Akira Kurosawa’s Uses of Nature

Thesis: Nature is the ever present narrative device in a Akira Kurosawa film. What I will demonstrate: -the narrative and cinematic techniques that Kurosawa uses to depict this relationship between character and nature, as well as this subsequent and gradual unveiling of the message; and -what this equation (character + nature = message) reflects regarding Kurosawa’s philosophy/outlook about how people can arrive at greater insights about their condition – look at the role of “conveying emotion” as a method of commenting on the theme/message (either by implicitly stating that theme/message, or by shaping the tone through which that theme/message is conveyed). -The inevitable/inescapable quality of nature that you refer to is a good one, and in writing about this, again look at how Kurosawa uses this quality to comment on the human condition. -What is the usefulness of pitting human qualities of mortality/transience — as well as strength/perseverance — in relation to this aspect of nature?