Gentō in "Movement": Reconsidering Still Image Projection Culture within 1950s Social Movements in Japan

• In Event: Visual Imagination and Class: Proletarian Film Movements and Melodramas in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Abstract

In Japanese, "gentō" (magic lantern, slide, filmstrip) means still image projection medium that enlarge the painted or photographic image on transparent slide or film and project them onto the large screen, using the light source and lens. Most of the previous studies on the history of modern visual culture considered that this still image projection medium had thrived through the 17th to the 19th century and started to decline in the early 20th century by the arrival of motion picture. However, in this paper I would like to explore almost unknown history of revival and re-development of gentō in the Showa period Japan, especially focusing on utilization of gentō as propaganda or recording medium in 1950s social movements like labor disputes, anti-US-base actions, anti-nuclear actions, and utagoe movements led by Japan Communist Party. Gentō could be easily handcrafted and screened by amateur activists, gather the audiences, and "mobilize" them into actual social movements by sensation of "movement." Gentō presenters could "move" still images on the screen by several ways like sliding filmstrip in varying pace, or shaking the gentō projector with hands. They also tried to add the sensation of "movement" by screening live performances like singing, clapping hands or tapping feet, choral speaking, and the audiences also could participate in these live performances. So, I try to shed light on these particular visuality and screening performance creating "movement" within gentō culture of 1950s social movements.

Author

• Hana Washitani, Waseda University