Speakers

Joe Steiff



Growing Up Anime

Contributors to the books Anime and Philosophy: Wide Eyed Wonder and Manga and Philosophy: Fullmetal Metaphysician present various views on childhood, adolescence and young adulthood as represented by Miyazaki Hayao's Spirited Away, Takahata Isao's Grave of the Fireflies, Togashi Yoshihiro's Yu Yu Hakusho and Tateno Makoto's Hero Heel.
Nothing that Happens is Ever Forgotten - Cari Callis
Grave of the Childhood Hero - Hal Shipman
Truancy and the Spirit Detective - Jef Burhnam
Being Good Takes Practice - Josef Steiff

Miho Matsugu


Why Do You Cosplay? A Conversation with Betsy Muszynski (DePaul University ‘11) and Natalie Rivera (University of Chicago ‘14)


Two young cosplayers, Betsy Muszynski and Natalie Rivera, will speak about their experiences with cosplay in conversation with Miho Matsugu, who taught Japanese literature and language at DePaul University (2006-2012) and launched the DePaul booth at Anime Central in 2011. Many parents, teachers, neighbors, and others wonder why many young people cosplay. The panel will address this question, challenging stereotypes by exploring their personal stories about how they started, how they practice it, and what it means for them.







Presented by the University of Chicago Japanese Animation Society (UCJAS).