The increasing intermingling in contemporary Japan between nation branding of Cool Japan, historical revisionism, and youth subcultures have contributed to raise popular cultures as a strategic site in the hegemonic re-definition of the past, present, and future of the nation. This paper addresses the ongoing transformation among younger generations towards a post-ideological and post-modern experience of their national ‘imagined comuntiy’, described as “pop nationalism” (Sakamoto 2008) or “cynical comunity” (Kitada 2005). A fieldwork on the multiple media platform originated by the historical webmanga Axis Powers Hetalia (2006-present) and on its globalised success among female fandom, will provide further insights on the biopolitical mobilisation of moe (“burning passion”), as a combination of polymporphous pleasure and sexualised parody, shaping emergent representations of national history and identity.
Quando la storia diventa sexy: dal revisionismo storico all'antropomorfismo moe delle nazioni,
MIYAKE, Toshio
2012-01-01
Abstract
The increasing intermingling in contemporary Japan between nation branding of Cool Japan, historical revisionism, and youth subcultures have contributed to raise popular cultures as a strategic site in the hegemonic re-definition of the past, present, and future of the nation. This paper addresses the ongoing transformation among younger generations towards a post-ideological and post-modern experience of their national ‘imagined comuntiy’, described as “pop nationalism” (Sakamoto 2008) or “cynical comunity” (Kitada 2005). A fieldwork on the multiple media platform originated by the historical webmanga Axis Powers Hetalia (2006-present) and on its globalised success among female fandom, will provide further insights on the biopolitical mobilisation of moe (“burning passion”), as a combination of polymporphous pleasure and sexualised parody, shaping emergent representations of national history and identity.I documenti in ARCA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.