Tuesday, December 31, 2024

"The Book That Inspired John Lennon to Create 'Imagine'"

Check out Takumi’s NEW English youtube channel🎵

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https://www.youtube.com/@takuway


Yesterday I wrote about Yoko Ono's "Grapefruit". 

While casually searching for information on this topic, I came across this book "acorns".

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The opening of singer Cyndi Lauper's autobiography begins like this:

"I left home at 17. I took a toothbrush, a change of underwear, an apple and a book called Grapefruit by Yoko Ono. Grapefruit became a window fr me to see life through the lens of art." 

Today is the final day of the year.

Buy a cute notebook.
Write down your dreams.
List the things you'd quit if you could.

Write about someone you dislike.
Write about someone you admire.

Dream about the year ahead.
And organize the past.

Inspired, I decided to give it a try myself.

 

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In Grapefruit, you’ll often come across words that evoke memories of childhood games and the wild imaginings of youth, leaving you struck with a sense of wonder.

✳︎✳︎✳︎

Change your name by a certain deadline.
By your age.
By the year.
By the day.
By the moment.
By the color of your clothes.

✳︎✳︎✳︎

Stand still.
In the light of the setting sun.
Until you become transparent.
Or until you drift into sleep.

✳︎✳︎✳︎

Make way.
For the wind.

✳︎✳︎✳︎


✳︎✳︎✳︎ These instructions are part of the "Ties" category within Donguri (Acorns).✳︎✳︎✳︎

Before the evening, before the sun sets,
Go as far from your home as you can,
But not so far that you can’t see it anymore.
Take some time to gaze at your home.
Think about everything that has happened there.
Think about the distance you’ve walked within those walls.
One day, you might move away.
One day, you might pass away there.

Tonight, be kind to yourself.
a) Buy yourself something.
b) Treat yourself to a special meal.
c) Look in the mirror and smile at yourself.

✳︎✳︎✳︎

 

 

 



 

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Yoko Ono is celebrated for her multifaceted contributions to art, music, and peace activism. Among her works, Grapefruit and Acorn stand out as iconic representations of her vision and philosophy.


Grapefruit: A Pioneering Conceptual Art Book

  • Conceptual Art: Published in 1964, Grapefruit is Yoko Ono's groundbreaking conceptual art book. It consists of concise, intuitive instructions designed to inspire actions and reflections in daily life. For instance, it includes directives such as “Climb a mountain and scream at the top” or “Look in the mirror and laugh at yourself,” encouraging readers to see the world through new perspectives.
  • Interactive ArtGrapefruit is more than a book—it is an interactive art piece. Readers are invited to engage with its instructions, transforming the act of reading into a participatory experience that alters their perception and sensations.

Acorn: A Symbol of Peace and Growth

  • Peace Movement: Initiated in 1968 as part of Ono’s peace activism, Acorn involves planting small stones (symbolic acorns) in various locations worldwide. These stones bear engraved messages of peace and are accompanied by markers that inspire reflection on harmony and unity.
  • Symbolism: The acorn represents potential—a small seed that can grow into a mighty tree, symbolizing the hope for peace and the belief in a brighter future.
  • Community Participation: The project encourages collective involvement, fostering connections between individuals and communities while raising awareness of peace and mutual understanding.

Common Themes: Grapefruit and Acorn

  • Participatory Art: Both works exemplify Ono's commitment to participatory art, where meaning deepens as audiences actively engage with her ideas.
  • Social Messages: While Grapefruit focuses on individual transformation and self-awareness, Acorn carries a broader call to action for global peace and unity.

Through these works, Yoko Ono redefines the boundaries of art, offering audiences new ways to experience, reflect, and engage with the world around them.


 

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Yoko Ono's Grapefruit and Acorn are celebrated as profound reflections of her unique artistic vision and deeply rooted messages. Below is an exploration of the brilliance behind these works.


Grapefruit

A Pioneer of Conceptual Art

Originally published in 1964 as a limited edition in Tokyo, Grapefruit is regarded as a pioneering work in conceptual art. Comprising poetic instructions, the book invites readers to unleash their imagination and discover art within everyday life. This approach embodies Ono’s philosophy of blurring the lines between art and daily existence [1][4].

Influence on John Lennon

Grapefruit profoundly influenced John Lennon, inspiring him to create his iconic song “Imagine.” Lennon himself acknowledged the book’s impact in interviews, underscoring its significance in shaping his artistry and message of peace [1][4].

Cultural Significance

The title Grapefruit symbolizes Ono’s identity as a bridge between cultures, much like the fruit, which is a hybrid of a lemon and an orange. This metaphor reflects her experiences growing up at the crossroads of Asian and Western cultures, enriching the work with layers of cultural depth [1].

Acorn

A Wish for Peace

Acorn is a poetry collection released by Yoko Ono when she was 82 years old, and it is particularly well-known for its peace initiative involving acorns. The "Planting Acorn Event," held in 1968 in the garden of Coventry Cathedral in the UK, embodied Ono's wish for mutual understanding between Eastern and Western people, aiming for global peace [1][5].

Warm and Gentle Words

The language of Acorn is softer and more compassionate compared to Grapefruit. The work contains expressions of tenderness for life, sharp sensibilities, and rich emotions, offering readers a sense of warmth and care [2][3].

The Cycle of Life

Acorn reflects the life cycle of the acorn—from sprouting to growing into a tree, withering, and then sprouting again. This cycle symbolizes the eternal flow of life, prompting readers to deeply reflect on the impermanence of existence and the interconnectedness of all life forms [1][5].


Common Themes

Engagement and Thought Provocation

Both works invite audience participation, urging them to reflect and complete the artwork themselves. In particular, Grapefruit includes instructions designed to spark the imagination, allowing readers to become part of the creative process [1][4].

Peace and Love

A strong undercurrent of peace and love runs through Ono’s work. The peace movement in Acorn and the wish for peace through imagination in Grapefruit form the heart of her artistic philosophy [1][5].

These qualities highlight why Grapefruit and Acorn are vital works that express Yoko Ono's unique artistic vision and profound messages.

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3 photos I received from Sacchan

 

 

 

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Task manager

Thank you!

 

Discussions about an upcoming live!

 

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Let the outside air into your room.

And, ask the wind to bring you your New Year’s fortune.

 

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Popular in the US?

75 HARD

 

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It seems like the times are shifting from healing to a more serious, intense direction?!

 

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In the news?!

 

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The dark world

 

 

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All movie industry professionals are joining!!!

 

Charlize Theron, James Franco, Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, Elisabeth Shue, Djimon Hounsou, Terrence Howard, Catherine Keener, Jared Leto

Ivana's students are listed among the winners of prestigious awards such as the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Tony Awards, and many other international film, television, and theater accolades. 

First Saturday of March, 

Ivana Chubbuck is coming! 

 

For the Players 

 

https://resast.jp/events/997809

 

For Active Auditors (Observers):

 

https://inthevortex.co.jp/tokyoaudit2025/

 

Message from Ivana♪

 

https://youtu.be/Bd6N6tmbsCI?si=_XxFDQ-8OixNInsL

 

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HATENALABO Ticking Bug

 

 

 

Link to Takumi Yamazaki’s 

ENGLISH Book “SHIFT”

https://amzn.to/2DYcFkG