Kaiju Film

A Critical Study of Cinema's Biggest Monsters

Häftad, Engelska, 2016

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The Kaiju (strange monster or strange beast) film genre has a number of themes that go well beyond the "big monsters stomping on cities" motif. Since the seminal King Kong 1933) and the archetypal Godzilla (1954), kaiju has mined the subject matter of science run amok, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism and pollution.This critical examination of kaiju considers the entirety of the genre--the major franchises, along with less well known films like Kronos (1957), Monsters (2010) and Pacific Rim (2013). The author examines how kaiju has crossed cultures from its original folkloric inspirations in both the U.S. and Japan and how the genre continues to reflect national values to audiences.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2016-02-11
Mått152 x 229 x 11 mm
Vikt299 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor212
FörlagMcFarland & Co Inc
ISBN9780786499632

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Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroduction: A Genre ApartToward a New Definition 8; The Field of Study 18; Backgroundthe Genre 21; The Impact on Cultures1. The Japanese Origins of the KaijuYokai 26; Bunraku 28; Kabuki 32; Noh2. Disasters, Manmade and NaturalNuclear Disasters 37; Natural Disasters 49; Terrorism 52; Pollution3. International and Domestic PoliticsThe End of Empires 70; Internal Politics 76; Modern International Relationships4. Science and the Weapons of Mass DestructionScience as Destroyer 106; The Japanese Self-Defense Forces5. America and KaijuViolence 123; American Size and Might6. The Body, Gender, and KaijuWomen in Kaiju Cinema 156; Body Horror7. The Role of NostalgiaConclusion: What’s Next?FilmographyChapter NotesBibliographyIndex

“written with both a fan’s indulgence and a scholar’s hard-core grasp of information...for aficionados of the genre, this is splendid stuff”—DVD Choices; “fascinating”—G-Fan; “Barr provides the most comprehensive exploration of kaiju cinema to date”—Diabolique Magazine; “essential reading for both fans of the genre and those interested in film scholarship, as it aims to provide an in-depth analysis of these movies...and it succeeds...an insightful examination of giant monster movies from across the globe...well-written, thoroughly researched...engaging...highly recommended”—Dread Central; “this may be the most sober book ever written and that ever will be written on the subject, as Barr takes these films very seriously...an incredible depth of knowledge”—Flick Attack; “Barr takes on an incredible task...a healthy balance that will enlighten fans without scaring away the newcomers...Barr successfully places the kaiju film within the context of Japanese culture, in ways few have probably considered...Barr has done his research, and has obviously sat down with these films—even the most obscure ones—more than a few times. With The Kaiju Film, he joins the ranks of Godzilla scholars”—Killer Reviews.