Moga questions

[Melek Ortabasi]

Hi Michael,

I'm afraid it's not earlier (from 1931), but 
there is "Madamu to ny?b?," dir. Heinosuke Gosh?. 
There, the moga-like "Madame" from next door (who 
is contrasted with the "ny?b?," the protagonist's 
traditional, kimono-clad wife) acts as an 
inspiration to the protagonist, who has writer's 
block. After hanging out next door and listening 
to the madame sing jazz, he is suddenly compelled 
to write, and successfully meets his deadline. 
There's also Mizoguchi's Naniwa erejii (1936), 
which is distinctly sympathetic toward its moga 
protagonist.

I don't know about earlier moga in film, but 
there is earlier literature of many, many kinds. 
I imagine you have already looked at Miriam 
Silverberg's seminal essay, "The Modern Girl as 
Militant"? There's also Jan Bardsley's new 
anthology of translated writings by the 
Bluestockings, those moga par excellence.

HTH
Melek

>Shimizu's "Fue no shiratama" is the first surviving
>example I know of a film centered around the clash
>between an old-fashioned young woman and a moga.
>Already at this stage, the moga is shown as being not
>only modern but also a bit depraved. Did anyone make a
>film involving this issue at an earlier time? (and, if
>so, does such film still exist). 
>
>Also -- does anyone know of any films that portray a
>moga in a basicallypositive fashion?
>
>Michael Kerpan
>Boston, MA


-- 
Melek Ortabasi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Comparative Literature
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY