Los Angeles: Tezuka's "Metropolis" and J Pop Culture Panel, Sept 26

[yuko itatsu]

Hello Kinejapaners,
If you are in Los Angeles this weekend, here is information on a free
screening of Tezuka Osamu's "Metropolis," and a panel discussion on J pop
culture.
Best,
Yuko Itatsu
itatsu at usc.edu
--------------------------------------------
Panel Discussion on Japanese Pop Culture
Sunday, September 26, 2004, 3:00 - 7:30 p.m.

at Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028

Admission: free

Overview:
The Academy Award garnered by Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" last year
seemed to signal that Japanese animation had gained full acceptance in
America, and even that "Japanese pop culture" is becoming part and parcel
of American culture in the early 21st century.

The theme of this panel is the current state and future potential of
Japanese pop culture in the U.S.  The goal is to look at Japanese pop
culture on the whole, to increase awareness of its current momentum and
appreciation of its potential influence on America.

Program:
3:00 p.m. Free Film Screening ('METROPOLIS' of Osamu Tezuka)
5:00 p.m. Panel Discussion
6:30 p.m. Reception

Panel discussions:

Part 1 (40 minutes): "What is happening now under the name of Japanese pop
culture?"

A specialist from each of four areas (anime, pop music, Japan-related
cinema) is to speak 5-10 minutes each on the latest
developments in each field, as well as the growing markets, of each field.
Then the moderator is to outline the big picture of the Japanese pop culture
phenomenon.

Part 2 (50 minutes): "How should we see this phenomenon?"

Panelists are to represent different aspects of Japanese pop culture. For
example, a cinematographer may talk about the growing practice of remaking
Japanese movies.  A writer may cover the rise of Japanese pop culture as a
part of the Asian culture boom.  A scholar may compare the influence of
today's Japanese pop culture with that of Japanese traditional culture on
the West over time.  A newspaper editor may give a journalist's
perspective.

Then plan leaves room for free discussion among panelists, followed by the
moderator's summary.

Participants
Moderator: Dennis Bartok / American Cinematheque, Programming Manager

Panel 1
Anime: Rhona Medina / Tokyo Pop, Marketing Department
Cinema: Chris D. / American Cinematheque, Film Programmer, Director
Pop Music: Yaz Noya / Tofu Records

Panel 2
Cinema: Roy Lee / film producer
Pop Culture: Eric Nakamura / Giant Robot, Co-Editor
Journalist: Teresa Watanabe / Los Angeles Times
Academia: Dr. Ronald Morse / Tokyo Foundation Professor of Japan Studies,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas