J-Talk: Diggin’ Culture #04
Cosplaying: How it influences the body and identity
By Dr. Miki Okubo
University lecturer from faculty of Art and Design, University of Paris 8
| Photo: Yanphon Singhaseni |
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With an aim to encourage Thai people to know and understand more about the Japanese society and culture, the Japan Foundation, Bangkok has created a talk event under the name of J-Talk: Diggin’ Culture. Not merely academic contents, the J-Talk series provide many more interesting stories about society, culture and people of Japan that you may or may not think about and you can enjoy this event without any background information. If you are interested, please book your seat in advance via the following link https://bit.ly/2BE5MkG
Cosplaying: How it influences the body and identity is marked as the number 4 of our J-Talk series. Cosplay is regarded as one of the Japanese pop-cultures and its popularity reached the peak in the 2000s. When the picture of cosplayers dressing up as their favorite characters from manga/anime and videogames at Akihabara was presented to many countries in Europe and Asia, the term ‘Cosplay’ has become an icon to portray ‘Cool Japan’ and it has been developed independently from the original by manga and animation young fans around the world. Cosplayers have their own community which is not limited to face-to-face meeting at the event. They also created an online community to be a space for sharing their ideas and creativities that make cosplaying go beyond a mere imitation of costume. From the social perspective, ‘to dress differently’ is evaluated as a way to step out of your routine and a way to cope with problems through representing identities.
The lecture will be starting from the history and background of Cosplay including Takenoko-zoku (1980s)*1, Yankee (1980-90s)*2, Gyaru (1990-2000s)*3 and Gothic & Lolita (2000s) as well as taking you to understand the core idea of cosplay and how it reflects identity of practitioner. The content will also be featured with cosplay culture in Thailand and France and possibility of development in the future.
| *1 a type of dance group that was colorfully dressed and active in Harajuku, Tokyo
*2 high-school gangs, Japanese punk kids *3 fashion- and peer-conscious girls in their late teens and early 20’s. |
Speaker
Dr. Miki Okubo
Born in 1984 in Sapporo, Okubo is now positioned as the lecturer in faculty of Art and Design, University of Paris 8 and a curator. Her speciality includes contemporary art, self-representation theory, pop culture theory and fashion theory. Some of her publications is Exposition de soi à l’époque mobile/liquide (Contemporary Representations of the Self Characterized by Mobility and Liquidity) and Arts Awareness.
For more information
Mr. Yuichi Matsuo matsuo@ba.jpf.go.jp
(Japanese and English)
Mr. Wathana Onpanich wathana@ba.jpf.go.jp
(Thai and English)
Ms. Tamawan Pengsatis tamawan@ba.jpf.go.jp
(Thai and English)
Supported by
Embassy of Japan in Thailand
The Japan Foundation, Bangkok
10th Fl. Serm-Mit Tower, Sukhumvit 21,
Bangkok (Tel: 02-260-8560~3)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfbangkok/
Website: https://ba.jpf.go.jp/