fwd: Fanatics, Cuties & Geeks: The Otaku Phenomenon & its ImpactAbroad

May 16, 2005

Type: discussion

Lectures Spring 2005

Thursday, June 9
6:30 pm

In 1980s Japan, the expression otaku came to describe a subculture of manga
and anime-obsessed misfits. Despite its negative connotation in Japan, in
the West, otaku is often positively associated with Japan's cutting-edge
coolness, including the latest in gadget technologies and the growing
trendiness of manga and anime fandom. Aiming to examine the origins of the
otaku phenomenon and its impact and incarnations abroad, this panel features
Lawrence Eng, otaku fan cultures expert and PhD candidate at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute; Robert DeJesus, manga-inspired comic artist; and Ed
Halter, regular contributor to the Village Voice and organizer of the New
York Underground Film Festival. Moderated by Thomas Looser, Assistant
Professor of East Asian Studies at New York University.

Tickets: $10; Japan Society members and seniors $8; students $5.

333 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212.832.1155 Box Office: 212.752.3015

http://www.japansociety.org/events/event_detail.cfm?id_event67266211&id_p
erformance92200202