Call for papers: Architecture, Anime and Alternate Landscapes
Society of Architectural Historians Annual Meeting, April 2006

We are pleased to announce the following conference session on anime,
architecture and visual culture to be held at the 2006 Annual Meeting of
the Society of Architectural Historians. This is an interdisciplinary
session that extends beyond the limits of conventional architectural
history to encompass the visual realms of real and imagined architecture,
landscapes and cities in all of their manifestations. Papers are not
limited to historical perspectives; contemporary views on the subject are
equally welcome. In order to encourage a cross-disciplinary dialogue we
are seeking papers from individuals in all fields that deal with visual
culture. Details of the session's theme are given below; the deadline for
submission of abstracts is September 10, 2005. Send abstracts to Don Choi
(dchoicalpoly.edu) and Vimalin Rujivacharakul (vrujivacharakulgetty.edu)

Vimalin Rujivacharakul
Getty Fellow
The Getty Research Institute
1200 Getty Center Dr. #1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049

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Architecture, Anime and Alternate Landscape

In the decades since Osama Tezuka's Astro Boy (1963), Japanese anime
artists and studios have produced a remarkable array of futuristic worlds,
surreal spaces, and imaginary landscapes. Works such as Space Battleship
Yamato (1974), Akira (1988), and Spirited Away (2001) present vivid
alternative worlds, drawing on sources from Japanese mythology to atomic
devastation to post-modern cities. Anime has spurred the creation of
architectural narratives and landscapes unachievable in realms limited by
physical structures. In spite of the visual exuberance and spatial
creativity of anime-inspired worlds, writings on the relationship between
anime and the spatial imagination remain rare, for most discussion on
anime from anthropology and Asian studies focus mainly on social and
cultural issues. This panel thus invites papers that explore the
intertwined notions of imagined space and architecture in anime; or which
address the relationship between anime and the production of space in
visual and physical landscapes of other realms. Papers may take varied
research perspectives, including those of anthropology, Asian studies,
historiography, history of art and architecture, material culture, and
visual studies. For instance, a visual analysis of the chicken-and-egg
relationship between anime and digital architecture would be as welcome as
a historical study of the commonalities between Metabolist designs and the
architectural landscape of 1960s Japanese animation such as Tezuka's Astro
Boy. We particularly welcome papers from figures in the contemporary art
world such as art and film critics, graphic designers, and digital-effect
artists, as well as papers that can address the subject through
cross-cultural and trans-regional channels. Andrew Perchuk, Head of
Contemporary Programs and Research Department at the Getty Research
Institute, will serve as the discussant.
Send proposals to

Vimalin Rujivacharakul,
The Getty Research Institute,
1200 Getty Center Dr. #1100,
Los Angeles, CA 90049
vrujivacharakulgetty.edu

and

Don Choi,
Architecture Department,
California Polytechnic State University,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
(dchoicalpoly.edu)

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