Speaker: Rachael Hutchinson, University of Delaware

This talk addresses my experience editing the Routledge Handbook of Modern Japanese Literature, and the issues involved in defining exactly what we mean when we say the words 'Modern Japanese Literature'. What really constitutes the 'modern' in Japan - does it start with the Meiji period? What counts as 'Japanese' literature - does it have to be written by a Japanese person or just in the Japanese language? Finally, what is 'literature' anyway - does manga count, for example? Which writers are considered to be 'literary' authors? Is it possible to get away from the overwhelming dominance of the I-novel in critical discourse? I hope to share my experience with the audience and explore some of the big issues in determining the boundaries of our field.

Rachael Hutchinson attained her doctorate in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford in 2000. She is Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Delaware where she teaches courses on Japanese language, literature, culture, film and videogames. Her research examines ideas of Japanese national identity in a range of narrative texts, including the fiction of Nagai Kafu, the films of Kurosawa Akira, the manga of Tezuka Osamu, and games such as 'Final Fantasy' and 'Soul Calibur'.