The Acceptance of Photography in Japan During the Early Meiji Era: with a Focus on the Imanari Family Photography Collection in Muika-machi, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25884026
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Aesthetics and studies on art
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: ENOMOTO Chikako 新潟大学, 人文社会・教育科学系, 助教 (80710384)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 写真 / 浮世絵 / 歌舞伎 / 黄表紙 / 写し絵 / 蓄音機 / 活動写真 / 文学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

With a focus on the Imanari family photography collection, this research project examines the acceptance of photography in Japan during the early Meiji era. I examine the socio-cultural impact of photography and the relationship between photographic practices and the preceding visual culture; Kabuki, Ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints), Kibyoshi (Japanese picture books) et al..
To clarify the acceptance of photography, I examine popular cliches related to photography; “photography of mind”, “photography of voice”, “photography of action”. “Photography of mind” is under the influence of the acceptance of western optical apparatuses such as magic lanterns in the Edo period. At the same time, this cliche functions as a symbol of the innovations of the contemporary literature.“Photography of voice” and “photography of action” have an influence on the acceptance of other new audio-visual media; Chikuon-ki (phonograph), Katsudo-shashin (moving picture).

Free Research Field

写真史