Idology in Transcultural Perspective : Anthropological Investigations of Popular Idolatry

This edited volume expands on what Aoyagi Hiroshi intended in the first decade of the new millennium to establish as a subfield of symbolic anthropology called "idology." It brings together case studies of popular idolatry in Japan, but goes further to provide a transcultural perspective to guide anthropological investigations in different places and times. In proposing an integrated paradigm for the growing body of literature on idols, the volume redirects recurrent questions to more fundamental points of sociocultural inquiry. Contributions from scholars conducting ethnographic fieldwork, as well as those engaged in theoretical and historical analyses, facilitate comparative reading and critical thought. Exceeding a narrow focus on human idols, the chapters shed new light on virtual idols and YouTubers, cartoon characters and voices, robot idols and cybernetic systems. Science and technology studies thus comes together with theories of animation and anthropological work on life in more-than-human worlds. Aoyagi Hiroshi is Professor in the School of Asia 21 at Kokushikan University in Tokyo. He is the author of Islands of Eight Million Smiles: Idol Performance and Symbolic Production in Contemporary Japan (Harvard University Asia Center, 2005). Patrick W. Galbraith is Associate Professor in the School of International Communication at Senshū University in Tokyo. He is the author and editor of many books on Japanese media and popular culture. Mateja Kovacic is Assistant Professor in the Animation and Media Arts program, Academy of Film, School of Communication, at Hong Kong Baptist University. She researches intersections between science, technology and popular culture Preface References Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Diagrams Chapter 1: Idology in Transcultural Perspective: Anthropological Investigations of Popular Idolatry Now and Then, Here and There Technology and Animation Overview of Chapters References Chapter 2: On Popular Idolatry: A Reflexive Symbological Spin Introduction: Revisiting Our Mission Spinning Idology: Probing the Web of Idol Symbolism Meta-framing Popular Idolatry Idols as Tricksters Inspirations from Symbolic Anthropology: Liminality and Communitas The Forest of Idols Communitas of Liminoid Pop-Idols Revisiting the Symbology of Popular Idolatry: Idol and Agency Acting with Idols Conclusion References Chapter 3: Idols that Speak: How Psyche and Material Culture Co-construct Each Other Introduction: Spirits from the Past Definition and Theoretical Agenda First Theme: Reuniting Mind and Material Culture—Extended Mind Thesis Second Theme: Vestiges of an Earlier Mentality Third Theme: The Socially Integrative Function of Idols Idols of the Bicameral Period A Theory of Idolatry: Vertical and Horizontal Reinforcement Old Testament Terms for Idols Idols of the Post-bicameral Period Conclusion: Lessons About the Agency and Social Organizational Power of Material Culture The Abstraction of Idols: The Decline and Fragmentation of Super-Religious Authorization After the Gods Grew Silent: Post-bicameral Idols The New Gods of the Nation and Political Ideology Consumutopian Idols of Belonging and Belongings Searching for New Idols in “Personality” References Chapter 4: Idol Economics: Television, Affective and Virtual Models in Japan Introduction The Television Model The Affective Model The Virtual Model Conclusion References Chapter 5: Cyborg in Idology Studies: Symbiosis of Animating Humans and Machines Introduction A Cyber Idol Epistemology Technological Extensions into the Material World Cyborg Epistemology Cyber Idol Bringing into Life by Effacement and Embodiment Mechanically Animated Religious Idols: From Japanese Techno-Animism toward Universal Techno-Animisms Japanese Techno-Animism Animated Religious Machines Scientific Origins of Animating Religious Images and Popular Characters Cyber Fetishism, Cyber Idol Commodification and Cyber Folk Cyber Folk Conclusion References Chapter 6: The “Ultimate Athlete:” Bruce Lee, Martial Arts and the Pursuit of Human Perfection Introduction Bruce Lee and the Pursuit of Human Perfection Bruce Lee and the Human Potential Movement in Europe and the United States Meditative Tranquility, Disciplined Violence, Quiescent Stillness Human Potential, Athletics and the Body Bruce Lee: The Ultimate Athlete Conclusion: Returning to the Screen—Lee’s Visual Presence References Chapter 7: Idolization of Miyazaki Ken Local Mascots and Himukaizer Local Heroes: The Animate Spirits of Miyazaki, Japan Introduction Comparative Religiosity of Local Mascots and Local Heroes Local Characters as Iconic of Locality Theramin and the Miyazaki Ken Local Heroes and the Locals Who Love Them Animating Miyazaki’s Legends with Himukaizer Heroic Values and Fan Service Involvement via Embodiment: The Filming of Kamikui Part 2 Ongoing Fan Engagement and Embodiment Conclusion References Chapter 8: Sacralize a Digital Character to Enhance Its Charm? Japanese Love Games and Female Fan Strategy Introduction Making “As If” and the Ritual Dimension of Play Oshi to Share: Video Games and Commensality An Altar to Worship Characters From Gods to Goods: Making Visible What Only the Heart Can See Scent for Descent, Light to Enlight: Resonance Metaphors Buying Goods as a Means to Express Gratitude Look How Much I Love My Oshi! Conclusion: Getting Involved with Someone Fictitious? References Chapter 9: “He Is My Precious:” The Cross-Referential Consumption and Use of “2.5-D” Idols in the King of Prism “Ōenjōei” Screening Series Introduction An Overview of Screening Styles from the 1930s to Ōenjōei from the 2000s From Sing-a-Long to “Cheer-a-Long” in Movie Theaters in Japan The Introduction of “Cheer-a-Long” Style to Non-music-Oriented Films Narratives of the King of Prism Series Audience-Made Rules for King of Prism: PR The Seamless Link from Films to TV Anime Series Fans’ Activities to Worship Fictional Characters Fans’ Practices in Other Media Platforms of King of Prism Conclusion References Filmography and Teleography Chapter 10: Love Live! as an Affective-Religious Medium in the Postsecular Era Introduction Postsecular and Capitalist Realism The Technological Condition of Anime and Affect The Voice of a Character and the Affective Interaction Conclusion References Chapter 11: Idolatry and Mediumship: Topologies of Affect in Japanese Media Culture Introduction The Seiyūesque Rethinking Idols Conclusion References Index This edited volume expands on what Aoyagi Hiroshi intended in the first decade of the new millennium to establish as a subfield of symbolic anthropology called "idology." It brings together case studies of popular idolatry in Japan, but goes further to provide a transcultural perspective to guide anthropological investigations in different places and times. In proposing an integrated paradigm for the growing body of literature on idols, the volume redirects recurrent questions to more fundamental points of sociocultural inquiry. Contributions from scholars conducting ethnographic fieldwork, as well as those engaged in theoretical and historical analyses, facilitate comparative reading and critical thought. Exceeding a narrow focus on human idols, the chapters shed new light on virtual idols and YouTubers, cartoon characters and voices, robot idols and cybernetic systems. Science and technology studies thus comes together with theories of animation and anthropological work on life in more-than-human worlds. Aoyagi Hiroshi is Professor in the School of Asia 21 at Kokushikan University in Tokyo. He is the author of Islands of Eight Million Smiles: Idol Performance and Symbolic Production in Contemporary Japan (Harvard University Asia Center, 2005). Patrick W. Galbraith is Associate Professor in the School of International Communication at Senshū University in Tokyo. He is the author and editor of many books on Japanese media and popular culture. Mateja Kovacic is Assistant Professor in the Animation and Media Arts program, Academy of Film, School of Communication, at Hong Kong Baptist University. She researches intersections between science, technology and popular culture