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The Kaiju Film
A Critical Study of Cinema's Biggest Monsters
by Jason Barr
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Book Presentation:
The Kaiju (strange monster or strange beast) film genre has a number of themes that go well beyond the “big monsters stomping on cities” motif. Since the seminal King Kong 1933) and the archetypal Godzilla (1954), kaiju has mined the subject matter of science run amok, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism and pollution. This critical examination of kaiju considers the entirety of the genre—the major franchises, along with less well known films like Kronos (1957), Monsters (2010) and Pacific Rim (2013). The author examines how kaiju has crossed cultures from its original folkloric inspirations in both the U.S. and Japan and how the genre continues to reflect national values to audiences.
About the Author:
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.
Press Reviews:
"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
See the publisher website: McFarland & Co
> From the same author:
Giant Creatures in Our World (2017)
Essays on Kaiju and American Popular Culture
Dir. Camille D.G. Mustachio and Jason Barr
> On a related topic:
Japan's Green Monsters (2018)
Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema
by Sean Rhoads and Brooke McCorkle
21st Century Kaiju (2023)
The Resurgence of Giant Monster Movies
The Truths of Monsters (2021)
Coming of Age with Fantastic Media
Magic, Monsters, and Make-Believe Heroes (2019)
How Myth and Religion Shape Fantasy Culture
Dinosaurs Ever Evolving (2016)
The Changing Face of Prehistoric Animals in Popular Culture
Prehistoric Monsters (2009)
The Real and Imagined Creatures of the Past That We Love to Fear
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