The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema's Biggest Monsters

by Jason Barr

Overview

The Kaiju (strange monster or strange beast) film genre has a number of themes that go well beyond the "big monsters stomping on cities" motif. Since the seminal King Kong 1933) and the archetypal Godzilla (1954), kaiju has mined the subject matter of science run amok, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism and pollution.

This critical examination of kaiju considers the entirety of the genre--the major franchises, along with less well known films like Kronos (1957), Monsters (2010) and Pacific Rim (2013). The author examines how kaiju has crossed cultures from its original folkloric inspirations in both the U.S. and Japan and how the genre continues to reflect national values to audiences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786499632
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/11/2016
Edition description:	Critical
Pages:	212
Sales rank:	203,907
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jason Barr is an associate professor at Blue Ridge Community College. His work has appeared in African American Review, Explicator, The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, and The Journal of Caribbean Literatures, among others. He lives in Weyers Cave, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction: A Genre Apart
Toward a New Definition 8; The Field of Study 18; Background
the Genre 21; The Impact on Cultures
1. The Japanese Origins of the Kaiju
Yokai 26; Bunraku 28; Kabuki 32; Noh
2. Disasters, Manmade and Natural
Nuclear Disasters 37; Natural Disasters 49; Terrorism 52;
Pollution
3. International and Domestic Politics
The End of Empires 70; Internal Politics 76; Modern International Relationships
4. Science and the Weapons of Mass Destruction
Science as Destroyer 106; The Japanese ­Self-Defense Forces
5. America and Kaiju
Violence 123; American Size and Might
6. The Body, Gender, and Kaiju
Women in Kaiju Cinema 156; Body Horror
7. The Role of Nostalgia
Conclusion: What’s Next?
Filmography
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

written with both a fan’s indulgence and a scholar’s hard-core grasp of information...for aficionados of the genre, this is splendid stuff”—DVD Choices; “fascinating”—G-Fan; “Barr provides the most comprehensive exploration of kaiju cinema to date”—Diabolique Magazine; “essential reading for both fans of the genre and those interested in film scholarship, as it aims to provide an in-depth analysis of these movies...and it succeeds...an insightful examination of giant monster movies from across the globe...well-written, thoroughly researched...engaging...highly recommended”—Dread Central; “this may be the most sober book ever written and that ever will be written on the subject, as Barr takes these films very seriously...an incredible depth of knowledge”—Flick Attack; “Barr takes on an incredible task...a healthy balance that will enlighten fans without scaring away the newcomers...Barr successfully places the kaiju film within the context of Japanese culture, in ways few have probably considered...Barr has done his research, and has obviously sat down with these films—even the most obscure ones—more than a few times. With The Kaiju Film, he joins the ranks of Godzilla scholars”—Killer Reviews.

From the Publisher