Environmentalism, folklore, identity and a struggle for the environment are all enveloped in this magical Studio Ghibli movie.
Come watch it with us while enjoying some free pizza and some good conversation. The movie screening will be followed by a discussion, led by dr. Peter Versteeg. Dr. Versteeg is an anthropologist and specialises in material dimension of religion, as well as the interdisciplinary study of film and literature.
This evening is part of AnthroCine and is co-organised by NEWConnective.
The movie
Pom Poko, directed by Isao Takahata, is a 1994 animation film that explores themes of environmentalism, folklore, and the clash between tradition and modernity. The story follows shape-shifting tanuki (raccoon dogs) as they struggle to protect their forest from destruction caused by urban development in Japan. The film addresses anthropological themes such as human-environment interaction and the loss of cultural traditions due to modernization, but also dives into questions of identity and being.
This movie night is also the On Campus Edition of the podcast episode The Personal and the Communal You of The Connective, NEWConnective's own podcast.