The symposium Manga at a Crossroads: Development & Globalization of Manga is to be held Saturday, April 4 in the Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall (220) in Sullivant Hall. It focuses on the diversification and globalization of manga. Speakers are: Masami Toku, California State University, Chico; Jennifer Prough, Valparaiso University; Casey Brienza, City University of London, OSU visiting scholar; and Kerim Yasar, Ohio State. Toku and Prough will focus on girls’ manga and probe its development by looking at the relationship between producers and consumers. Brienza and Yasar address globalization of manga by looking at the social organization and transnational influence of the manga industries.

This symposium is held in congruence with the exhibition in The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum titled World of Shojo Manga! Mirrors of Girls’ Desires, on display March 28 – July 5, 2015, curated by Masami Toku. “Shojo manga” is known as girl’s manga and often the theme is love and overcoming obstacles. World of Shojo Manga! features 12 artists and focuses on women’s changing roles and expectations in Japan. Cosplayers are encouraged to attend.

A reception will follow the symposium from 5:30-7:00 pm. Come and enjoy light refreshments and view the exhibit.

The event is free and open to the public, no RSVP required. For a full schedule of the symposium, click here.

The sponsors for the event are East Asian Studies Center, Institute for Japanese Studies, The Ohio State University Libraries, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, Department of History of Art, Department of Arts Administration, Education & Policy, Division of Arts and Humanities, Association for Asian Studies, Japan Foundation New York, and US Department of Education (Title VI).