Shadows on the Screen: Tanizaki Jun'ichirō on Cinema and "Oriental" Aesthetics

This book examines Japanese writer Tanizaki Jun'ichirō's engagement with cinema and his writings about film during the early 20th century. Through analysis of Tanizaki's essays, novels, and criticism, Lamarre explores how the author's fascination with film technology influenced his literary works and aesthetic theories. The text focuses on Tanizaki's interpretation of cinema as a meeting point between Western modernization and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Lamarre analyzes Tanizaki's film scenarios, his work with film production companies, and his theoretical writings about the relationship between literature and film. Tanizaki's development of "Oriental" aesthetics serves as a framework to examine broader questions about modernity, technology, and cultural identity in early 20th century Japan. The book contextualizes these ideas within Japanese film history and the period's rapid social changes. The study reveals complex intersections between literature, visual media, and cultural theory while exploring how new technologies reshape artistic traditions. Through Tanizaki's perspective, the book considers fundamental questions about the nature of modernization and cross-cultural exchange in the arts.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this academic text about Tanizaki's film writings. What readers liked: - Details Tanizaki's early involvement with Japanese cinema - Analyzes how film influenced his literary techniques - Makes connections between cinema and Japanese aesthetics - Provides translations of hard-to-find Tanizaki essays - Academic rigor and research quality What readers disliked: - Dense theoretical language requiring film studies background - High price point for specialized academic audience - Limited availability outside university libraries Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No customer reviews WorldCat: Listed in 297 libraries The book appears primarily used in film studies and Japanese literature courses rather than by general readers. Most discussion occurs in academic journals and course syllabi rather than consumer review sites. Note: The limited public reviews make it difficult to assess broad reader sentiment about this specialized scholarly work.

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🎬 Tanizaki Jun'ichirō was one of the first major Japanese writers to engage seriously with cinema, writing screenplays and film criticism as early as the 1910s when the medium was still in its infancy. 🖋️ The book explores how Tanizaki's early fascination with film technology and Western modernity later evolved into his famous appreciation for traditional Japanese aesthetics, as detailed in his essay "In Praise of Shadows." 🌏 Author Thomas Lamarre connects Tanizaki's writings on film with larger cultural debates of the 1920s and 30s about "Oriental" aesthetics, modernization, and Japan's relationship with the West. 🎥 The book includes translations of Tanizaki's film reviews and scenarios that have never before been available in English, providing unique insights into early Japanese cinema culture. 🎯 Tanizaki's complex relationship with cinema influenced his literary style, leading him to experiment with "cinematic" techniques in his novels and short stories, particularly in works like "Naomi" and "Some Prefer Nettles."