Cultural Diplomacy, Anime, and Cool Japan
Can anime lead to improved international relations?
A roundtable discussion with:
Ambassador Seiichi Kondo
Director of Cultural Diplomacy,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
Discussion led by Professor Ian Condry (Associate Professor, MIT)
Date: March 2, 2006
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: 32-144
Panel Presentation – Anime, Art and World Politics
Professor Ikumi Kaminishi (Tufts) on Takashi Murakami’s Superflat project
Professor Anthony Lioi (MIT) on Hayao Miyazaki and environmental apocalypse
Professor Helen Hardacre (Harvard) on religious themes in anime.
Date: Friday, April 14, 2006
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: 32-155
Samurai Champloo (2004, Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe) anime screening and discussion on anime hip-hop samurai warriors
Kou Furukawa (author, Samurai Champloo movie book)
Set in the Edo Period (1600-1868), this recent anime TV series remixes classic swordplay themes against a backdrop of contemporary Japanese hip-hop music, challenging us to consider the complexity of cross-cultural fertilization and innovation. Note: some mature themes (R-rated sex, drugs, violence).
Date: Friday, April 14, 2006
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: 3-270
The Violent Commodification of Desire Panel Discussion
Professor Anne Allison (Duke University) on Pokemon capitalism and commodified desire
John O’Donnell (Founder, Central Park Media) on otaku entrepreneurs and anime distribution
Professor Ian Condry (MIT) on anime fans and the creative destruction of online piracy
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2006
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm (Panel Presentation)
Location: 32-155