Society and science shape each other in complex ways. Science shapes society by the capabilities and limitations of the technologies used by the society. Society shapes science and technology (as social activities) by assigning value to some aspects of science but not others. One of the tools society uses to shape the practice of science and the application of technology is storytelling.
Storytelling is performed for many reasons but one of the more important ones is to provide a space to “make sense” of the individual and the society in which the individual resides, and the changes in society caused by technology. Stories place the impacts of technological change into an understandable framework that allows for both personal and communal understanding of what it is to be human in the presence of a society’s use of a technology.
Storytelling also serves to direct the individual and societies decisions by providing landmarks to guide individuals and society in decision making. For more than forty years I have studied the unintended impacts of technology on public health and the environment (publications). During this time I observed that the telling and retelling of stories within various groups shaped how scientific and technical findings were chosen to inform policy, direct commercial activity, and define research goals.
Japanese animation, or anime, has emerged as a powerful medium for storytelling that while profoundly Japanese speaks to individuals around the world. This appeal, in part, is due to the stories’ ability to provide meaningful responses to the changes that modern technology has had on Japanese culture. Such findings are relevant to the experiences of individuals in other cultures because the same technologies are affecting all cultures.
The following presentation was given at the Mechademia conference in September 2011. Mechademia conferences (http://www.mechademia.net) are held annually at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and biennially in Asia.
Studying Anime 