Lost In Translation

In watching Sophia Coppola’s film Lost In Translation, many conjectures and theories can be extracted from it in order to prove the presence of globalization in it. Though there are indeed many scenes that may prove the said aforementioned globalization, there is truly one scene that stands out to me in particular. The scene in which Americans Charlotte and Bob go out and about on the town with Charlotte’s Japanese friends and end up singing karaoke is an excellent example of applying globalization.

            The first song sung in the film is the Sex Pistols’ “God Save The Queen”, a song by a British band. The next is sung by Bob, who chooses Elvis Costello’s “Peace, Love, & Understanding), The Pretenders’ “I’m Special”, and finally the karaoke scene is rounded out with Roxy Music’s “More Than This”. All three songs featured in the karaoke scene are from English rock artists - and the Japanese natives seem to know them well. The excitement and enthusiasm for rock groups not of their native tongue is nearly non-existent in The United States. Certainly, there are exceptions, but if there is the expression of excitement, it’s an anomaly – a Devotchka concert generating buzz is still widely seen as a niche taste.

            Furthermore, when the native Japanese gentleman is singing “God Save The Queen”, he is imitating singer Johnny Rotten – thrashing about and sneering all the while. Not only are these songs popular in Japan, but the hard footage has been seen to the extent that one could impersonate a singer and others would know who you were aping. Bob indeed does the same, channeling an Elvis Costello as best he can, but it’s likely he knows the Paddington native well, and perhaps has even seen him in concert, if not regularly in the press.

            Another point can be made within the karaoke machine itself. The images played behind the words are Anglicized video clips and pictures - an Aryan looking couple picnicking on the beach or gallivanting in their sports car. Perhaps this is truly what some Japanese think of Westerners – rocking and rolling in their spare time and carefree as all Hell.

            Though the scene overall is short, it nonetheless does a more than great job serving as a means of conveying globalization. It is without doubt a reason that Sophia Coppola won an academy award for best screenplay (of course, it doesn’t hurt if your father is Francis For Coppola.)

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