Post on 14-Oct-2019
Renato Rivera Rusca
Meiji University
International Collaboration Office
Assistant Professor
Contents i) Introduction
1) What is “Astrosociology”?
2) Examples of Astrosocial phenomena
3) The case of Japan
4) Astrosociology in Education: Meiji University Special Course
5) Developing Astrosociology as a Global Forum for Research and Discourse
0: Brief background Renato Rivera Rusca
Kyoto University : Sociology → Visual Sociology
Kyoto Seika University/Kyoto International Manga Museum → Japanese Popular Culture
Popular culture:
Art history, Animation production, “Cool Japan” Government Policy
Pop culture contents markets
The Western model
Subcultures permeate and evolve the mainstream
As a result – million-dollar live-action Dragonball movies, etc.
Mainstream
Subculture B
Subculture A
Market issues (cont.) The Japanese model
Subcultures are large and run deep; but are quite separate from the mainstream
Results – TV animation on late-night slots; geographically, too, otaku “realms” have arisen
Mainstream
Sub-culture
Sub-culture
Sub-culture
Sub-culture
Contrast between the powerful global influence of Japanese popular culture and dissonance between various aspects of Japanese society
Japan – A land of subcultures? → Needs mediators!
Lessons aim to widen the realm of influence within the students – refine the ability to interact with different areas in and outside Japan → bridge gaps
1: What is Astrosociology? Established by Professor Jim Pass, Ph D.
(Sociology)
Jim Pass definition --Astrosociology: The study of astrosocial phenomena that arise from the two-way relationship between the ecosystems of Earth and outer space
Astrosocial Phenomena: social, cultural, and behavioral patterns associated with stimuli traced to the outer space ecosystem
Astrosociology = STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) + “the human dimension”
Eg. Undetected asteroids do not involve astrosocial phenomena…
…until detected by humans!
(Jim Pass, 2004)
Mars One
Dutch enterprise to found a human colony on Mars, starting 2023
One-way trips; funded by corporate sponsors
Entire process to be televised
• Many inherent issues yet to be discussed (sovereignty, chain-of-command, etc)
• “No place for children” (Bas Lansdorp CEO – 2013/05/24)
3: The case of Japan
Japan’s relationship with outer space/History of astronauts
Social Phenomena: Space Brothers / Hayabusa
Toyohiro Akiyama
(July 22 1942 – ); TBS
journalist
Became first Japanese
astronaut in 1990.
Japan joined the Space Race not
for supremacy; but for show.
Completely separate from NASDA/JAXA.
TBS and the USSR formed the first commercially organized spaceflight in history→dramatic: realityTV
Hayabusa
• Social
phenomenon – caused a boom for JAXA
Anthropomorphization
「感情移入」 -- Japanese Empathy for “Characters”
“Space Brothers” (「宇宙兄弟」)
Combined the technicalities
of space with emotional,
human drama – which the
Japanese admire
Uplifting messages of hopes and dreams for a post-3/11 Japan
All the while being realistic and not fantasy-based, as most SF is viewed by society
Mars One
Romantic?
Creative photography
Japan Space Elevator Association: 6th Annual Space Elevator Conference February 22nd-23rd, 2014
Ryuichi Kaneko
Sci-Fi animation:
“Blue Noah” (1979)
First appearance of a space
elevator on television
The concept of the “space elevator” was popularized by Clarke in 1979 – Obayashi Corp has announced plans to build one in 2050. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kiboexp/news/120417_research_themes.html
New publication:
Socio-cultural impacts of the Space Elevator
Clarke? Heinlein?
Science-Fiction writers → Astrosociologists!
Blending of theories in the Natural Sciences with the behavioral aspects of the Human Sciences in order to construct a narrative
So Popular Culture is a catalyst for the development of popular science, which in turn expands the future workforce in cutting-edge technology
4: Education Astrosociology at Meiji: “School of Commerce: Special
Themed Practicum” framework (商学部 特別テーマ実践科目)
Post-3-11 trauma: mistrust in government / social systems; bleak future → “Constructing the Future Society: Introduction to Astrosociology”
Connections with Cool Japan concept – creative spirit of the Japanese people
Aim: To create a generation of assertive, proactive individuals
Field trips
JAXA Tsukuba
Space Center
Student Activities:
“Space for Kids” Project
“Astrosociology at
Meiji Uni” on TWITTER: twitter.com/Astro_sociology
(895 Followers)
5: Astrosociology as a Global Forum for Research and Discourse The future of research: Multidisciplinary. Rather than
digging deeper in one direction, we must share knowledge and learn through overlaps and differences in fields and disciplines
The goal – to establish a forum for knowledge; a place to collect, store, share information and discuss
NOT “ADVOCACY” – Unbiased and without agenda
→ SYMPOSIUM: March 31st, 2013
James R. Bowers (Meiji University School of Commerce)
Tatsu Hirukawa (Meiji University School of Information and Communication)
Hiroki Okada (Kobe University Graduate School of Intercultural Studies)
Hiroaki Isobe (Kyoto University Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research)
Jim Pass (Astrosociology Research Institute)(Video presentation)
Christopher Hearsey (Astrosociology Research Institute)(Video presentation)
Yoshiyuki Tomino (Animation director/Kyoto Seika University Guest Professor)
Leiji Matsumoto (Manga artist/Young Astronauts Club Japan)(Video presentation)
Norio Saito (Jaxa Kibo Forum) Nasa Yoshioka (Space Development
Forum)
“Constructing the Future Society” Symposium
Meiji University
March 31st, 2013
Multiple perspectives represented:
Sociology
Anthropology
Science-Fiction
Education
Astrophysics
Ten-Q in Tokyo Dome City
Space Expo 2014
Finally… Future developments:
The accessibility of information has increased due to the internet and information technology – we need not only experts with the skills to navigate through it, but also further collaboration between groups
Go beyond language, beyond disciplines
“Multidisciplinary”: keyword for future society
Finally… Thank you for your attention.
Further info – Please refer to:
Twitter: @Astro_sociology
Facebook.com/ConstructingFuture
Blog: ConstructingFuture.Wordpress.org
Astrosociology Research Institute Astrosociology.org