|
|
The Role of Characters in Japanese Visual Culture
Flesch, David ; Sýkora, Jan (advisor) ; Tirala, Martin (referee)
The main purpose of this thesis is the analysis of fictional characters, their role in Japanese visual culture and society in general. For a better understanding of the argumentation that follows in chapters 2 to 4, I first introduce the reader to the world of postwar Japanese visual culture, its most iconic works and characters. In the following chapter I observe fictional characters from a psychological and sociological standpoint, and highlight their significance for contemporary society. Chapters 3 and 4 are dedicated to some of the most significant subcultures in postwar Japan - the shojo and otaku. In each of these chapters I first offer a synopsis of their respective histories and proceed to analyze some of the main trends associated with these subcultures; trends that have subsequently led to a major shift in consumer culture and a significant popularization of characters, the character business and its products. I argue that the most significant phenomenon associated with shojo culture is kawaii, the aesthetic of cuteness. Kawaii is arguably one of the defining aesthetic categories of contemporary Japan and is closely linked to postwar visual culture and the character goods industry. In the case of otaku, passionate consumers and fans of visual culture and modern media, I have focused on...
|
|
|
The Age of Kittens: Aesthetics of Cuteness in Contemporary Art
Petrlová, Simona ; LEDVINA, Josef (advisor) ; JANOŠČÍK, Václav (referee)
Cuteness as an affect contains a group of visual and behavioral features which are capable of producing physical or emotional reactions in the body of a subject.
Speaking of cuteness as an aesthetic category this kind of response is manipulated for commercial purposes, in the context of artistic creation or as means of self-expression.
In my thesis I will be concetrating on the concept of cuteness and its use in the field of contemporary art.
First I will focus on the origin of the notion of cuteness from psychobiological, sociological and culturological point of view. I will describe briefly the origin of the english term ''cute'' and japanese term ''kawaii'' and its evolvement. Than I will concentrate on the aspects of cuteness in today's society, where it has become a tool for advancement of commercial and even political interests, which will be desrcibed on the specific examples.
Subsequently I will concentrate on the aesthetic aspects of cuteness in the context of contemporary artistic statements including sociological and lorenzian (biological) viewpoints. I will also describe these aesthetics and its usage in the field of hi-tech technologies.
Cuteness can be differentiated into many subcategories (e.g. ''creepy-cute'', ''torturer-cute'', ''sexy-cute'', etc.) when speaking of its aesthetics. These will be briefly described and showed in both the theoretical and exemplary sections of the thesis. As a whole the thesis will also lead to the discussion of the artistic positions of particular artists working with cuteness aesthetics in their art production.
|
|
|
The Role of Characters in Japanese Visual Culture
Flesch, David ; Sýkora, Jan (advisor) ; Tirala, Martin (referee)
The main purpose of this thesis is the analysis of fictional characters, their role in Japanese visual culture and society in general. For a better understanding of the argumentation that follows in chapters 2 to 4, I first introduce the reader to the world of postwar Japanese visual culture, its most iconic works and characters. In the following chapter I observe fictional characters from a psychological and sociological standpoint, and highlight their significance for contemporary society. Chapters 3 and 4 are dedicated to some of the most significant subcultures in postwar Japan - the shojo and otaku. In each of these chapters I first offer a synopsis of their respective histories and proceed to analyze some of the main trends associated with these subcultures; trends that have subsequently led to a major shift in consumer culture and a significant popularization of characters, the character business and its products. I argue that the most significant phenomenon associated with shojo culture is kawaii, the aesthetic of cuteness. Kawaii is arguably one of the defining aesthetic categories of contemporary Japan and is closely linked to postwar visual culture and the character goods industry. In the case of otaku, passionate consumers and fans of visual culture and modern media, I have focused on...
|
guest ::
