Old Lady / Young Woman

 Paradigm shifts are often powerful and very profound experiences. I like to describe a paradigm shift as a sort of “Aha!” moment, an experience in which we began to see things in a new way. Often the more bound we are to our old perceptions, the more powerful the “aha” experience can be. These shifts turn us inside out, flip us upside down and move us in either positive or negative directions, causing us to suddenly rearrange our  priorities.

I had the opportunity to travel abroad last semester. I spent four incredible months in Spain living with a host family, enjoying an entirely new cultural setting and exposing myself to things I have never expereinced before. While I was there I acquired friendships, knowledge and a new sense of self. Not to mention I was also exposed to a tremendous amount of information that largely affected the way I now view the world and those around me. As a whole my study abroad experience resulted in a major personal paradigm shift. This shift did not occur over night however; it was a  process

that slowly evolved as I adapted to my new foreign surroundings. One thing is for sure, upon my return four months later, it was evident that a new Jessica had emerged. The way I had always understood things about the world changed. Similar to the famous illusion I no longer saw the world as an old lady, instead a beatuful young woman emerged.

                                              .

 Masuji Ono, the narrator in Kazuo Ishiguro’s book An Artist of the Floating World is also experiencing a paradigm shift. As a participant in the post-WWII era of Nagasaki, Japan, Ono struggles to adapt to the changes that have emerged from the end of the war. Ono himself seems ignorant or unable to make sense of his own personal struggle despite the constant reminders from those around him. Noriko his youngest daughter often imparts criticism in regards to his constant “mopping around,” while Setsuko his eldest daughter adopts a less blatant tactic by subtly expressing to her father the affects of his behavior on Nariko’s marriage negotiations.

 Despite the ongoing attempts from Ono’s family and friends to awaken him from this sort of mental slumber, his character continues to move through this “Aha” experience rather slowly. Perhaps the most radical change in Ono’s character occurs during the miai, when he assumes responsibility for the success or failure of Norikos future. During the miai Ono is asked to express his sentiments regarding his past career, forced to bring underlying thoughts and feelings to the surface. Ono explains, “There are some, Mrs. Saito… who believe my career to have been a negative influence. An influence now best erased and forgotten. I am not unaware of this viewpoint. Mr. Kuroda, I would think, is one who would hold it.’(pg 123) He continues, “…. All I can say is that at the time I acted in good faith. I believed in all sincerity I was achieving good for my fellow countrymen. But as you see, I am not now afraid to admit I was mistaken.” (pg 124)

Ono notes Dr Saito, as “watching him like a teacher waiting for a pupil to go on with a lesson he has learnt by heart.”.  Ono has never “quite readily” admitted personal regrets of his work; in fact it is the first time in the story in which Ono expresses any type of disdain or lack of favor towards his past achievements, which caused even Noriko to react with astonishment.

Other characters involved in Ono’s life who are aware of the dire affects of his behavior is having on his loved ones,  have all sort of tip toed around the issue, primarily due to Japanese culture and the delicacy of the matter. However when Ono is finally struck by certain realizations after the miai he admits, “Of course I do not pretend certain moments of that evening were not painful for me.” (pg 124)  (A) Moments such as this can be quite painful indeed. Ono was bound to his previous ways of thought which caused such a shift to be dramatic and very profound. Ono undoubtedly has flaws in his personality which in turn affect the way in which the story is being told. However the lack of honesty he has with himself and others remind the reader of our very own flaws as human beings. Similar to my experience abroad, the miai session showed the power confrontation, and how having to deal with certain realities can bring about changes in our own personal perceptions. However that goes without satying one needs to be willing to experience change while having the courage to accept it.