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Shadows of Hiroshima: The Evolution of Atomic Bomb Memories Explored Through Japanese Manga
Seipke, Aidan W
Seipke, Aidan W
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Abstract
This thesis examines how memories of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, are depicted and explored through the works of two Japanese manga (graphic novel) artists, Nakazawa Keiji and Kōno Fumiyo. Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen series is one of the most well-known artistic depictions of the atomic bombing and two of Kōno’s works, Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms and In This Corner of the World, address the bombing and its multigenerational impacts. Nakazawa’s status as a first-generation survivor of the bombing is compared with Kōno’s experience as a later-generation resident of Hiroshima to analyze how memories of the attack have evolved over time and across generations, and how they are represented in popular media. Given the accessibility of works such as these, as well as their lasting reputation and legacy, examining how they convey and even transfer memories of this uniquely traumatic moment in the 20th century will develop a better understanding of how the atomic bombing is collectively remembered.
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2022-01-01