This much delayed episode comes to you all the way from China, where I am now, invited here as a Professor & KoGuan Chair of Digital Arts & Design @ Peking University, known as the highest rated academic learning institution of China. Given many tunings I find myself undergoing as a result of this uproot, I trust that those who read my blog, and mostly those who miss it, will forgive the resulting delay. I am certain that such has been even tougher on me than on those back in their familiar settings. And now to the theme of this blog.

History has proven that humans are aggressive, domineering creatures who find it not just challenging but rather impossible to live in a lasting, peaceful and fulfilling coexistence. Our narrative vividly illustrate how every 30 years, more or less, the various political or religious factions or nations or other forms of social collectives, casts, diverse or competing interests, or corporations or conglomerates, end up engaging in hostile discourses, even subversive and adverse takeovers or traditional wars, whether military or not, with either their oppositions or competitor or neighbor or minor countries under adversary's sway.

I departed for Israel with great hopes and anticipation, and most of all in search of some enlightenment or even resolution to my inner dilemma. On one hand, watching the news from afar, as a Jew who has gone through own prosecution, I feel torn to see other Jews seemingly disrespectful of the rights of the others. I am not a believer in “do on to others what has been done to you”. As history has repeatedly illustrated, such an approach and way of thinking lead to a dead end, often literarily. And yes, as a Jew, I feel powerful commonality to other Jews, to our ancient culture, traditions, amazing heritage and history. And so, hearing of the wrong done by Israelis, even if under the claims for its own right of survival, I feel torn. I question my obligations to the Jewish people and to Israel as our tiny country.

To join all of the walls of the past, a yet another, vast and enormously tall wall, has recently been constructed by Israel to protect itself against terrorist attacks and suicidal bombers. It separates the West Bank from Israel. Israelis say that it has achieved its objectives by dramatically decreasing the intensive of terrorist attacks. At the same time though, the wall's path has also divided certain neighborhoods, people and families who had lived together till its erection. While there are military check points through which people can cross from one side to another, officially the Israeli citizens, especially the Jewish ones, are not permitted to the West Bank, this is supposedly to protect them, for their own personal safety.

While it separates the people and sides, in the most odd of ways it also acts as a form of a dialogue, a conduit of emotions and wishes expressed by those leaving on one side of the wall, but unfortunately not see by those on the other side. When you think about it, at least to me, this Wall has become an unintended symbol of human lunacy and desires.

Maybe because the country’s founders had lost so much during the Holocaust, they chose to fight so hard for their new country, build by them from zilch. Over time and endless conflicts, wars and over numerous generations, they succeeded establishing a nation of a booming economy, impressive technologies, research, innovation, culture, prosperity, military potency, freedom of speech and, some say, a true democracy, most of anything and everything any country could hope for. All this except of course for the precious peace, stability and safe future for its current as well as the future generations.

To ignite, liberate and empower imagination to its fullest and most potent we need to open our minds to, and embrace, "gravity free and reality independent” thinking. Only then imagination transforms into a limitless, infinite state of a creative mind within which everything is attainable and nothing is unthinkable. Within it creativity roams free, unbounded by time, space, reality, logic, rules, dimension, mental or physical gravity or laws. In this inspiring state of mind imagination acts as a fuel for creativity, ideas, ground breaking innovative concepts or visions of what could be, but only if we dare. 

These days, when technology plays such a significant role in all aspects of our lives, and in much of what we do, there is a strong relationship between “IT” and our imagination: when they are not in balance, technology itself can overshadow imagination and seemingly become the ultimate answer to all. But when they are, technology empowers us, acting as our “magic wand”.

As a crusader for creative self-expression, empowerment and ideation inspired by imagination, I deem it to be the ideal medium for cross-cultural, cross-ideological communication propagating mutual respect, appreciation and understanding. It is a potent, sincere, emotional and, most importantly, physically non-violent platform for an evocative, enlightening and empowering dialogue. For an individual, it seeds, cultivates and shapes an artistic and creative voice for self-discovery, self-identity and self-expression. For humanity at large, as an antidote to aggressions, it can cultivate peaceful coexistence, at least amongst those who deem themselves open-minded.

Whatever the medium, creative expression represents a powerful, poetic, emotional and visual language understandable and felt by all. When fueled by a sincere and deeply felt personal expression such a language can turn into a potent herald of ideals, feelings, aspirations and hopes we all have. Each of us has a message—potent, deeply felt and meaningful ideas—and a great need to share them with others, to make a difference during own, much to brief a lifetime.

Over the last years I have observed our country, one that stands as the beaker of success, one to which most of the world looks up to, aspires to or wants to alike, change. Political correctness, fear of being painted as insensitive, a chauvinist, a racist, or being too this or too that, or “I’ll sue you”, in my personal view, is killing our free spirit, our sincere openness, ability to dialogue or differ with others on a deeper emotional level. As one who has, not so long ago, personally experienced a good old-Midwestern inquisition, I have strong feelings and beliefs on this topic.

Back to the last blog. It triggered a discussion on whether some restrain, a “black mask”, is called for. I felt that the images left untouched made a mighty statement against their authors, or artists who, in my view, misuse their talents for immoral, even sick, degenerate objectives. Furthermore, I felt that the presence of a “black cover up” actually attracts more attention and causes imagination to spin wild in all the wrong directions. But maybe that’s just me? I would welcome hearing back from those who read the blog. Do comment and share your opinion. Am I wrong?

And before I progress to the topic this blog is dedicated to, I wish to thank the reader who was kind enough to send me an email of appreciation for the series. I would welcome more thoughtful feedback. While praise is always cheered, criticism is helpful as well. Being new to this domain I have much to learn. So feel free to love me, thank me, applaud me, correct or challenge me, even tear me apart, as long as it is done in a civil and intelligent manner. Else a black mask!

I anticipate this may be the last blog in the series dedicated to Japan? In it I wish to pay homage to the complex delicacy, beauty, sensuality and unique simplicity, purity and sophistication of Japanese art, design, craftsmanship, old architecture of ancient temples, shrines, dragons as well as other real or imaginary creatures.

There are many impressive aspects of and qualities I now associate Japanese people, their ways of lives and their culture with. However, what sets them apart in minds of those who have had a limited exposure to, or those who have never been there, are Anime and Manga, and to a lesser extend a mysterious Geisha.

 Japanese Manga acts as a vast, all encompassing visual, graphic, emotional and storytelling mirror of all of the facets of Japanese life, from conflicts, relationships to all other social and personal issues, everything. There is manga exclusively for girls and there is manga only for boys, there is manga dealing with relationships between the girls only or only the boys, and there is Manga for everyone else. There is Manga for the kids, the teens, young adults and all of those in-between.

I deem that every people, whether fulfilled bluntly oppressed or subtly manipulated by own rulers, or puppet masters, or pacified by the covertly preselected candidates to “democratically elect” from, sooner or later will awake. As history has proven repeatedly, it is then that they rise, rebel, demand a role in the way their lives and futures are being shaped. We have seen such awakening in Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia, Iran, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and, to a tiny extend, on Wall Street. Many such revolts are hastily taken advantage of by those who shrewdly manipulate such prospects to clench control for their own benefits or, worse yet, those interests that are vigilantly hidden behind them.

If countries, judged by many as undeveloped, are nonetheless capable of higher ideals, struggle for true freedom, than why we, who deem ourselves as the most advanced, the leaders of the “free world”, avoid to look the truth in the eye and admit to ourselves that we are lost in a desert of consumerism, disposability and materialistic excess, blown every which way by the gusts of shortsighted greed?

As I reflected in my previous blog, Japanese are true perfectionists, in all they do. Thus, when it comes to political correctness, over centuries, and elected isolation from the external world, they turned it into an art form, a nature, but at what cost?

Bowing projects a wonderfully charming sense of politeness and respect, but it does not end on just one bow, it goes on, and on. It is very carefully and skillfully choreographed and, as such, not spontaneous. It is the repetitious aspect of this custom, at least to a “greenhorn” that feels over the top, too stringent, too restrictive and, after some time, even seemingly forced. Then, such a mutual need to project this respect appears programed and artificial. It feels like it could be restrictive to any spontaneous yet meaningful substance or observation resulting in deeper interaction and more intellectual, dare I say, intercourse? And having seen some striking, incredibly sensuous and very delicate Kamasutra, while upholding delicacy and refinement, Japanese people can be very explicit.