P. Skelly thesis proposal

Title

The Pain Game – An Analysis of Japanese Game Shows

Abstract

Pretty much everyone can enjoy a good game show, and since American ones haven’t had a creative spurt in years (focusing instead on reality television), it’s time to adopt some shows from overseas. Audiences in the U.S. have been watching Japanese programming for years, only recently has there been an increased flux in the induction of game shows. While the new viewers can understand the gist of what’s going on, they fail to understand the underlying cultural significance of the shows, as well as reasoning, in addition to the overall difference in style between game shows in the U.S. versus ones from Japan.

Alternative opening: Since the episode of The Simpsons where the family went to Japan and entered a Japanese game show to win tickets back to Springfield, interest in Japanese game shows has had a noticeable increase.

Description

Through this project I hope to take a look at a variety of Japanese game shows to determine what elements are common among the shows, unique to Japan, and borrowed from other countries, as well as the overall themes and styles.

With those characteristics in mind, I hope to analyze the game shows in comparison to Japanese culture on the whole, global game show culture, and, perhaps, global cultures. This will hopefully help determine the origins of the Japanese style of game shows (were they based on more traditional games? Literature? Video games? Is it a post-war response?), if, indeed, there is any significance.

I also hope to prove what the point and purpose of Japanese game shows are. Do they reflect Japanese culture? Are they more akin to other cultures (American, European)? Does the individual truly triumph or is there a hidden communal aspect? When a contestant is on a game show, are they reflective of themselves, or do they take on the role of a designated character? Is the audience a character? Can these shows, where nearly anything goes and most of the time feature punishment more than reward, even be considered, in the proper sense, game shows?

Media Presentation

I think one of the best ways to present this project would be through the use of Korsikow. Through Korsikow, the similarities between the programs, through the implementation of embedded keywords, can help the viewer with their experience of the shows. As well, the keywords can also link to interviews that provide analyses of either specific game shows, Japanese culture, global game show culture, or global culture, as well as an overall interpretation of what one expects from a Japanese game show.

Alt.: Should Korsikow not prove to be enough, a DVD or the use of Flash may be pursued. A DVD would allow people to view the material in different ways (e.g. with commentary over a clip) as well as include interviews, and perhaps more functions (a trivia game?). Should the project require a more robust multimedia option, Flash would be employed as it can offer several of the same functions as Korsikow, albeit through more difficult means.

Advisors

Steve Anderson

(potential) Akira Mizuta Lippitt

(potential) Yumi Matsumoto

Budget

Unless a trip to Japan is imminent, this should be a relatively cheap project. The main costs would be courtesy of any access needed to Japanese game show programs/networks. As well, transportation fees may also play a role, though those should be negligible. Camera equipment and such should more than likely be available from IML, hopefully programs will be, too (Final Cut Pro, AfterEffects; Korsikow can be downloaded free).

Total: < $500

Timeline

Summer:

-Research game shows by viewing clips found online and on TV

-Compare original Japanese versions of game shows to U.S. dubbed versions

Fall:

-Complete interviews

-Edit interviews

Spring:

-Format and incorporate clips and interviews to Korsikow

Production Resources

Korsikow

FinalCut Pro

AfterEffects

Cameras and perhaps some lighting equipment (for interviews)

A DVD (should it come to that)

Flash device (?)

Prior related work

None

Research

Clips from Youtube and various other random websites

Clips/episodes from Japanese TV websites