AAS Digital Dialogues

Wednesday, October 27th

7:00 pm ET

Japan on American TV explores political, economic,
and cultural issues underlying depictions of Japan on US television comedies
and the programs they inspired. Since the 1950s, US television programs have
taken the role of “curators” of Japan, displaying and explaining selected
aspects for viewers. Beliefs in US hegemony over Japan underpin this curation
process. Japan on American TV takes a historical perspective
to understand the diversity of Japan parodies. These programs show changing
patterns of cultural globalization and perpetuate national stereotypes while
verifying Japan’s international influence. Television presents an alternative
history of American fascinations with and fears of Japan.

Written in an accessible style that will appeal to scholars, teachers,
students, and anyone with an interest in Japan and popular culture, as well as
an ideal text for classroom use, Japan on American TV offers
a gentle means to approach racism, cultural essentialism, cultural
appropriation, and issues otherwise difficult to discuss and models new ways to
apply knowledge of Asian Studies.

This session will feature panelists Alisa
Freedman (Author, Japan on American TV), Anne
Allison, Jan
Bardsley, and Bill Tsutsui with
Moderator Maura Cunningham.

To register and for more information, click here.