H-Japan Publication "Heian Literature in Manga"
Discussion published by Gergana Ivanova on Friday, April 23, 2021
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to announce the publication of a collection of articles inJapanese Language and Literature (JLL) that focus on manga adaptations of Heian-period literary works. Titled “Heian Literature in Manga,” this special section of the journal explores the multiple functions that manga rewritings of classical literature perform in present-day Japan. The articles examine recent rewritings of the following works:Taketori monogatari, Ise monogatari, Makura no sōshi, Genji monogatari, Sarashina nikki, and Izumi Shikibu nikki. Some of the questions these studies address are: Why do so many manga adaptations of Japanese “classics” appear in the book market every year? Why are they marketed as educational tools although they differ tremendously from the source texts? What influence has manga had in popularizing classical literature? How are literary works of the distant past utilized to address current social issues in Japan, including women’s empowerment, sexual violence, gender and sexuality, and cultural nationalism?
“All of these articles demonstrate how manga adaptations recontextualize Heian writers and their works in the familiar landscape of today to bring them closer to the reader and emphasize the timeless and enduring character of classical literature. Using contemporary Japanese slang, visually stunning art, and universal themes such as sexuality, family, and life paths for women, manga successfully transform ancient texts into engaging, accessible works that continue to spark interest in Japan’s literary heritage in the twenty-first century and broaden readers’ knowledge of the past. These studies can thus contribute to effective teaching of classical literature both within and outside Japan.”
The articles can be accessed here: https://jll.pitt.edu/ojs/JLL .
Best wishes,
Gergana Ivanova
University of Cincinnati
Citation: Gergana Ivanova. Publication "Heian Literature in Manga". H-Japan. 04-23-2021. https://networks.h-net.org/node/20904/discussions/7611071/publication-heian-literature-manga Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1