Sensō no Bunka, Heiwa no Bunka: Kankoku, Nihon to Tōhoku Ajia no Reisen kara Posuto-Reisen e no Ikō

Abstract

John Dower, in a recent book, argues the importance of examining the role played by media and public discourse in preparing the ground for political and military conflict. Focusing on the relationship between Japan and Korea, I examine the role that popular visual cultures have played in promoting conflict and in promoting peace. In the first part of the chapter I consider how cartoons and press photography were used to generate stereotypes during the Korean War era. I then go on to look at some examples of the visual arts as media for bridging the cultural divide between Japan and the two Korean in the present day.