HOFSTRA CULTURAL CENTER and the ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAM present
Godzilla and Generational Trauma in Postwar Japan: From Hiroshima to Fukushima
with
William M. Tsutsui
Since Godzilla's first appearance 70 years ago in the classic Gojira (1954), the King of the Monsters has become a cinematic icon and a globally recognized symbol of Japan. But what can a giant, firebreathing movie monster tell us about Japan's national experience of terror and trauma from the atomic bombings of 1945 through the Fukushima nuclear meltdown of 2011? This talk will explore how the 35 live-action Godzilla films can help us understand Japan’s resilience in the face of nuclear catastrophes, the transmission of generational trauma in Japanese society after World War II, and the ways we all address our fears through the imaginary monsters of popular culture.
W William M Tsutsui, Chancellor and Professor of History Ottawa University
Co-sponsored by the Departments of History and Department of Comparative Language, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Monday, November 18, 2024
11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
VIRTUAL
EVENT
This event is FREE and open to the public Advance registration is required. To RSVP visit events.hofstra.edu.
Registrants will be sent an email with zoom link prior to join event.