Japanese Design and American Pop Culture

The Tannery Series returns to PEM/PM to explore the Japanese art forms that have taken America by storm.

Dig out your Astroboy and put on your Pokemon ears! Join us for a discussion of soulful robots, gender-bending plotlines, punk-haired heroines and heroes with stars in their eyes. We’ll go beyond the usual notions of cartoon and costume, fantasy and reality, to explore ideas about public and private selves and what the popularity of Manga in the United States reveals about the changes in American identity.

On the program:

Roland Kelts (JAPANAMERICA: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.), plunges into the American experience with Japanese pop phenomenon. Highlighting the shared conflicts as American and Japanese pop cultures dramatically collide in the here and now, his work is as literate as it is hip.

Robin Brenner (Understanding Manga and Anime), takes on cosplay, fanservice and everything in between. Her fresh, fascinating, exhaustive book, is perfect for serious fans, neophytes, as well as for anyone who wonders what their kids have been reading and talking about.

The evening will also include musician VJ Beyonder Domela, some hands-on instruction in drawing Manga and an opportunity to visit PEM’s latest exhibit, “Future Beauty: Avant-Garde Japanese Fashion.”

There’s food, music, community and fun as we team up again with the wonderful folks at the Peabody Essex Museum.  Come dressed as your favorite Manga character!

For more information email: info@tanneryseries.com.