Morphology of Shinpa Film: An Essential Figure of the Cinematic Form in Japanese Film between 1913 and 1923

• Wednesday, June 5, 6 p.m. Mousonturm Studio 1
• Entrance free

The term "Shinpa" originally refers to theatre history and means "New School". In a cinematic context, "Shinpa" describes those films made between 1913 and 1923 that contained strong theatrical elements. In comparison to the "Pure Film Drama", influenced by the western style, the Shinpa Film was underrated by critics, but very well received by the contemporary audience. This lecture focuses on the phenomenon of Shinpa films, how they were appreciated and why they suddenly disappeared.

Hiroshi KOMATSU was born in 1956. He is a Film Historian and Professor of Film History at the Faculty of Literature at Waseda University in Tokyo.

Additional lecture of Hiroshi KOMATSU at Goethe University (film room at the IG-Hochhaus - IG 7.312) - 6 June, 6:00pm: What did the Cinematograph mean for Japan: Filmmaking in Japan 1897-1900. The earliest stage of Japanese film history.