corr: asking your inputs about the Bunkacho project, the National Center for Media Arts
sushil khattri
sushil_khattri at yahoo.com
Wed Jun 17 15:08:15 EDT 2009
dont send me email
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, sushil khattri <sushil_khattri at yahoo.com> wrote:
> From: sushil khattri <sushil_khattri at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: corr: asking your inputs about the Bunkacho project, the National Center for Media Arts
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 3:02 PM
>
> DON"T send me any more email.
> i am so tired of getting this
>
> --- On Tue, 6/16/09, hakutaku at kansaigaidai.ac.jp
> <hakutaku at kansaigaidai.ac.jp>
> wrote:
>
> > From: hakutaku at kansaigaidai.ac.jp
> <hakutaku at kansaigaidai.ac.jp>
> > Subject: Re: corr: asking your inputs about the
> Bunkacho project, the National Center for Media Arts
> > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 7:02 PM
> >
> > It has been interesting to follow the many insightful
> > suggestions by Aaron and others concerning the
> possibility
> > of this new government project.
> >
> > As someone who teaches both anime and manga ( among
> other
> > areas), I wanted to say a few things about the
> importance of
> > including manga. Manga does indeed have quite a
> history in
> > Japan, yet so do cinema and animation. One key role of
> manga
> > today is the way it serves as a base for developments
> in so
> > many areas, including anime, games, and some types of
> live
> > action cinema. To study Nausicaa, Akira, or Tezuka's
> > animation (to name only a few of the most
> internationally
> > popular) animations without deep study of their
> related
> > manga is to form a very incomplete understanding of
> their
> > production and meaning. To deeply study many of these
> areas
> > of necessity involves manga, so to exclude the
> collection,
> > preservation, exhibition, and most especially
> scholarly
> > analysis of manga from such a center would be
> regrettable.
> > As I live in Kyoto, I regularly visit the Manga
> museum
> > there, however, it is far from an ideal basis for a
> > institution to study manga. The collection and Museum
> > activities are largely focused on teenage and younger
> manga
> > and audiences. They do invite noted manga creators to
> > lecture but most of these lectures are fan based and
> > directed rather than having scholarly content. There
> have
> > been a few scholarly symposia and a few good (but
> extremely
> > small and without catalogs) exhibitions of archival
> > materials in their minimal display space, yet it is
> hard to
> > imagine without a major change of direction that this
> Museum
> > could develop or meaningfully support deep research,
> major
> > exhibitions, and so on. Also, its location in Kyoto
> makes it
> > hard to access for the academic and population
> centered in
> > Tokyo and the Kanto area.
> >
> > Given the history of such things, it is likely that
> > something will be created in Tokyo that won't be what
> we
> > would like to see and it will become necessary to see
> how
> > whatever appears can then be made more useful.
> Nonetheless,
> > this online discussion of what might be valuable seems
> like
> > a significant opportunity to consider the importance
> of
> > interdisciplinary work in contemporary media in Japan.
> I
> > have often been frustrated by seeing a division made
> between
> > the study of manga and anime among Japanese scholars
> despite
> > the rewards of simultaneous consideration of these
> > integrally interrelated forms. I hope others might
> share
> > online some thoughts about these topics.
> >
> > Paul Berry
> > Professor
> > Kansai Gaidai University
> > Osaka
> >
> > >I have received quite a few messages on and off
> list.
> > Thank you so
> > >much! One thing that has become clear is that the
> ideas
> > I received
> > >are almost completely absent on Japanese websites
> and
> > blogs, perhaps
> > >all 704,000 sleds I hit on google. This is also
> the
> > case in the June
> > >4 symposium in which the four brains of the
> center
> > plan--Hamano
> > >Yasuki (prof. at Tokyo U.), Satonaka Machiko
> > (cartoonist), Tosa
> > >Nobumichi (artist), and Moriyama Tomoe
> > (curator)--expressed their
> > >opinions (http://ameblo.jp/akihiko/entry-10274113451.html).
> > So it
> > >seems very significant to address researchers'
> > viewpoints and
> > >demands, though I think I should be careful
> about
> > this politically
> > >sensitive issue. I might post later. Many thanks
> > again!
> > >
> > >Hideaki Fujiki
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >On 2009/06/12, at 22:37, Ariane Beldi wrote:
> > >
> > >> Dear all,
> > >>
> > >> This message is only superficially related to
> this
> > fascinating
> > >> discussion,
> > >> but since you are talking about early
> Japanese
> > animation, I can't
> > >> help but
> > >> signal the forthcoming retrospective on 60
> years
> > of animes at the next
> > >> Locarno International Film Festival
> > >> (http://www.pardo.ch/jahia/Jahia/home/lang/en) in
> > Switzerland. Here
> > >> is the
> > >> Website with the description of this part of
> the
> > festival and an
> > >> upcoming
> > >> detailed program: http://www.mangaimpact.ch/. These events are
> > being
> > >> organized in cooperation with the National
> Museum
> > of Cinema of Torino,
> > >> Italy. If I'm not wrong, the museum will also
> be
> > holding a special
> > >> exhibit
> > >> on Japanese animation until the end of this
> year.
> > >>
> > >> Since I live in Switzerland (though not in
> Ticino,
> > the Italian-
> > >> speaking area
> > >> where the Festival takes place) and plan to
> attend
> > it at least for
> > >> a few
> > >> days, if anyone is interested and would like
> some
> > information about
> > >> travel
> > >> and accomodation arrangement, I'll gladly try
> my
> > best to help you.
> > >>
> > >> I apologize that one of my only contributions
> to
> > this mailing list
> > >> is not
> > >> directly linked to the topic and hope you
> will not
> > mind too much.
> > >> However,
> > >> reading your discussion reminded me of an
> article
> > about this coming
> > >> retrospective, which said that most of the
> animes
> > that will be
> > >> presented
> > >> come from Western collections. Apparently, it
> is
> > only recently that
> > >> Japanese
> > >> institutions have decided to keep archives
> of
> > these productions.
> > >>
> > >> Again, I'm sorry for intervening here with
> this
> > announcement only
> > >> slightly
> > >> related to the topic of your discussion.
> > >>
> > >> Best,
> > >>
> > >> Ariane Beldi
> > >>
> > >> Ph.D. Candidate
> > >> Doctoral School in Media & Communication
> > Studies
> > >> University of Geneva, Switzerland
> > >> http://www.unige.ch/ses/socio/communication/bienvenue.html
> > >>
> >
> _______________________________________________________
> > >> beldi9 at etu.unige.ch
> > >> http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=591868073
> > >> http://www.linkedin.com/in/arianebeldi
> > >> http://arianebeldi.wordpress.com
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> -----Message d'origine-----
> > >> De : owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > >> [mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]
> > De la part de Eija
> > >> Niskanen
> > >> Envoyé : vendredi, 12. juin 2009 02:17
> > >> À : KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > >> Objet : Re: corr: asking your inputs about
> the
> > Bunkacho project, the
> > >> National Center for Media Arts
> > >>
> > >> I would add to Aaron's great list:
> > >>
> > >> The center should have a preservation and
> > restoration program for
> > >> Japanese
> > >> early animation, and should actively collect
> any
> > historical documents
> > >> related to early animation.
> > >>
> > >> It would really be a waste of money to build
> > another manga museum,
> > >> as Kyoto
> > >> already has a great one, so part of the
> funds
> > should rather go to
> > >> supporting
> > >> Kyoto Manga Musuem and arranging mutual
> > cooperation between the
> > >> Center and
> > >> Kyoto Manga Museum. Same goes to NFC.
> > >>
> > >> Eija
> > >>
> > >> 2009/6/12 Sarah Teasley <sarah.teasley at rca.ac.uk>:
> > >>> In response to Aaron's reply, hear hear!
> > >>>
> > >>> Following on Aaron's points 6) and 8), I
> would
> > adapt the phrasing of
> > >>> his 8) and add that the point, in the
> end, is
> > how cool Japan is
> > >>> towards its own media history, and how
> > confident Japan is that
> > >>> animators, game designers, media
> artists,
> > other 'geijutsuka' and
> > >>> 'kurieta-' and the companies that they
> run
> > and/or that employ them
> > >>> will continue to produce work with
> skill,
> > originality and verve,
> > >>> whether or not the Bunkacho builds a
> generator
> > for them.
> > >>>
> > >>> ________________________________
> > >>>
> > >>> Sarah Teasley / sarah.teasley at rca.ac.uk
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> On 11 Jun 2009, at 22:19, Aaron Gerow
> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> I've
> > been watching the news on this and have had my
> > >>> worries too.
> > >>> There's a lot of politics going on, but
> > building one more box with no
> > >>> plan is not going to help much. I also
> fear
> > the usual rush for "new
> > >>> media" which forgets the entire history
> of
> > cinema behind it.
> > >>>
> > >>> Quickly,
> > here are some things I would stress:
> > >>>
> > >>> 1) Do
> > not build anything until a clear plan has been made
> for
> > >>> how the facility should be used. This
> plan
> > should be made not by
> > >>> government bureaucrats, but by
> researchers,
> > fans, and industry
> > >>> figures
> > >>> in equal numbers. Personally, I think it
> is
> > important that the center
> > >>> should be a research and exhibition
> center
> > first (the NFC's
> > >>> problem is
> > >>> that it is a preservation facility
> first,
> > leaving research as an
> > >>> after
> > >> thought).
> > >>>
> > >>> 2)
> > Crucial is defining its place amongst the various
> > >>> media. If
> > >>> it does anime, clearly it does film,
> since
> > much of anime was
> > >>> produced on
> > >> film.
> > >>> If it does include non-film media, will
> it
> > include TV? How is manga
> > >>> "new media"? What of computer games? How
> are
> > all these to relate to
> > >>> existing archives like the NFC or the
> Kyoto
> > Manga Museum or NHK?
> > >>> Personally, I think mixing anime, manga
> and
> > anything "cool" is a
> > >>> problem: it is stretching too far, is
> > confusing (it has no principal
> > >>> other than some vague pop culture or
> > market-based definition), and
> > >>> steps on many toes. I would drop manga
> and
> > focus on anime, TV,
> > >>> computer games, and media art, though of
> > course allowing for research
> > >>> and exhibitions exploring connections
> with
> > other media like film.
> > >>>
> > >>> 3) As a
> > research center, it should have not only a library
> > >>> and
> > >>> viewing facilities, but space for
> conferences
> > and workshops. Viewing
> > >>> should be easy and inexpensive for
> individual
> > researchers. The center
> > >>> should have a publication arm that
> produces
> > academic journals,
> > >>> exhibition catalogs, and full-length
> > monographs. The center should
> > >>> both employ a full staff of
> researchers--who
> > have time for research
> > >>> and the freedom to be inventive in
> research
> > and programming--and have
> > >>> fellowships for one-year research
> projects on
> > site. A research center
> > >>> cannot succeed without connections to
> > academia, so the Bunkacho must
> > >>> cooperate with the Monkasho to create
> academic
> > programs at nearby
> > >> universities to further media research.
> > >>>
> > >>> 4) The
> > Bunkacho must coordinate with industry to collect not
> > >>> only important end products, but also
> > materials related to
> > >>> production,
> > >>> including internal company documents. NHK
> and
> > the other TV networks
> > >>> have been terrible at making available
> their
> > full catalogs: the law
> > >>> should require them to deposit all that
> in the
> > center for free,
> > >>> unrestricted viewing. The Bunkacho
> must
> > also work with companies to
> > >>> have them waive copyright for use of
> stills,
> > etc. of any publication
> > >>> produced by the center, or for any
> materials
> > that a scholar uses from
> > >>> the center in class or in publications.
> The
> > center should be thought
> > >>> of as not following industry, but leading
> it
> > in terms of its
> > >>> cultural, not
> > >> economic aspects.
> > >>>
> > >>> 5) As an
> > exhibition site, the center should not only hold
> > >>> regular series, but also regular
> festivals and
> > lecture series for the
> > >>> general public. It thus needs various
> size
> > halls for such
> > >>> exhibitions,
> > >>> some of which can be rented for scholarly
> or
> > community media events.
> > >>>
> > >>> 6) The
> > center should not just be thought of as an
> > >>> international promotion site for the
> > industry's products, but an
> > >>> independent cite for critical research
> and
> > discussion. It can work in
> > >>> concert with industry, but its needs
> should
> > trump that of
> > >>> industry. It
> > >>> should thus focus primarily not on
> introducing
> > Japan's new products,
> > >>> but on critically examining their
> history,
> > culture, ideology, etc.
> > >>> Only such an institution will get the
> respect
> > of foreign researchers.
> > >>> To further the international aims of the
> > center, it should also
> > >>> sponsor international fellowships,
> > translations of critical works,
> > >>> and
> > >> subtitling of historical media works.
> > >>>
> > >>> 7) The
> > center must be fully budgeted for at least a decade
> > >>> after it opens, which means lots of money
> for
> > staff, publications,
> > >>> and
> > >>> events. That is the problem with
> hakomono
> > gyosei: fund what's good
> > >>> for
> > >>> your construction company buddies, but
> not
> > what will actually fill
> > >>> the
> > >>> box. If they want to avoid the impression
> that
> > this is just Aso's pet
> > >>> project, this center should not be built
> until
> > other related
> > >>> institutions like the NFC are reformed
> and
> > fully funded.
> > >>>
> > >>> 8) The
> > point, in the end, is not to show cool Japan, but to
> > >>> show how cool Japan is towards its own
> media
> > history.
> > >>>
> > >>> A bit
> > quickly written (I probably forgot a lot) and
> probably
> > >>> totally unrealizable, but I hope this
> helps.
> > Thanks for the chance to
> > >> dream a bit.
> > >>>
> > >>> Aaron
> > Gerow
> > >>>
> > Assistant Professor
> > >>> Film
> > Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
> > >>> Yale
> > University
> > >>> 53 Wall
> > Street, Room 316
> > >>> PO Box
> > 208363
> > >>> New
> > Haven, CT 06520-8363
> > >>> USA
> > >>> Phone:
> > 1-203-432-7082
> > >>> Fax:
> > 1-203-432-6764
> > >>> e-mail:
> > aaron.gerow at yale.edu
> > >>> site:
> > www.aarongerow.com
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Eija Niskanen
> > >> c/o Hirasawa
> > >> Koenji-kita 4-2-10
> > >> Suginami-ku
> > >> Tokyo 166-0002
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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