Japanese Widescreen Cinema: Technology, Commerce and Aesthetics

Novelty and timeliness

Widescreen aesthetics and technologies have been analysed almost exclusively in relation to American cinema practices.  The proposed studentship will redress this imbalance by offering an in-depth analysis of the adoption, development, use and interpretation of widescreen cinema by Japanese studios and significant filmmakers.  The ‘mixed’ nature of this area of Japanese film production will be apparent in comparisons drawn between Hollywood and Japanese productions and technologies, and the emergence of a culturally-specific response to the representational qualities of the widescreen frame. The project will consider the potential for a distinctive Japanese widescreen aesthetic, derived from other indigenous art forms (e.g. e-maki picture scrolls).

The research project will address:

1. the differing manifestations and motivations of widescreen cinema in Japan from the 1950s onwards, considering commercial parallels with American cinema
2. the industrial and technological background to widescreen take-up in Japan, considering indigenous and licensed widescreen processes
3. the aesthetics of Japanese widescreen cinema, linked to indigenous film genres and the works of specific filmmakers (e.g. Oshima, Kurosawa).

Objectives

1. To examine the adoption of widescreen processes by Japanese studios and filmmakers
2. To relate this pattern of adoption to the development of new and existing forms of film in Japanese cinema
3. To analyse the use of widescreen formats by selected filmmakers
4. To interpret the resultant effects of widescreen adoption on film style and aesthetics
5. To investigate the relationship between widescreen aesthetics and other Japanese art forms.

Resource and facilities available

The School of English (Sheffield) has its own dvd library containing several hundred titles.  Its previous vhs holdings (over 400 additional titles) are now housed in the Western Bank Library as a research collection.  Western Bank also contains the Japanese Studies Collection of films on dvd and vhs, books, newspapers and journal resources, with both English and Japanese language titles.  The School moved to the Jessop West Building in January 2009. Computer and storage facilities for every postgraduate researcher are provided over several floors of the English block. Close to the Jessop Building is the Information Commons, with 24-hour access and complete wireless coverage.

Training provision for student

The PhD student’s training will follow the Sheffield and York general guidelines, combined with specific film studies and Japanese culture training, as dictated by the research topic.

Within the School of English, PhD students receive special training on research on film. They have the opportunity to enrol for modules from the MA in International Cinema and other related modules available at the University. PhD students give papers within the School’s ‘work-in-progress’ research seminar series, and at its annual postgraduate colloquium. Students are encouraged to attend and present material at national and international conferences, and are assisted in bringing work to publication.  All PhD students are offered teaching experience on relevant undergraduate modules. They are also supported in their efforts to develop collaborations and grant applications, and receive funding for conference attendance, travel and research expenses from the School’s Research Strategy Committee.