Special Lecture: Introduction to Art and Culture in the Global Age

Ian Condry

“Ethnographic Research on Japanese Popular Culture:  Music, Anime and More”

 

“Introduction to Art and Culture in the Global Age” is a series of special lectures organised by the Graduate school of Global Arts. In this course we invite specialist from around the world to give a lecture. 

Hosted by Research field, this time we welcome Prof. Ian Condry, Professor in Comparative Media Studies / Writing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT), with a lecture “Ethnographic Research on Japanese Popular Culture:  Music, Anime and More.“

 

Date: 26th June, 2020 (Fri), 20:00-21:30 (7:00 at Boston)

＊Students of GA are welcome to join.

＊Lecture will be delivered in English.

 

Lecture: “Ethnographic Research on Japanese Popular Culture: Music, Anime and More”

By Professor Ian Condry,  Professor in Comparative Media Studies / Writing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT). 

 

Abstract

 

 In this talk, I will discuss my research on Japanese music, anime, and popular culture in an effort to illustrate a diversity of approaches in using fieldwork and ethnographic methods.  Drawing on examples from hip-hop night clubs, anime studios, and underground techno festivals, I will share some of the insights of learning from other people in the places they work.  My research method has always focused on trying to find “where the action is,” but where is the action in these different spheres?  I will also touch briefly on my new research into a leading edge of music production and performance, namely, multichannel, immersive sound and my experience releasing my first album online as the artist Leftroman.  

 

Biography 

 

 Ian Condry is a cultural anthropologist and professor at MIT since 2002.  He is the author of two books, Hip-Hop Japan and The Soul of Anime, both of which explore how cultural movements go global from below.  He founded the MIT / Harvard Cool Japan Research project in 2006, and in 2016, he started Dissolve Music, a seminar series and music festival featuring artists such as Shing02, Mouse on Mars, DJ Rekha, Victoria Shen, The A-Beez, Ghost Grass, and Animal Hospital.  In 2020, he released his first album “Hang Time Surf Electronica” under the artist name Leftroman, as an experiment in navigating today’s online music worlds.  He is also co-founder and Chief Anthropologist of the app startup Hearby, which provides live music listings in over 50 cities in the US.  In the fall of 2019, he launched the MIT Spatial Sound Lab as a community production studio for immersive sound productions to explore music, sound art, teaching modules, data sonification, disability studies, field recordings and sensory ethnography.  More info:  iancondry.com

 

Organized by: Graduate School of Global Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts

 

Enquiries:

Faculty Room, Graduate School of Global Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts

info-ga(at)ml.geidai.ac.jp