MANGA STUDIES: From Architecture to Female Otaku

Speakers: Dr. Ryuichi Tanigawa, Dr. Chie Yamanaka, Mr. Yu Ito, and Dr. Sonoko Azuma
Discussant: Mr. Simon Turner
Chair: Dr. Mariko Murata 

Date: 28 January 2013, 18:00-20:15
Venue: Birkbeck, London. Room number TBA

Organized by the Centre for Media, Culture and Creative Practice (Birkbeck, University of London) and LAPCSF, supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 2012 (Challenging Exploratory Research, Ryuichi TANIGAWA, Grant No.24656343) MEXT, Japan.

LAPCSF is organizing a session devoted to Manga Studies with researchers and professionals visiting from Japan. 
The global circulation of manga has attracted increased attention and Manga Studies has now developed as an international, multidisciplinary field that attracts researchers from a wide area of study from the visual arts to the social sciences. This session is expected to be a multidisciplinary event that invites scholars from a range of fields to observe the diversity of manga consumption as popular culture, worldwide. 
*The talks will be in English and the discussion will be interpreted.

Program
18:00-18:10 A Welcome from the Organizers (Dr Shinji Oyama and Dr. Mariko Murata)

18:10-18:30 Manga, Architecture, and Cities: Interpreting Space in JOJO's Bizarre Adventure (Dr. Ryuichi Tanigawa)

18:30-18:50 The Reception of Manga in the Republic of Korea: A Case Study on NARUTO (Dr. Chie Yamanaka)
 
18:50-19:10 Barefoot Gen in Japan: War and Boys’ Comics (Mr. Yu Ito)

Short break

19:20-19:40 How to Enjoy 'Yaoi' Texts: Manga Consumption of Female Otaku in Japan (Dr. Sonoko Azuma)
 
19:40-20:10 Discussion (Discussant: Mr. Simon Turner)

Dr Ryuichi Tanigawa is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Integrated Area Studies, Kyoto University. He specializes in Modern Asian Architectural and Urban History, Architectural Theory.

Dr Chie Yamanaka is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Human Studies, Jin-ai University. She specializes in Sociology, Manga Comics Studies, and Korean Studies.

Mr Yu Ito is a Researcher/ curator of Kyoto Seika University International Manga Research Center, Kyoto International Manga Museum. He has organized many manga exhibitions and workshops over the past years. He specializes in Manga Comics Studies and Folklore.

Dr Sonoko Azuma is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University.  She specializes in Sociology of Culture and Gender Studies. 

Mr Simon Turner is a Ph.D student at Birkbeck College, University of London. His main research interest lies in the field of Japanese Cultural Studies and New Media Studies. 

Dr Shinji Oyama  is a Sasakawa Research and Teaching Associate in Japanese Creative Industries Studies head of Japanese cultural studies at Department of Media and Cultural Studies, Birkbeck College. 

Dr Mariko Murata is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University, Japan. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at Birkbeck.
 
Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required. Book here: http://mangastudies.eventbrite.co.uk/