Fwd: CFP: Imagining Japan (Australia, Melbourne, 4-5 March 2005)

[Aaron Gerow]

Begin forwarded message:
> Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 13:12:05 +1000
> From: Craig Norris <Craig.Norris at arts.monash.edu.au>
> Subject: CFP: Imagining Japan (Australia, Melbourne, 4-5 March 2005)
>
>
> CALL FOR PAPERS
>
> Imagining Japan: A symposium
> March 4-5, 2005
> Japanese Studies Centre
> Monash University
> Victoria, AUSTRALIA
>
> The diffusion of Japanese popular culture around the world (such as
> Astro Boy and PokeMon) and within certain regions (such as the
> enthusiasm for Japanese TV dramas and music in East Asia) has lead to
> increased interest in the images, imaginary, and imagining of
> contemporary Japan. It is thus timely to discuss and analyse the
> images and imagining that are emerging out of Japan?s popular culture.
> These phenomena are the focus of a two-day symposium which will be
> held in collaboration with Osaka University's Centre Of Excellence's
> 21st century program. Persons interested in Japanese popular culture
> are invited to present papers. Initially the symposium participants
> will consider the following three themes:
>
> (1) The process by which Japanese popular culture is disseminated
> around the world
> Possible topics:
> *exporting franchises (eg., convenience stores, print media)
> *marketing and advertising strategies
> *retail and distribution networks
> 	
> (2) The consumption of Japanese popular culture within Japan and abroad
> Possible topics:
> *the global consumption of 'Japan'
> *the reception of popular culture (eg., manga, anime, TV, film,
> magazines)
> *the imagining of readers/viewers about Japan
> *cultural change and ethnic identity
> *media-politics
> *multi-cultural society
> *ethnic communities
>
> (3) The production of Japanese popular culture within Japan and abroad
> Possible topics:
> *content production
> *genres
> *styles
> *the background & training of artists/authors
> *translation issues
>
> The above are tentative panels based on proposals submitted to date.
> However the symposium is open for presentations and discussions on a
> range of other issues. Without being prescriptive, these issues
> include the following:
>
> Discrimination and violence in Japanese popular culture
> Possible topics:
> *yaoi/slash fiction
> *homophobia
> *drag
> *gender disturbance
> *counter culture
>
> Manga research on difference and discrimination
> Possible topics:
> *manga-literacy
> *changing representations of race and culture
> *historical records/stories
>
> Hurdles in cultural research and other methodologies in researching
> Japanese popular culture
> Possible topics:
> *objectivity vs. subjectivity
> *ethics and participants/sources
> *speed of information/speed of research
> *copyright
> *teaching/performing visual argumentation, visual rhetoric and visual
> literacy
>
> Persons wishing more information should contact Dr Craig Norris by
> email at Craig.Norris at arts.monash.edu.au. Those wanting to make a
> presentation are asked to submit a 250 word proposals by e-mail by
> February 4, 2005 to the Japanese Studies Centre, email:
> japanese.studies.centre at arts.monash.edu.au
>
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