"In Praise of Shadows" by J. Tanizaki, 1933

This book is comprised of 16 sections that discuss traditional Japanese aesthetics in contrast with change.

• includes cultural notes on various topics
• is known for insight and relevance into issues of modernity and culture
• has a spirit of juxtaposing the cultures of east and west

(On the latter): "But what produces such differences in taste? ... we Orientals... content ourselves with things as they are... But the progressive Westerner is determined always to better his lot."

• recognizes that we have stopped caring how the form affects the content ***(ref. to Itsuko Hasegawa)

Gene Veith "State of Arts": "The form communicates the content, so that changing the style changes the message, whether it is intended to do so or not."

References:

Joshua Savin in Art and Seign, Culture, Ecology. Essays, 2006.9.23.