I am pleased to announce the publication of Issue 22 of the Review of
Japanese Culture and Society dedicated to the theme, "Decentering
Theory: Reconsidering the History of Japanese Film Theory." This is
the first publication in a non-Japanese language to consider the rich
and varied history of Japanese film theory. It presents both
translations of some of the major works and scholarly analyses of
those theorists and their historical contributions to film thought. A
major theme throughout the issue is the unique problem of how to
approach and define film theory in Japan.
Thinkers represented include Nakai Masakazu, Hasumi Shigehiko, Yoshida
Kiju, Imamura Taihei, Gonda Yasunosuke, Sato Tadao, Kitada Akihiro,
and Nakamura Hideyuki, with works ranging in era from 1914 to 2011.
They all focus on questions of the status of cinema and how to
approach it, but other topics broached include animation, early
cinema, mediation, spectatorship, documentary, meaning, and Ozu
Yasujiro. A translation of one of Akutagawa Ryunosuke's "film scripts"
is also included.
The Review of Japanese Culture and Society is published by Josai
University in Japan. Single issues can be purchased for $20.00 (US):
http://www.josairjcs.com/subscriptions.html
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Aaron Gerow, Introduction: The Theory Complex
Sato Tadao, Does Film Theory Exist in Japan?
(translated by Joanne Bernardi)
Gonda Yasunosuke, The Principles and Applications of the Moving
Pictures (Excerpts)
(translated by Aaron Gerow)
Aaron Gerow, The Process of Theory: Reading Gonda Yasunosuke and Early
Film Theory
Imamura Taihei, A Theory of the Animated Sound Film
(translated by Michael Baskett)
Imamura Taihei, A Theory of Film Documentary
(translated by Michael Baskett)
Irie Yoshiro, Approaching Imamura Taihei: Film Theory and Originality
(translated by Phil Kaffen)
Nakai Masakazu, Film Theory and the Crisis in Contemporary Aesthetics
(translated by Phil Kaffen)
Kitada Akihiro, An Assault on “Meaning”: On Nakai
Masakazu’s Concept of “Mediation”
(translated by Alex Zahlten)
Yoshida Kiju, My Theory of Film: A Logic of Self-Negation
(translated by Patrick Noonan)
Patrick Noonan, The Alterity of Cinema: Subjectivity, Self-Negation,
and Self-Realization in
Yoshida Kiju’s Film Criticism
Ryan Cook, Hasumi Shigehiko and Film Theory
Nakamura Hideyuki, Ozu, or On the Gesture
(translated by Kendall Heitzman)
Fiction:
Akutagawa Ryunosuke Asakusa Park: A Certain Film Script
(translated by Kyoko Selden)
Aaron Gerow
Associate Professor
Film Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Film Studies
Yale University
53 Wall Street, Room 316
PO Box 208363
New Haven, CT 06520-8363
USA
Phone: 1-203-432-7082
Fax: 1-203-432-6764
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
site: www.aarongerow.com
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Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the
University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu
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