Japan and Cult

[Nathen Clerici]

Hello and thanks for writing.

Good call-- Dr. Mathijs' writing on cult has certainly influenced my angle on this project, and although we are in different departments, I very much enjoy having him nearby!  I will say hello from you when I see him (probably in March thanks to the long break the Olympics is causing here in Vancouver).

I agree that many fanzines and lists of cult movies include Japanese films that are SF and horror, but a quick look through various books on cult film (Danny Peary, Soren McCarthy, Alan Havis, French and French, etc.) include Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Tampopo.

Thanks for the fanzine suggestions,
Nathen

 

On 2010-02-15, at 2:50 PM, =%iso-8859-1?Q?G=E9rard_Kraus?= wrote:

> Hi Nathen,
>  
> This project smells of Dr. Mathijs, say hi from me.
>  
> There is definite proof for Asian Cinema being targeted at the cult market. Fanzines like Asian Cult Cinema in the US and UK distributors should prove good starting points.
> Importantly, the films that are treated this way tend to already bear the distinctively cult genre marks  (predominantly SF & Horror)
>  
> Best wishes,
> Gérard Kraus
>  
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Nathen Clerici
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 11:03 PM
> Subject: Japan and Cult
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> My name is Nathen Clerici, and this is my first post.  I am really enjoying all the threads on this list.  
> 
> I am starting a research project that will examine how Japanese film travels and the channels by which it comes to be seen outside Japan.  I want to frame the problem by looking at how different forms of distribution and exhibition (e.g. art house cinema, university courses, Internet fan sites, etc.) affect how a particular movie is received.  Within this framework, I am interested in the idea of cult.  It seems that Japanese cinema is often classified as cult cinema,    but I am not sure that it could be received any other way.  Even if we consider a particular Japanese film to be highbrow art, it is most likely still confined to a small-but-adoring audience of cinephiles-- or Japanophiles.  Perhaps J-Horror is an exception?
> 
> I am curious, KineJapaners, do you think Japanese films seen outside Japan are cult cinema? 
> 
> I realize the cultural context changes, but I also think that the modes of viewing (e.g. web-based, fan subs, art house) exert a strong influence.  In addition, this is most likely not a question just for Japanese film, but for all film that crosses national/linguistic borders.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Nathen Clerici
> University of British Columbia
> PhD Program
> Asian Studies