Title: The internationalization of Japanese culture? - the case of animeSubmitted by: Freda Freiberg, Associate, School of Literary, Visual and Cultural Studies, Monash University, AustraliaThe popularity of Japanese sci-fi animation in the West has been connected with the most recent manifestation of Orientalism, termed techno-orientalism by David Morley and Kevin Robins. This paper will critically assess the relevance of this theory to the reception of the two most popular works of Japanese anime, Akira (1987) and Ghost in the Shell (1995). It will suggest that there was a shift in the last decade of the 20th century from a focus on national issues to a focus on national issues to a focus on global issues, accompanies by a reduction in the number of specifically Japanese cultural, historical and geographical signifiers. Economic and cultural explanations for the shift will be canvassed. The argument will be supported by visual evidence, in the form of video extracts from the films. Return to Abstracts menuCarol Burnett Phone: 61 - 3 - 9349 1899 Email: c.burnett@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
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