| Before establishing a position in the film industry, Japanese cinema underwent a turbulent period of development. The arrival of film in the early twentieth century was met with resistance from Japanese traditionalists, who refused to adapt to cultural influences from the West. However, the Japanese government encouraged modernization, and with the advent of the Second World War, aspiring filmmakers struggled to appeal to Japanese audiences. By the end of the Allied Occupation (1952), the impact of foreign media and postwar society had radically altered Japanese cinema, providing a new understanding of its potential. Through an analysis of pivotal Japanese films and filmmakers, this thesis will investigate how Japanese cinema transformed after the Second World War, and how its difficult upbringing shaped Japanese film narratives and aesthetics. Moreover, this thesis will explore the adaptations to prewar Japanese traditions and the creation of new representational forms in modern and contemporary films. |
