Topics in Japanese Studies

Game media have, alongside anime and manga, become one of the most globally recognizable forms of popular culture produced in Japan. From home console systems to mobile gaming applications and "game center" arcades, different forms of game and game-related media are integrated into the visual culture and everyday experience for consumers of Japanese media. They also represent an increasingly dominant aspect of global media capitalism. This course will approach game media from in and around Japan in relation to questions of media aesthetics, industrial history, and cultural identity. No background in Japanese language is required. Some experience with game media will be helpful.