Be a Shining Star With Your Voice!": An Ethnographic Study of Japanese Voice Actors and Their Education / Hei-won Byun.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Byun, Hei-won, author.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania. Anthropology, degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language.

Asian studies.

Cultural anthropology.

Linguistics.

Anthropology--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Anthropology.

Local Subjects:

Language.

Asian studies.

Cultural anthropology.

Linguistics.

Anthropology--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Anthropology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (264 pages)

Contained In:

Dissertations Abstracts International 85-01A.

Place of Publication:

[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] : University of Pennsylvania, 2022.

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2023

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This dissertation is comprised of ethnographic research that has revealed the mediatized nature of seiyu, or Japanese voice actors and actresses. The concept of seiyu has undergone a drastic change throughout the history of Japanese popular culture. Around 2020, seiyu emerged as prominent public figures who are admired and beloved by the masses. This dissertation investigated the new skill requirements for seiyu as a result of role shifts and an expansion of their range of activities, as well as how aspiring seiyu acquire those skills through training. This research is based on two years of fieldwork in Tokyo (from April 2018 to March 2020), focusing especially on participant observation at a school for seiyu for an academic year (from April 2019 to March 2020) and in-depth interviews. The findings demonstrate that young aspiring seiyu are required to develop their skills in three main spheres. First of all, as actors and public speakers, they are trained to develop specialized bodies to manage the high standards of the Japanese entertainment industry in vocalizations, pronunciations, and acting. Secondly, as celebrities whose popularity significantly affects their careers, seiyu need skills in self-branding and marketing. It is crucial for seiyu to understand and utilize metasemiotic frameworks in the Japanese entertainment market in order to gain fans and enhance their career opportunities. Thirdly, as workers, seiyu are required to have specific social traits, including being reliable, responsible, hard-working, considerate, and passionate. Students are expected to be familiar with the culture and rules of the Japanese workplace, especially in the entertainment industry. Aspiring seiyu develop their skills in these areas through their training in the school for seiyu. By achieving a certain level of proficiency in those skills, they are considered to be ready to work in the market; in other words, they acquire the "seiyu persona."

Notes:

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 85-01, Section: A.

Advisors: Agha, Asif; Committee members: Clapp, Justin; Kang, Yoonhee.

Department: Anthropology.

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2023.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175

ISBN:

9798379750763

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.

This item is not available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.