The History Graduate Student Association is delighted to announce our 2024 Spring Speaker Lecture will be delivered by Prof. Takashi Fujitani on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30pm in the Duane Physics G130, DUAN. Dr. Fujitani’s talk will juxtapose Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed Unforgiven (1992) against Lee Sang-il’s “remake” (Yurusarezaru mono, 2013) of the film as a method for understanding the U.S. and Japan as subregions of the Asia-Pacific that became comparable and mutually constitutive nation-states, settler colonial powers, and empires. It considers key themes in political philosophy across these imperial nations — such as the violence of law, sovereign power, prostitution, domesticity, and historical memory and accountability — while foregrounding issues of indigeneity, capitalism, and settler colonialism in a transpacific framing. While Eastwood’s many Westerns are well known, Yurusarezaru mono is Lee’s only offering in this genre. Lee’s first film, Chong (1998, 2001), is in part based upon his own life growing up as a postcolonial, ethnic Korean in Japan. His more well-known films include Hula Girl (2006), The Villain (Akunin, 2010), and Rage (Ikari, 2016). The talk will be followed by a Q&A. 

ABOUT DR. FUJITANA

Takashi Fujitani is the Dr. David Chu Chair in Asia Pacific Studies at the University of Toronto, where he is also a Professor of History. His major works include: Splendid Monarchy (UC Press, 1996); Race for Empire: Koreans as Japanese and Japanese as Americans During WWII (UC Press, 2011); and Perilous Memories: The Asia Pacific War(s) (co-edited, Duke U. Press, 2001). He is editor of the book series Asia Pacific Modern (UC Press) and is currently working on several books: Whose ‘Good War’? a Postnationalist History of WWII in the Asia-Pacific; Promise of Freedom: Rethinking Modernity through Japan; and Cold War Clint: Asians, “Indians,” and Others in an American Political (Un)conscious.  

The event is open to all students, faculty, and wider members of the Boulder community, no RSVP required. We hope to see you at what promises to be a fascinating event.