Shaping, Places

    In the distance a sunrise begins to swell behind a vast range of jagged snowcapped peaks.  Endless miles of wild land span the distance and a blanket of cold caresses the land, creating a museum of frozen trees.  The winter is deep and life shivers in its wake.  Below, we can view roads cutting through the ground, slicing this raw heaven into pieces and ravaging it’s natural beauty.  Small characters quickly skitter across the ground, desperate to reach the warmth of their cars and trucks.  The sounds of traffic can be heard in the distance.  Mankind has enslaved this land and now holds it in bondage.  A set of golden arches dances over the frozen tree line, this, another mark of man.  Creation seems to celebrate the arrival of the sun.

    Now we are inside, the cold slowly dissipates into the warmth surrounding us and, as our eyes adjust, a curtain is drawn back giving us a new perspective, a new sight to behold.  Cast out before us is a line of tables, cracks and scrapes gouged out of their legs, speaking at length of time since gone.  A layer of chalk dust lines the plush green felt cover that clings to the top of them.  Against a wall hungry machines are poised, their screens flashing vibrant colors, begging for attention and the loose change in our pockets.  This is a room of solace. A room of rest and relaxation.  A place where, for a time, we can let our cares go and enjoy, some small measure of relief.  The air pulsates with the life and energy of students come and gone. 

    As we blink, the world falls out beneath us and we have a grand sensation of flying.  We float quickly over countless lands and people, and they speed by like ghosts from a distant past.  New sensations begin to assault out senses as we descend from some point near the clouds.  Grass bows, slightly crunching beneath our feet as we land gently on the ground.  A soft breeze brushes our skin carrying the smells of a farmhouse and the warm undertones of a country kitchen.  From all directions fields full of various crops, creep up on the house as if attempting to guard it from the outside world.  The minutes pass but time seems to stand still as the surrounding beauty captivates our view.  Dogs bark off in the distance, and here, life seems simple and whole.  A farmhouse, tall by most standards, seems to be the focal point of this area.  Outside of it stand two children, eyes in eager anticipation of the day to come.

    Three places, a lookout point, a college game room, and a place from a time out of the distant past.  Here, though, there is more than meets the eye.  Many threads form and cling to one another, creating a delicate web of connection to each of these places, and yet there are vast spaces keeping them apart.  All of them contain life and energy and beauty constantly shaping everything they interact with.  You can not emerge from a place the same person if you have never been there before.  Nor can you ever see the same place in the exact same way twice.  Though the place may be the same, we, as humans are constantly evolving.  With this evolution comes new perspectives and new ways of seeing.  From this we can see that places tend to shape people, as much as people tend to shape places.

For me, home is here in Alaska, and anywhere I am lucky enough to have those that care about me!

A short review of "People as Pictures"

    Irezumi, a traditional form of Japanese body tattooing, was the subject of an essay I was happy to read this week called “People as Pictures“ written by Angela Carter.  In this text Angela uses her artistic vocabulary to colorfully illustrate this visually stunning tattooing style.  In many ways, I quickly learned, irezumi is extremely different then the average tattoo we see here America. 
    First of all these laborious, and occasionally full-body masterpieces, have an ancient history dating back to the Edo era.  As with most things from more archaic times the tools, the awl and gouge used by the artist, are somewhat more primitive then the common tattooing technology of today.  The irezumi master also undertakes a lifetime of training, sometimes passed down through generations, in order to effectively develop and accomplish their work.  Using a dateless technique, the irezumi master literally carves the skin of their victim in order to achieve this stunning artwork.  As stated by Angela Carter, “Irezumi paints with pain upon a canvas of flesh”. 
    I must say that I really enjoyed this text even though I found it somewhat terrifying.  Upon close examination of this article I found that for a time, even before the Edo era, tattoos were sometimes used in Japan as a form of punishment.  Which makes me question just what type of crimes were considered serious enough to punish with tattooing?  Could you tell what crime the criminal had committed by the markings on their body?  How did these tattoos differ in style from the beautiful artwork we see today? 
    I felt that this essay spoke much about, not only Japanese culture and society, but also about the painstaking dedication involved.  Learning that traditional Japanese culture does not consider the naked human body to be beautiful, but rather something almost of  detest, seems amazing to me!  Having been raised in a country where pornography is readily available, even before the internet, this is a far cry from the society I was born into.  Even as a child I was taught that, though we may feel embarrassed about our naked bodies, they are only natural and therefore nothing to be ashamed of.
    Angela also informs us that irezumi tends to be associated with certain professions or groups in society such as firefighters, gamblers, artisans, and even Samurai.   I think, that this to is worth noting, as here in America tattoos are purchased and delineated on any given day and for any given reason.
    Though reading this article made my skin crawl, almost literally, it did give me some great knowledge and insight into the history of irezumi and the continued use of Japanese tradition.  It was a pleasure also to view some of these amazingly artistic and beautiful irezumi designs found online.  I am sorry to say, though, that you will not find me running to the nearest irezumi master anytime soon!

-Jake1981
   
   
    I

A bit about myself...

Hello Everyone!,

     My name is Jacob Willey, and I am currently a Freshman at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in pursuit of a Computer Science degree.  I was born in Anchorage, AK. However, I  have spent most of my life here in Fairbanks.  When I was younger, I spent some time living in Indiana and Michigan as well as getting to see most of the United States but, I always come back home.  Other than my Father, who lives outside of Glen Allen, I am the only member of my family living here in Alaska.

      I enjoy nature a lot, and live in one of the best places for it.  I love snowboarding, camping, fishing, and hiking.  When I am indoors, I love to read, watch movies and play video games.  Personally, I enjoy fantasy, horror, and science fiction or just about anything captivating to read or watch.  Among my favorite authors are Stephen King, Terry Brooks, Tolkien and Philip Pullman to name a few.  Terry Brooks would be the most influential, as I didn't care to read before I found his books.  I, myself, even dream of writing a little.  Creating music and playing the piano are also a couple of my hobbies.

      Well, there is a little about myself! Thanks for Reading!!!

-Jake1981