This course examines the vivid perspectives of Japanese documentary media from 1945 to present as the focal point of our consideration of the geopolitics of image media. We will explore major documentary works that critically engage issues of cultural identity, environmental devastation, regional community, and historical memory to raise questions about the changing prospects and politics of image media. Our shifting focal points will capture key transformations in the archipelago’s urban and media environments from the dynamic views of Japan’s most influential writers, critics, and media practitioners.
