Leiden University Student Repository

Roding, Caecilia (2023)

Here It comes, a Model of Society! Rediscovering Contemporary Japanese Gender Ideology and Gender Roles through Nakashima Tetsuya's Kuru (2018)

Bachelor thesis | Japanstudies (BA)

This bachelor thesis examines how the characters in Nakashima Tetsuya's horror film, Kuru (It Comes), released in 2018, fit into specific stereotypes within contemporary Japanese society and analyzes the implications of these stereotypes on gender, sexuality, and class division. The study utilizes semantic and narrative analysis, focusing on mise-en-scene and cultural context to contextualize the characters within Japanese society. The research breaks away from previous academic work, which primarily focused on older Japanese horror films, as it draws on a more recent release that reflects the changes in gender identity and roles in Japan over the past two decades. This research aims to contribute to understanding contemporary Japanese society by examining the representation of stereotypes and the challenges faced by individuals who do not conform to societal expectations. It highlights the need for greater awareness and efforts to promote gender equality, work-family balance, and...Show moreThis bachelor thesis examines how the characters in Nakashima Tetsuya's horror film, Kuru (It Comes), released in 2018, fit into specific stereotypes within contemporary Japanese society and analyzes the implications of these stereotypes on gender, sexuality, and class division. The study utilizes semantic and narrative analysis, focusing on mise-en-scene and cultural context to contextualize the characters within Japanese society. The research breaks away from previous academic work, which primarily focused on older Japanese horror films, as it draws on a more recent release that reflects the changes in gender identity and roles in Japan over the past two decades. This research aims to contribute to understanding contemporary Japanese society by examining the representation of stereotypes and the challenges faced by individuals who do not conform to societal expectations. It highlights the need for greater awareness and efforts to promote gender equality, work-family balance, and acceptance of diverse family structures in Japan.Show less

Nakashima Tetsuya, Horror film, Kuru (It Comes), Family formation, Childrearing, Contemporary Japan, Gender, Sexuality, Class division, Stereotypes, Labels, Cultural context, Cultural analysis, Japanese society, Japanese horror cinema, Gender identity, Gender roles, Masculinities, Mirror as metaphor, Societal expectations, Stereotype analysis, Scene analysis,

Author

Roding, Caecilia

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

A.C. Koch-Low
M.E. Crandol

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en