Perception of youth through cultural values Japanese and American Films from the Early 2000’s Addie Gingold JAPN 310: Japanese Cinema

Featured films The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Summer Wars Group versus the individual Summer Wars Interactions with family Kamikaze Girls Values of self-expression

Analytical design Collected American films that follow similar storylines Compared how the young characters act according to general cultural values Address messages to young audience through the actions of young characters

Major paper contents Group versus the individual The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Independence and motivation of American youth Interactions with family Summer Wars Cheaper by the Dozen Social hierarchy Sempai-kouhai structure Mean Girls Values of self-expression Kamikaze Girls She’s the Man Globalization via film

conclusions Japanese films display young characters that subtly challenge traditional viewpoints actions of young characters in American films depict current social issues perceptions of adolescents in movies can be a medium for major social change LIMITATIONS Articles taken form adult perspective Films don’t always address variety of social problems