Kaiju Film

Jason Barr is an associate professor at Blue Ridge Community College. His work has appeared in African American Review, Explicator, The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, and The Journal of Caribbean Literatures, among others. He lives in Weyers Cave, Virginia.

“written with both a fan’s indulgence and a scholar’s hard-core grasp of information...for aficionados of the genre, this is splendid stuff”—DVD Choices; “fascinating”—G-Fan; “Barr provides the most comprehensive exploration of kaiju cinema to date”—Diabolique Magazine; “essential reading for both fans of the genre and those interested in film scholarship, as it aims to provide an in-depth analysis of these movies...and it succeeds...an insightful examination of giant monster movies from across the globe...well-written, thoroughly researched...engaging...highly recommended”—Dread Central; “this may be the most sober book ever written and that ever will be written on the subject, as Barr takes these films very seriously...an incredible depth of knowledge”—Flick Attack; “Barr takes on an incredible task...a healthy balance that will enlighten fans without scaring away the newcomers...Barr successfully places the kaiju film within the context of Japanese culture, in ways few have probably considered...Barr has done his research, and has obviously sat down with these films—even the most obscure ones—more than a few times. With The Kaiju Film, he joins the ranks of Godzilla scholars”—Killer Reviews.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroduction: A Genre ApartToward a New Definition 8; The Field of Study 18; Backgroundthe Genre 21; The Impact on Cultures1. The Japanese Origins of the KaijuYokai 26; Bunraku 28; Kabuki 32; Noh2. Disasters, Manmade and NaturalNuclear Disasters 37; Natural Disasters 49; Terrorism 52; Pollution3. International and Domestic PoliticsThe End of Empires 70; Internal Politics 76; Modern International Relationships4. Science and the Weapons of Mass DestructionScience as Destroyer 106; The Japanese ­Self-Defense Forces5. America and KaijuViolence 123; American Size and Might6. The Body, Gender, and KaijuWomen in Kaiju Cinema 156; Body Horror7. The Role of NostalgiaConclusion: What’s Next?FilmographyChapter NotesBibliographyIndex