Objectives
Recognizing that, since the end of the Cold War, political theorists around the world have embarked upon a deliberate quest for difference and innovation in their discipline, triggered by the apparently ‘world historic’ victory of liberal capitalism, this project aims to uncover a series of sites of difference and innovation. In particular, it locates itself in two kinds of distancing: geo-cultural (ie. in the non-European space of Japan) and medial (ie. in innovative expressive media). Utilizing the ‘techno-media’ of anime, manga and video games, and focusing on the radical potentials of the genre of speculative science fiction, this project aims to analyze and model a series of political visions as potential alternatives to liberal capitalism, hence contributing to the field of political thought.Furthermore, acknowledging that these widely popular techno-medial products utilize different grammars of expression from conventional, text-based media, this project seeks to formulate a research methodology for scholars to employ for critical interventions into these fields. Accepting that the dimensions of the public sphere change with time and technological developments, and hypothesizing that the public sphere in many contemporary societies is now informed by this techno-politics, at stake is the ability of scholars to remain in touch with (and persuasive in) political realities: new forms of literacy are required if scholars seek to remain involved in the new public sphere. This project attempts to outline those forms of literacy, as implied by the rapidly globalizing force of Japanese anime, manga and video games.
Critique and intervention
An implication of this research agenda is that anime, manga and video games have identifiable grammars that enable them as expressive media, and that these grammars and devices actually facilitate the development and deployment of political thought in ways inexpressible (or even unthinkable) in other media.Taking this seriously demands twin responses from the scholarly community:
- the first is critique - we must employ literacy in these grammars and skill-sets to affect sophisticated political criticism of these media;
- and the second is participatory - as responsible intellectuals, we must be able to employ these grammars and skill sets to intervene in political arguments and the public sphere ourselves.
Hence, in addition to conventional research products (three PhD theses and two monographs), this project also aims to produce a series of political manga, short anime, and a simple video game expressive of concepts from Japanese science fiction.
Framing the project
This project locates itself at the intersection of a number of pressing issues for contemporary society, and simultaneously in an interdisciplinary and multi-medial space between several academic fields of inquiry. In its most general form, the central thread of the interlinked sub projects is concerned with the matrix of relationships between evolving conceptions of politics, literacy and technology (particularly digital technology). In each case, first and foremost, the concern is with the way in which these shifting categories interact with, challenge, and actually constitute the ‘humanity’ of individuals in contemporary society and the way in which they interact politically.
Funding and timeframe
The project is funded by the NWO (Dutch Scientic Organisation) from 2010 until end 2014 under the so-called Innovational Research Incentives/VICI Scheme.The total project budget is Euro 1.25 million.
As the objectives of the Beyond Utopia project are closely connected to those of the MEARC hosted Asiascape.net, all the projectmembers contribute regularly to the Asiascape Vistas. Asiascpape Vistas is a forum for discussion about the many and various dimensions of cyberculture found in or originating from East Asia: vistas.asiascape.net.
Professor Chris Goto-Jones
Principal researcher
Dr. Florian Schneider
Secondary supervisor
Carl K. Lee MA
PhD candidate
Subproject: Manga
Mari Nakamura MA
PhD candidate
Subproject: Anime
Martin Roth MA
PhD candidate
Subproject: Videogames
Principal researcher
Dr. Florian Schneider
Secondary supervisor
Carl K. Lee MA
PhD candidate
Subproject: Manga
Mari Nakamura MA
PhD candidate
Subproject: Anime
Martin Roth MA
PhD candidate
Subproject: Videogames
"I am a dedicated fan and scholar of Japanese comics and animation with an avid interest in exploring all manners of genres, stories, and themes. With my background in visual arts (Carnegie Mellon University BFA, New York University MA) and my passion for anime and manga, my primary motive is to encourage thought and appreciation of all anime and manga, from the most critically acclaimed comics to programs which act as merchandising vehicles for children. By doing so, I believe that we can see these works as they are, instead of seeing the image we create for them. We can also learn more about ourselves in the process. For the "Beyond Utopia" project, I will be focusing on the manga side of things. Currently, I intend to research the portrayal of government and political systems through the lens of strong and relatable characterization in science fiction manga, particularly with characters who exist within autocratic governments."
"I am not otaku (geek), despite the fact that I have enjoyed watching anime and reading manga since I was very little. Some people may say that a person who claims s/he is not otaku actually is one, but I am not otaku. I do however enjoy visiting these imaginary worlds. My PhD research, as a part of the ‘Beyond Utopia’ project, aims to explore how the philosophical notion of ‘emancipation,’ along with related concepts such as ‘domination’ and ‘resistance’, has been conceptualised in Japan’s science fiction animation. My research seeks new political ideas via different loci from the convention of European intellectual traditions: Japan; science fiction; animation."
"As part of a generation that grew up with the spread of computer technology and other digital media, I have been curious about their potentials from my youth on and enjoyed exploring these potentials in various ways, as tools of communication, publishing and design, in programming and as means of entertainment, especially by playing video games. Studying Japanese Studies and Communication & Media Studies (Leipzig University, Germany/ Waseda University, Japan) inspired me to assume a more reflective position towards contemporary digital culture, and raised many questions about their significance in the contemporary world. I am hoping to find answers to some of these questions during the work on my PhD theses as part of the MEARC project “Beyond Utopia”.
Focusing on the field of science fictional video games, my main interest will be, how science fictional video games can be considered as political, apart from their content alone. While believing, that video games in general are by no means a minor form of culture, I do not consider all games political in a similar way. I my PhD thesis, I am rather aiming to develop a more sophisticated perspective by examining the concepts of game, play, and playing, as analytical tools for the analysis of the political potential of video games, especially in the genre of science fiction."
Focusing on the field of science fictional video games, my main interest will be, how science fictional video games can be considered as political, apart from their content alone. While believing, that video games in general are by no means a minor form of culture, I do not consider all games political in a similar way. I my PhD thesis, I am rather aiming to develop a more sophisticated perspective by examining the concepts of game, play, and playing, as analytical tools for the analysis of the political potential of video games, especially in the genre of science fiction."
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DYSTOPIA
The banner image shows a still from the 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner. Ridley Scott's film, based on Philip K. Dick's novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' (cover above), presents a dystopian vision of Los Angeles in which a policeman is hunting for illegal androids, robots with human appearances.
