Audio-visual Aesthetics of the Minamata-disease documentaries

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12989
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 01050:Aesthetics and art studies-related
• Research Institution: Fukuyama University (2023); Nagoya University (2019-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Masato Dogase 福山大学, 人間文化学部, 准教授 (10774317)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ドキュメンタリー / メディア史 / 水俣病 / 環境問題 / 映像表現 / 映像倫理 / 公害 / メディア表象

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The documentary films of Minamata disease during the 1960-70s hold a complex audio-visual depiction that goes beyond merely accusing the responsible company and appealing for victim relief. Focusing on such works from a cross-media perspective, I examined the structure of the films’ expression and their impact on viewers in addressing environmental issues. As a result, this research reveals the following key points: 1) These documentaries rely on a materiality of “Kiroku (Documenting Records)” that contains an independent agency from the author’s subjectivity. 2) A new ethical dimension emerges, in which a viewer’s subjectivity is combined with the suffering of others through these “Kiroku.” 3) Rather than seeking social justice by condemning wrongdoing, these films aim to raise awareness about environmental issues among diverse audiences.

Free Research Field

映像文化

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

学術的には、美学的な見地から映像音響表現の可能性を分析しただけでなく、水俣ドキュメンタリーの表象と、経済成長を最優先にした時代の社会背景や環境汚染の犠牲との連関を、メディア社会学、石牟礼文学などにも絡め領域横断的に議論した点に本研究の意義がある。また社会的な意義について、悪を裁くことに終始しがちな社会正義ではなく、犠牲を伴う経済活動への反省を多様な人々と共有することに力点を置いた本研究の観点は、気候変動など、人類全体での取り組みを求めるグローバル環境問題の論点と親和性が高い。加えてこの試みが、日本の公害問題への関心を現代に甦らせることにつながれば、その意義はさらに深まるだろう。