Japanese Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Cinema
Intro
The lecture is a set of three related sub-lectures which give a brief outline of Japanese horror, fantasy and science fiction cinema. The first part is a look at the history and specifics of such cinema during each of its boom periods. The second part deals with supernatural femininity and Japanese kaidan films, and the factors involved in making Japanese ghosts world-famous in the latter part of the 1990s. The third part delves deeper into science and scientific masculinity, exploring the way scientist characters in films have changed throughout the decades, reflecting the societal changes in Japan during that time.
Leena Eerolainen
Leena Eerolainen acquired her PhD in Japanese Studies in 2020 from University of Helsinki, writing about the role scientists play in the portrayal of national images in Japanese weird and horror cinema. Leena has also lectured widely about Japanese contemporary society and popular culture at the University of Helsinki. She has spent three years in Japan starting as an exchange high school student, and later at Waseda University. She is one of the founders of Helsinki Cine Aasia film festival. Currently Leena holds a manager-level position in a technology consulting company, supporting Japanese clients in the Nordic market.
Quiz
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