Flappers and モダンガール
September 19, 2009 1:34 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for resources on Flappers from across the world (e.g: モダンガール). Books, links, video, photos - all appreciated!
I don't know if you're looking for fiction at all, and maybe this doesn't fit super neatly into the "flapper" slot, but Naomi by Junichiro Tanizaki is a hell of a good read and seems like it would be an interesting novel to read while thinking about those Japanese "modern girls."
posted by Neofelis at 6:22 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by Neofelis at 6:22 PM on September 19, 2009
For Japan, see at least the first two "otome 乙女 " monographs by Kawamura Kunimitsu 川村邦光. They cover the 1920s Japan mogaru phenomenon. No systematic footnotes, though, so beware of that frustration.
His first two most often-cited works are about this topic are:
オトメの祈り―近代女性イメージの誕生
オトメの身体―女の近代とセクシュアリティ
Use Google Scholar to find reference notes to this work for essays in English and other languages on the topic.
In English, I find Elise Tipton's essay on cafe girls accessible and well-researched. There is also the work of Miriam Silverberg. I am surely omitting others Google Scholar will find for you with the keyword hints I've provided here.
Another keyword to help you in your studies of flappers and the era of flappers in Japan is エロ・グロ・ナンセンス (ero-guro-nansensu).
For tracking down Japanese books, NDL/OPAC is helpful. So is Hollis, Harvard's catalog, and Princeton's because they both allow searches in kanji.
Interlibrary Loan now includes at least Waseda University. If a major research library does not have a Japanese monograph you need to borrow, you can borrow books directly from Waseda's extensive collection. I found nearly every Japanese language book I needed for my own studies in U.S. libraries somewhere willing to lend to me via ILL.
Amazon Japan's prices are reasonable and the more books you buy, shipping costs make sense. It's another good way to search for recent books-- and used books-- on this topic. A lot of used sellers will ship to the US or abroad, but some won't.
I second Naomi as a great introduction to the mogaru and a novel students love. You probably know Naomi is the English title and the original Japanese is 痴人の愛 A Fool's Love.
Full disclosure: Kawamura Kunimitsu was my M.A. thesis advisor. I have no intent to promote the work of someone from my past; He just happens to be one of the first to write about this topic of this query, and his work is a starting point for mogaru studies in Japan.
posted by vincele at 8:10 PM on September 19, 2009
His first two most often-cited works are about this topic are:
オトメの祈り―近代女性イメージの誕生
オトメの身体―女の近代とセクシュアリティ
Use Google Scholar to find reference notes to this work for essays in English and other languages on the topic.
In English, I find Elise Tipton's essay on cafe girls accessible and well-researched. There is also the work of Miriam Silverberg. I am surely omitting others Google Scholar will find for you with the keyword hints I've provided here.
Another keyword to help you in your studies of flappers and the era of flappers in Japan is エロ・グロ・ナンセンス (ero-guro-nansensu).
For tracking down Japanese books, NDL/OPAC is helpful. So is Hollis, Harvard's catalog, and Princeton's because they both allow searches in kanji.
Interlibrary Loan now includes at least Waseda University. If a major research library does not have a Japanese monograph you need to borrow, you can borrow books directly from Waseda's extensive collection. I found nearly every Japanese language book I needed for my own studies in U.S. libraries somewhere willing to lend to me via ILL.
Amazon Japan's prices are reasonable and the more books you buy, shipping costs make sense. It's another good way to search for recent books-- and used books-- on this topic. A lot of used sellers will ship to the US or abroad, but some won't.
I second Naomi as a great introduction to the mogaru and a novel students love. You probably know Naomi is the English title and the original Japanese is 痴人の愛 A Fool's Love.
Full disclosure: Kawamura Kunimitsu was my M.A. thesis advisor. I have no intent to promote the work of someone from my past; He just happens to be one of the first to write about this topic of this query, and his work is a starting point for mogaru studies in Japan.
posted by vincele at 8:10 PM on September 19, 2009
Apologies for assuming you reside in the US. Wherever you are, you should have access to the databases I mentioned and Amazon Japan. Shipping costs vary by location. So does ILL availability.
posted by vincele at 8:13 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by vincele at 8:13 PM on September 19, 2009
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Really, search blogspot. There are a ton of blogs dedicated to flappers, deco and fashions from the 20's and 30's.
posted by fire&wings at 1:43 PM on September 19, 2009