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Social and Cultural Criticism Studio
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A studio that uses “criticism” as its axis to examine social and cultural phenomena from multiple perspectives.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring society and culture through “criticism”
The Social and Cultural Criticism Studio uses “criticism” as its keyword to explore a wide range of social and cultural phenomena through both theory and practice.
The studio's keywords are thought, sociology, history, sound culture, and literature.
Beyond literature research, students also do fieldwork on themes such as new modes of consumer society, the rise of subcultures, and cross-cultural encounters and history.
Some programs involve creating works and holding workshops grounded in theoretical inquiry.
Key terms
- Psychoanalysis
- A way of thinking based on the theories of Freud and Lacan. It is the foundation of Professor Kiyota's research.
- Sound art
- Contemporary art concerned with sound and listening. The term appears in the title of Associate Professor Nakagawa's book.
- Cultural diplomacy
- Diplomacy conducted through culture. Professor Park particularly studies diplomacy mediated by performing arts such as theater and dance.
ResearchResearch themes
Aiming to help students develop the thinking and writing skills to examine social and cultural phenomena from multiple perspectives, the studio conducts theoretical and practical inquiry according to each faculty member's specialty. The faculty's fields include psychoanalysis, sound art, modern and contemporary Japanese history, French literature, and urban sociology.
*Illustrative imagePsychoanalysis and Subculture
Professor Kiyota studies contemporary thought, subculture, otaku culture, sexuality, film, television, and the internet, with the psychoanalysis of Freud and Lacan as the core.
*Illustrative imageSound Art and Sound Media
Associate Professor Nakagawa studies sound culture and musicology, focusing on sound art and music media theory. Associate Professor Nakagawa considers it important for the humanities to be aware of the meaning and value of examining something with clarity.
*Illustrative imagePerforming Arts and Cultural Diplomacy
Professor Park studies cultural diplomacy, total cultural mobilization, and cultural policy toward the colonies in Showa-era Japan. Focusing on outreach through performing arts such as theater and dance, Professor Park examines modern and contemporary Japanese history in relation to East Asia and the world.
*Illustrative imageExploring Engagement with Cities through Literature
Professor Hikoe specializes in French literature and literary theory, and explores through literary works how people have engaged with cities and how they can. From there, Professor Hikoe also pursues practical inquiry into actions that are possible in everyday life.
MembersFaculty
- ProfessorTomonori Kiyota
- Associate ProfessorKatsushi Nakagawa
- ProfessorSangmi Park
- ProfessorTomohiro Hikoe
- ProfessorRinpei Miura
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Julio Ruelas - Criticism - Google Art Project” Julio Ruelas ( ) – Painter (Mexican) Born in Zacatecas. Died in Paris. Details on Google Art Project / Public domain (cropped)
- Psychoanalysis and Subculture: “Japan Bookstore” Bobby / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Sound Art and Sound Media: “M³ (the sound in between invisible and visible), 64m³ (2017), Sound Room @Asia Culture Center, GRAYCODE(Taebok Cho)” Wikixxzz / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Performing Arts and Cultural Diplomacy: “LEFTOVER- Theater Performance from Garage Theater Company 34” Mostafameraji / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Exploring Engagement with Cities through Literature: “Lithuanian literature in the Kaunas library (Ąžuolyno biblioteka), May 2026” Bdx / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Overseas Research Studio): “Mexico City, the capital and most-populous city of the Latin American nation (iss073e0075943)” NASA Johnson Space Center / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Social Analysis Studio): “Jalankulkijoita ylittämässä katua Kaivokadun ja Keskuskadun risteyksessä - N105823 - hkm.HKMS i” Erkki Salmela / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Arts and Culture Studio): “Lucio Salvatore, Metaelementi, Museu de Arte Moderna, MAM Rio de Janeiro” Luciosalvatore / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Socio-Ecological Informatics Lab): “2016. Lake sediment core. Forlorn Lakes. Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington. ( )” R6, State & Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection / Public domain (cropped)
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