East Asian Visiting Speaker: Godzilla, Postwar Japan, and the Global Imagination

Dr. William M. Tsutsui, Hendrix College

Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. 
in the Joseph C. Bancroft Conference Room (Croft 107)

Since Godzilla's first appearance 65 years ago, the King of the Monsters has become a cinematic icon and a globally recognized symbol of Japan.  But what can a giant, radioactive movie monster tell us about Japanese culture and Japan's national experience since World War II?  What is it about an actor in a rubber lizard suit destroying miniature Japanese cities that has inspired love, loyalty, and laughter over generations of fans around the world?  This talk will briefly survey the history and impact of the 32 Godzilla films, reflect on Hollywood’s handling of the King of the Monsters, and assess the impact of changes in special effects technology, cinematic fashion, and global politics on the world’s oldest and longest film franchise.

All students who attend will receive 300 Croft dollars. Croft lectures are free and open to the public.