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Japanese World War II Art History: From 1931-1945 with Dr. Gavin Campbell

Japanese World War II Art History: From 1931-1945 with Dr. Gavin Campbell


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

How do we draw the line between art and propaganda? We will explore this question by delving deeply into paintings commissioned by the Japanese imperial state between 1931 and 1945. These works are rarely seen in Japan today and seldom exhibited abroad. So, in addition to exploring fundamental questions about the relationship between art, war, and the state, we will lift the veil on an era of Japanese art that has largely disappeared. Japanese artists, swept up in the excitement of the country’s modernization, were constantly aware of their relationship to the idea of “Japan.”

But after the 1937 invasion of China, demands for ideological purity grew increasingly strenuous, and it became nearly impossible to paint without reference to war and the imperial state. For some artists, that meant battle paintings, while others explored “Japanese-ness.” This seminar showcases these startling images and examines how artists adjusted their work to the ideological demands of “total war.”

Led by an expert on Japanese history and culture, Gavin Campbell, this Conversation will explore the role of art in the Japanese war effort. Designed to inform curiosity and future travels, participants will come away with an expanded view of Japanese art history and food for thought about the artist’s role in a time of war.

To learn more about Japanese history with Context, we invite you to explore Dr. Campbell's additional upcoming seminars here.

Gavin received a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and came to Kyoto in 2001. He is a Ph.D. professor of history at Doshisha University. His teaching and research revolve around Japan's cultural encounters with the West, particularly during the Edo, Meiji, Taisho and early Showa periods (1600-1940), and he has published on the history of foreign tourism and of Protestant missionaries in Japan. To further explore Japan's global cultural encounters, he is currently writing a book on the history of Japanese menswear from the 1600s through the early 20th century. He is also an expert on Kyoto geisha culture and a frequent participant in geisha entertainment.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews
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(8)
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K
Karen Ekman-Baur (Ehningen, DE)
Exploring the Influences of and Influences on Japanese Art

This was an absolutely compelling presentation of Japanese art, focusing primariy, but not completely, on the WWII era. Dr. Campbell delivered entertaining and coherent coverage of the topic, combining images, music, and easily comprehensible explanation to draw in his audience. I found it interesting to discover - after the presentation was over - that the grandfather of one of the participants had been a well-known Japanese artist!

R
R.L. (Marlborough, GB)
Another superb lecture!

Another fascinating lecture; wonderful to see such rarely seen works of art, and learn how they came to made and seen by Government and the people. Many not so very different from Western war art.

A
Anonymous (Arvada, US)

Guest did not leave comment

L
Leslie Caldwell (San Francisco, US)
none

this was a fascinating lecture about a topic about which I knew absolutely nothing. In fact, I did not know that it existed. Very nice job by Dr. Campbell.

K
Kris Shapar (Slough, GB)
Interesting talk on a topic I knew nothing about

Guest did not leave comment

Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews
100%
(8)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
K
Karen Ekman-Baur (Ehningen, DE)
Exploring the Influences of and Influences on Japanese Art

This was an absolutely compelling presentation of Japanese art, focusing primariy, but not completely, on the WWII era. Dr. Campbell delivered entertaining and coherent coverage of the topic, combining images, music, and easily comprehensible explanation to draw in his audience. I found it interesting to discover - after the presentation was over - that the grandfather of one of the participants had been a well-known Japanese artist!

R
R.L. (Marlborough, GB)
Another superb lecture!

Another fascinating lecture; wonderful to see such rarely seen works of art, and learn how they came to made and seen by Government and the people. Many not so very different from Western war art.

A
Anonymous (Arvada, US)

Guest did not leave comment

L
Leslie Caldwell (San Francisco, US)
none

this was a fascinating lecture about a topic about which I knew absolutely nothing. In fact, I did not know that it existed. Very nice job by Dr. Campbell.

K
Kris Shapar (Slough, GB)
Interesting talk on a topic I knew nothing about

Guest did not leave comment