International Conference: “Invisible Empire: Spirits and Animism in Contemporary Japan”

When:
February 25, 2017 – February 26, 2017 all-day America/Los Angeles Timezone
2017-02-25T00:00:00-08:00
2017-02-27T00:00:00-08:00
Where:
SSMS 2135
Social Sciences and Media Studies
Isla Vista, CA 93117
USA
Cost:
Free
Contact:
Fabio Rambelli

About

This conference is an attempt to take seriously the metaphysical implications of the contemporary Japanese culture of spirits. Presentations will analyze various modes of representation of spirits (in contemporary art, architecture, visual culture, cinema, diffuse spirituality) and at the same time addressing their underlying intellectual and religious assumptions which, in the case of a few important authors, were made explicit as part of larger philosophical endeavors. The papers will analyze specific cases of “animistic attitudes” in which the presence of “spirits” and spiritual forces is alleged, attempt to trace cultural genealogies of those attitudes, and produce conceptual maps of current animistic ideas about spirits.
Visit the conference website for full details:

Organized by Fabio Rambelli, ISF Chair of Shinto Studies

Sponsors

UC Santa Barbara’s departments of: East Asian Languages and Cultural StudiesReligious Studies, History of Art and ArchitectureEnglishFilm and Media StudiesComparative LiteratureInterdisciplinary Humanities Center and East Asia Center.