Cinema and Ideologies of Subjectivity in Post-war Japan (1945-1973)

Regarding democratic processes, the academic world usually pays attention to Western-considered models and tends to ignore the value of other socio-cultural realities such as the Japanese. CINETIVITY aims to promote scholars' interest in and knowledge of the democratic process of post-war Japan as a universally relevant phenomenon by focusing on a key element in this historical experience: the debates that took place about how best to develop a form of political subjectivity or agency (shutaisei) in the people that would prevent individuals from being dragged into authoritarian regimes. Existing scholarship on the "shutaisei debates" assumes the written word as the primary medium of controversy overlooking other modes through which the debates took place. To address this gap in our understanding and to change the way scholars think about the phenomenon in question, this interdisciplinary project will investigate how filmmakers used the practice of cinema to intervene in the conception of shutaisei. CINETIVITY is expected to point out the value of the process whereby post-war Japanese intellectuals and filmmakers fostered democracy, thus inspiring the European civil society in an age like the present, when the memory of totalitarian regimes is gradually fading and authoritarian movements are gaining ground. The intersection between Political Philosophy and Film Studies which lies at the core of
the project will bring a new perspective reinforcing the scientific community's knowledge on post-war Japanese democratic ideas and films while bridging the disciplinary divides that limit our ability to conceptualize political processes and aesthetic movements across multiple fields. Under the supervision of Dr Chris Perkins (Senior Lecturer in Japanese), the applicant will build upon his current skill set by receiving thorough training and mentoring, and will expand his international experience and professional networks at the University of Edinburgh.