(英文の下に日本語の案内があります)
Why are some things cute, and others not? What happens to our brains when we see something cute? And how did cuteness go global, from Hello Kitty to Disney characters?
Cuteness is an area where culture and biology get tangled up. Seeing a cute animal triggers some of the most powerful psychological instincts we have - the ones that elicit our care and protection - but there is a deeper story behind the broad appeal of Japanese cats and saccharine greetings cards.
Joshua Paul Dale, a pioneer in the burgeoning field of cuteness studies, explains how the cute aesthetic spread around the globe, from pop brands to Lolita fashion, kids' cartoons and the unstoppable rise of Hello Kitty. His book delves into the surprisingly ancient origins of Japan's kawaii culture, and uncovers the cross-cultural pollination of our globalized world.
Understanding the psychology of cuteness can help answer some of the biggest questions in evolutionary history and the mysterious origins of animal domestication. This is the first cultural history of cuteness, and offers a revealing look at how our most powerful psychological impulses have remade global style and culture.
In his talk, Joshua will explore the science behind cuteness using examples ranging from the annual "Pikachu Outbreak" parade of Pokémon characters in Yokohama to the free-roaming foxes of Zao Fox Village in Miyagi Prefecture. Then, he'll speak on how Japan's kawaii culture influenced emoji; fan conventions of "furries" who dress in head-to-toe animal costumes; and the latest in cute robots, the LOVOT.
Joshua Paul Dale has been living in Japan since the early 1990s. He is a Professor of American Literature and Culture at Chuo University, Tokyo. Joshua received a four-year JSPS grant to study cuteness in 2020 and has published widely in the new field of cute studies.
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Dinner is served from 6:15 pm. The presentation starts from 7:15 pm.
Menu: Salad/ Grilled Pork with Pistou Sauce/ Bread/ Ice Cream/ Coffee or Tea with One Drink. Book Break charges are 3,000 yen/ 4,000 yen (members/ non-members) per person.
FCCJ members can sign up at the reception desk. Reservations cancelled less than 72 hours in advance will be charged in full.
Non-members can reserve at the reception desk by email (front@fccj.or.jp). Payment is in advance till Wednesday, January 10th, 2024. No refund is available unless the event is cancelled by FCCJ.
Online attendance (via Zoom) is available at 550 yen per person. Please indicate the intention to attend online when signing up. Details on how to join online will be sent to individual emails after their reservations are confirmed.
Attendees with food restriction should inform the reception desk (front@fccj.or.jp) three days before the event. Thank you.
(The talk will be in English)
本書は、「かわいらしさ」についての初の文化史である。「Cuteness学」のパイオニア、ジョシュアポール・デール（中央大学教授）が、ポップバンドから、ロリータファッション、コミック、ハローキティと、「かわいらしさ」がいかに世界へ広がったかを解説する。日本文化の「かわいらしさ」が、驚くほど古くに遡り、グローバル化した世界で異文化と融合したことを明かす。
横浜で毎年恒例のポケモンのキャラクター、ピカチュウの「大量発生」パレード、放し飼いのキツネを見学する宮城蔵王キツネ村などの事例から、かわいらしさの科学を探る。さらに日本の「かわいらしさ」が、絵文字や動物の着ぐるみ、さらにペット型ロボット「LOVOT（らぼっと）」にどう影響したかを述べる。
【料金】
会員：３，０００円/ 非会員:４，０００円 (セットディナー、ドリンク1杯、消費税込み)
Zoom: ５５０円(消費税込み)
【スケジュール】
午後６時 ドアオープン
午後６時１５分頃 お食事開始
午後７時１５分頃 開会
午後８時半 閉会
【予約方法】
会員：フロントでお申し込みください。
一般のお客様：メールをお送りください。(front@fccj.or.jp)。一般のご予約受付・お支払いの締め切り日は、２０２４年１月１０日 (水)です。
Zoomでの参加をご希望の方には、ご予約が確定次第、ご案内をお送りいたします。
お食事に制限のある方は、開催3日前までにフロントにお知らせください（front@fccj.or.jp）
(使用言語：英語)
Library, Archives & Workroom Committee