Images Of Women In Japanese Pop Art

Superflat: Images of Women in Japanese Pop Art

By Cherise Fuselier

The Modern Art Scene of Japan Not as popular as American scene Artists gain recognition in America first I will look at pop artists Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara

Takashi Murakami Japanese Andy Warhol

phD in nihon-ga

Creator of Hiropon Factory and coined “superflat”

Japanese techniques of flatness of the picture plane, good line and composition Western influence Aftermath of World War II Sexual energy of Lolicom imagery Influence from anime, manga, and otaku

Murakami: Miss Ko Anime-style Blonde hair, blue eyes, white skin Large breasts, long legs, high heels Maid/schoolgirl outfit Pleasant expression, outstretched hand, crossed legs

Murakami: Hiropon Fantasy, anime-like style Large breasts, long legs, thin waist, light skin Almost naked with a bare vagina Right leg jointed up at the knee Breast milk “jump rope”

Nara: The Girl With the Knife Red dress, red hair, green eyes, rouge, pale skin Short, chubby, large ears, large mouth, nose, eyes Yielding very small knife Looks cute, but menacing

Nara: The Night Walker Naracharacteristic girl Short brown hair, green dress, oversized head, chubby, short arms and legs Large, vacant, and empty eyes Zombie-like pose

Artist Comparison Murakami Hyper-feminine bodies Anime/manga influence Sexual objects Otaku/pop culture audience

Nara Young girls in dresses Attitudes Undersized and ineffective weapons Vacant stares and expressions and detached states

Conclusion and Impressions Women are sexual objects. Although glorified, they are to be consumed. The female body depicted in the media is not realistic for the majority of women Women cannot be taken seriously as intellectual beings Women cannot be taken seriously as angry, threatening beings