On the Topic of Digital Humanities...

Although this course means to integrate digital tools into streamlined coursework, due to the pandemic pushing learning online for the past year, I didn't quite notice that focus until this prompt. That being said, the utilization of specific platforms like Omeka and Neatline were components of this course that I believe bolstered my learning experience, as they offered means by which information could be presented alternative to an essay format. 

Overall, tools like Omeka and Neatline provided a higher degree of freedom in presentation, which inherently promoted creative thinking and a greater awareness of design. It wasn't difficult transitioning to online work, given the aforementioned circumstances, and learning to use the new tools was fun and easy to get into.

Speaking frankly, and as stated before, I didn't notice that this course was meant to focus on digital tools. Maybe I was alone in this experience, but most of the times where I did essays and the like by hand was in preparation for proctored exams, though I do admit that most projects I've completed were by hand. In general, I feel like education is increasingly transitioning towards incorporating digital tools, especially with heightened access and familiarity with computers. Largely because I feel this way, this course didn't feel all that distinct from other English courses I've taken thus far, though I believe its execution and material were both exceptional.

On the Topic of Pachinko's Lessons...

Pachinko is a moderately lengthy novel, and many themes could be derived from its layered characters and ideas. That being said, the most prominent message, which is reflected through nearly every significant character, is to push through difficult circumstances. Odds are, for the majority of people, life does not view us in an endearing manner a majority of the time, giving us lemons and whatnot. When ordeals are presented without a moment's respite, people may change in order to weather the storm, but it's important to remember who you are and where you came from, just as Sunja and her family, even Noa who estranged himself, visited Isak's grave, mirroring how Yangjin cleaned Hoonie's grave decades prior.

Now, in a more abstract sense, I believe that Pachinko is an argument against organized religion, particularly Christianity. It is through this subtle argument that I find that some of the odd choices in the novel can be explained.

Firstly, the Biblical names. Being raised a Christian myself, the religion for which I was christened, I did not believe that any of the characters in Pachinko mirrored their Biblical counterparts outside of the names themselves, which I believe served as satire. 

Going down the list, Isaac's most notable role in the Bible is not any role of his own; he was to be sacrificed by his father, Abraham, to God in a show of piety. Of course, being that it was merely a test, Isaac was spared at the last moment, and he then went on to live a lengthy life, regarded as one of the "patriarchs of the Israelites." On the flipside, Isak is not sacrificed by his father, but willingly sacrifices himself in a societal sense to marry Sunja, and, as mentioned in class, was extremely sickly, dying at a young age. The connection between the two is their piety, and though Isaac was granted extended life for his piety, Isak receives no such favor.

There are a couple Josephs in the Bible, but being that the rest are Old Testament figures, I believe Yoseb to parallel Joseph son of Jacob. Joseph is known for being sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers, then receiving favor from the Pharaoh due to his God-given prophecies; he enters into a position of governing power in Egypt, meets his family with their roles of power reversed, and forgives them. Yoseb, like Isak, is much the opposite of his Biblical counterpart. He willingly enters into Japan, which is the oppressing body like Egypt, and by no influence of his brother. In fact, Isak is brought into Japan by Yoseb, and Isak is not jealous at all, being kind and generous. Finally, Yoseb never attains a lofty position, remaining overworked and miserable until he is engulfed in flames performing work that he loathed. Where Joseph was rewarded for his foresight from God, Yoseb actively picked the wrong choice in going to work in Nagasaki, and burdened his accommodating family for it.

Noah's tale is known even by non-Christians: he was warned by God of an impending world-cleansing flood, and so he built an ark to carry his family and a pair of every animal species, repopulating the Earth. Noa in Pachinko does not fare as well in weathering the storm. Even when he tries to escape from his past and his blood, it eventually catches up to him, leading him to commit suicide and leaving his wife and children alone. 

Moses is also a well-known Biblical figure. Born a Hebrew but raised as Egyptian royalty, Moses learns of his bloodline and leaves on a nomadic journey, eventually being commanded by God to free the Hebrews from their Egyptian captors, and finally bringing them to Canaan, the land of milk and honey. Of course, because Moses hit a rock to draw water instead of tapping it one time, he was not allowed to enter into Canaan despite leading his people to it. Moses also etched the Ten Commandments unto rock twice, and is regarded as one of the most pious individuals in the Bible. Contrary to this is Mozasu, who has no such wish to leave the land of his oppressors; his income is based in pachinko, which he cannot simply uproot and move to America, much to the dismay of his wife Yumi. Mozasu does not lead anyone out of Japan, being that even his son, Solomon, is determined to take up his father's work in Japan at the end of the novel. This completely goes against the God-given order Moses received and carried out to free his people.

Finally, we have Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, known for being an incredibly wise ruler. This was shown when God asked Solomon what he wished for, and Solomon asked only for wisdom--a wish that was granted. In Pachinko, Solomon doesn't necessarily exude any such wisdom. Even disregarding his questionable actions, Solomon just seems to lack a savviness or general awareness, which was indicated through his conversations with his boss.

It's simply odd that Lee would choose to name her characters after Biblical figures only to have all of them seem to be the exact opposite of their Biblical counterparts, particularly with regards to the outcomes of their respective interactions with God.

Now, I would like to make the argument that Hansu's role in Pachinko is meant to be a stand-in for God. Now, I came across this line of reasoning by wondering why a character with such a pivotal role in the story was neutered off twice. For all that Hansu puppeteers every action and whim of Sunja's family, after the realization that Hansu had been doing all this puppeteering, he just shows up every once in a while with very little presence. Through Sunja's monologue at the end of the story, we are made aware that Hansu is alive, but no information is known about his actions or influences.

So I reconsidered Hansu's actual role in the story. He was a guiding force that seemed to dictate every action that Sunja and her family took, but eventually, his influence waned and it became apparent that he was just a man, succumbing to prostate cancer. The reason that I believe that Hansu is an allusion to God is, again, due to his omniscient, all-controlling persona that is built up after Sunja meets him again in the farm. As time passes, Hansu's "power" becomes less abstract, and much more human, being that he is unable to locate Noa. 

Overall, I do believe that the two combine to make an argument against organized religion. That being said, I do not think that Lee's intent was to make that argument in a general sense. It is my belief that Lee is arguing that, going back to the primary takeaway, is that religion will not help you in a pinch. Religion will do nothing for you outside of whatever you attribute to it, and that's okay. Lee does not argue against the concept of religion, nor does she contest its practice; Isak is not downplayed for his piety, but neither is Noa chided for his doubts. It is simply a reinforcement of the primary theme, in that a higher power will not deliver anyone from difficulties.

On the Topic of Yumi, Akiko, and Greater Implications...

I'm not entirely sure how the quotes relate to any relationship between Korea and Japan. In the case of the first quote by Yumi, her statement indicates that she holds no love for Korea due to the stigma the race has held throughout her life, and while she loves Japan, Japan and its populace does not reciprocate her appreciation. This fits in line with what we know of Yumi as a character, as her Korean mother was a gambler who abandoned her and her sister. As Yumi had lived in Japan for either the majority of or all her life, her abusive mother coupled with the general racism towards Koreans at the time would lead her to dislike Korea extensively. On the other hand, Japan had given Yumi the opportunity to provide for herself, and so although Japan would bare its fangs against her on account of her race, she would still prefer it over Korea as a consequence of the opportunities it afforded her. Of course, this does not indicate a greater relationship between the two nations, as it indicates the worldview of an individual under specific circumstances that, although not rare, are not indicative of the whole picture.

In the case of the quote for Akiko, her character is, again, what seeps through, with no greater reflection of the relationship between Japan and Korea being showcased. The quote is not from Akiko, but from Noa immediately after their falling out, as he realizes that she does not love him, but loves his race in order to take a moral high ground against other Japanese. This indicates in how Akiko, in her desire to go against the grain, is unable to understand the feelings of someone she supposedly cares for, leading to a bitter and swift breakup. Now, the only possible venue for this situation to connect to the relationship between Korea and Japan is that because Akiko is going against the grain by loving Koreans, the norm was to loathe them instead, which is something that we already knew.

Of course, the two siblings' relationships do relate to their mother's relationship with Hansu, being an odd collage of the two. A focal point in the relationship between Mozasu and Yumi's relationship is how Mozasu is uncompromising when it comes to the family staying in Japan; following Yumi's death, Mozasu is crippled with regret about not taking Yumi to California. Much in the same way, Hansu never really considers what Sunja wants, only what he believes that Sunja needs. This is apparent from when he tells Sunja to move to the countryside to work on a farm he vouches for, even though he is aware that Yoseb will not comply, and also when he wanted Sunja to be his lover in Korea.

Unlike Sunja and Hansu, however, Yumi was understanding of Mozasu's stalwart desire to stay in Japan, as his income was rooted in Japan after a long duration of hard work. Sunja does not understand many of Hansu's headstrong actions, which is completely understandable, as nearly all of Hansu's actions are done in his own self-interests.

Akiko and Noa's relationship was superficial, and fell apart because Noa felt/realized that Akiko wanted him as a trophy rather than an individual. This realization is similar to the one Sunja had about Hansu, being that she felt used exclusively for lovemaking as opposed to lifelong commitment. Although, as omniscient readers, we are aware that Hansu did feel some sort of love for Sunja, while we are not certain as to whether or not the twisted affection that Akiko held for Noa was actually love.

Now, the statements about Yumi and Akiko do reflect their personal emotions concerning colonialism. As stated earlier, Yumi saw colonialism as a positive good, as she was given opportunities in Japanese culture that her abusive Korean mother could never give her. On the other hand, Akiko adored Koreans much in the same way that people can enjoy watching endangered animals in zoos. She wanted to go against the societal grain, using Noa's status as a Korean to take a stance of moral superiority over her fellow, xenophobic Japanese citizens. Akiko viewed colonialism as an evil, but the view was rooted in an odd, self-persecution mindset.