or pursuit going on, and the viewer is given (rewarded?) with the point of view of voyeur.

The female in distress in a public place ... she either gets bumped into by passers-by, or worse, knocked down. The purpose is to evoke sympathy and pity for her character. This happens so much, that I have to wonder if people in Japan just don't see other pedestrians . I often find that this scene isn't done convincingly. Sure, people can bump, but in real life, I'd expect more "excuse me"s and more helping hands if someone is actually knocked down.

A related scene is the falling down in the street scene, which is naturally used to inject a dramatic moment of terror/danger. The character falls or is pushed down in the street, and a vehicle is fast approaching, gosh what's gonna happen next? The character really should have used that darn elevated walkway (of which Tokyo has plenty ).

The use of traffic/elevated train sounds as punctuation to dialog and as transition between scenes. I've seen this device used in a number of dramas. I have yet to decode what the sounds are used to signify, but there definately does seem to be a pattern. The el-train sounds seem to signify transition/passing of time. To switch medium for a minute, an exaggerated example from anime of sound design used as punctuation is given in "Urusei Yatsura", where between scenes you sometimes see birds flying in the sky, and they are calling to each other: "aho-aho-aho...", instead of "caw-caw-caw...". This is used to comment on the "idiot" in the previous scene.

I'd be interested in hearing about other signs/symbols others find in jdorama.

[shin2]

Well, one of the classic ones in anime which is occasionally found in live-action dorama is the nose bleed (males only) which signifies sexual arousal.
Another example found in dorama is one character carrying home on his/her back another character: typically a form of rescue (drunkenness or injury are the two most frequent causes) which inevitably leads to closer bonding between the two who heretofore were not that close and may have even been antagonistic towards each other.
Also, kowtowing before another, in abject apology or desperate begging. Beyond the ordinary "I'm sorry" or "can you do me a favor?"--a symbol of ultimate sincerity and submission. Real serious.

[gaijin mark]

At first I thought this thread was entitled "semi-idiot" and I thought, "Geez, I get enough of that from Bush"

[Tu_triky]

what about the all important "conversation in the rain" which denotes an especially important "foil" to a previous scene in the plot or implies a poignant moment of obvious importance for the idiotic audience

[bmwracer]

gaijin mark wrote:

At first I thought this thread was entitled "semi-idiot" and I thought, "Geez, I get enough of that from Bush"

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... *falls out of chair*

[��]

shin2 wrote:

Another example found in dorama is one character carrying home on his/her back another character: typically a form of rescue (drunkenness or injury are the two most frequent causes)

That's a good one. There's the variation of parent/guardian having to take a sick child to the hospital by piggy-back. I think one example was in Dekichatta Kekkon, where Yutaka has to take a nephew to the hospital. Also, from a jmovie "Love Letter", the grandfather has to take Nakayama Miho to the hospital, in the snow (for extra drama ). It seems to me this is used a symbol of the protective role the parent plays, and sometimes comes back later in memory as cause for filial obligation of the child.

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As for the traffic noise, I was just watching ep 8 of Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, and between the first 2 scenes where the action moves from Kuwano's apartment to his office, there's a quick insert shot of his office exterior, accompanied by the sound of a passing (unseen) vehicle. To me, it seems that sound, indicative of motion, helps serve as a bridge between the two scenes, and softens the transition between sets.

[��]

Tu_triky wrote:

what about the all important "conversation in the rain"

Or waiting in the rain for someone, like Densha does for Hermes in Densha Otoko ep 7. Like an act of devotion ... "I'll prove my love by waiting for you, no matter what comes..." JDoramas seem full of symbolic acts like this.

[Tu_triky]

�� wrote:

Or waiting in the rain for someone, like Densha does for Hermes in Densha Otoko ep 7. Like an act of devotion ... "I'll prove my love by waiting for you, no matter what comes..." JDoramas seem full of symbolic acts like this.

there is also the obligatory running through Tokyo, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, looking for someone and "miraculously" finding the person you are searching for so a touching exchange to advance the plot can occur, illustrating the power of love.

SEE conversation in the rain...as these two cliches often work synergistically with one another.

[krim]

is this on symbolism or cliche...?

[��]

krim wrote:

is this on symbolism or cliche...?

Perhaps both, as some sybolic situations can certainly be overused to the point of cliche.

[krim]

k, i was getting confused.

[Tu_triky]

�� wrote:

Perhaps both, as some sybolic situations can certainly be overused to the point of cliche.

yeah, they are one in the same in this case.