I had a difficult time finding a unique photo for this challenge. Beaches? There are lots. Buildings? They are in abundance. Animals and flowers? I’m suspicious that the Philippine tarsier can only be found in the Philippines. Then I thought about cultural differences. Each culture is unique–the way they are practiced, the people involved and the meanings attached to them. I am always amazed by the differences among cultures and for that I respect each one of them. I despise stereotyping, especially the negative ones, and I always want to see the positive things despite those that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable to me.
This is a traditional Japanese wedding I saw in Tokyo in 2008. When I first saw it, I told myself, “how sad.” The bride and groom look gloomy and the procession lacks merriment. But who am I to judge? I am not the one who is actually experiencing it so I cannot say that it’s gloomy and lacks merriment. My initial reaction is tainted by my own expectations and predispositions. But this is equally fascinating, joyful and most of all it also portrays the union of two souls among billions and the act of showing to the rest of the world the strong reason for such union. That, in itself, is unique.
Do you have a unique photo you want to share with us? Join the Weekly Photo Challenge and let us all find the beauty in our differences.
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique (joyandwoe.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique (katiedaisy921.wordpress.com)
- 2-2-13 Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique (quotidianhudsonriver.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique (hereandthere5.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique (chikawithyeneyes.wordpress.com)
In his book, Digital Media Ethics, Charles Ess discusses ethics for cross-cultural communication and our obligation to become familiar with the cultures in the world other than our own. (109) One way that most of us try to understand other cultures is to find the commonalities, a wedding is a perfect example of that! This is a beautiful picture and you capture the mood so well. You are also very honest in that you notice the somber and serious mood of the event and admit that you thought it seemed sad but that was based on your personal feelings and experiences with weddings. I appreciate that you prefer to see the positive in situations, including those that you may not understand or agree with. Ess, again in his text, stresses the importance of “travel as an essential component to becoming more fully human.” He describes cultural shock as a method of creating humility, a deeper understanding of our cultural differences. Humility creates patience, understanding, and forgiveness – all key to getting along better. I feel you hit on the mood of the event pictured when you describe the respect being shown by the more somber and serious mood. This picture is thought provoking and while I plan to search on my own to learn more about the Japanese view of the wedding ceremony and marriage in general, this might be something to add to help explain the photo and significance of it as compared to our Western cultural. Beautifully captured though!
Ess, C., (2009) Digital Media Ethics. Cambridge, UK, Polity Press
Pingback: The Unique Pet Store By The Street | this man's journey
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique Candle, Really? | Humbled Pie
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique | ~~Good~talk~with~Yen-Yen~~