Picturing Japaneseness: Monumental Style, National Identity, Japanese Film (Film and Culture Series) - Softcover

"An ambitious attempt to place... [ "jidaigeki" or historical drama] in their social and political context. In doing so, [Davis] explores the importance of these films in forging a national identity.... A thought-provoking study designed for a broad audience ranging from film scholars to historians of Japanese culture." -- "Film Quarterly" "An ambitious attempt to place... "jidaigeki" or historical drama in their social and political context. In doing so, Davis explores the importance of these films in forging a national identity.... A thought-provoking study designed for a broad audience ranging from film scholars to historians of Japanese culture." -- "Film Quarterly" "An ambitious attempt to place... [ jidaigeki or historical drama] in their social and political context. In doing so, [Davis] explores the importance of these films in forging a national identity.... A thought-provoking study designed for a broad audience ranging from film scholars to historians of Japanese culture." -- Film Quarterly "An ambitious attempt to place... [ "jidaigeki" or historical drama] in their social and political context. In doing so, [Davis] explores the importance of these films in forging a national identity.... A thought-provoking study designed for a broad audience ranging from film scholars to historians of Japanese culture." -- "Film Quarterly"

Explores the role of 1930s Japanese cinema in the construction of a national identity and in the larger context of Japan's encounter-and struggle-with the West and modernity. Davis lends a new perspective to such celebrated films as Gate of Hell, Kagemusha, and Ran.