The Technological Imagination of Imperial Japan, 1931-1945

Asian Division of The Library of Congress & Asian Division Friends Society Present:

2008 Florence Tan Moeson Fellow's Talk

Date and Time: Thursday, June 19th, Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Place: Asian Division Conference Room (Jefferson Building - LJ149)

Speaker: Dr. Aaron Moore (Ohio University)

Title: The Technological Imagination of Imperial Japan, 1931-1945

Dr. Moore will examine the relationship between technology, ideology, and power in Japan and its empire during the wartime years (1931-1945). The talk does not explore the hard technology per se, but the more idealistic values and behaviors that were associated with technology such as creativity, efficiency, systematization, and optimalization. In particular, he will discuss one high-level colonial bureaucrat and one prominent ideologue, who viewed technology as a way to envision and construct a systematized, functionalist society that would mobilize creative, autonomous, modern subjects-and therefore, overcome some of the ills of modernity such as class and ethnic conflict. While such ideas justified militarism and imperialism during the war, they continued into the post-war Japanese "economic miracle.“ In sum, Dr. Moore will trace how state power in wartime and post-war Japan operated through particular ideologies intended to mobilize people towards national goals and, in the process, eliminate popular, transformative critique.

Contact: Eiichi Ito (202) 707-8054 or eito@loc.gov

Note: Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362
(voice/TTY) or email ADA@loc.gov