Exploitation, Globalisation and Cult Monster Movies
Examines the ways in which the kaijū eiga has developed into a global genre
From relatively humble beginnings in a King Kong-inspired Japanese studio picture, the kaij? eiga has developed into a global genre. While the origins of giant kaij? the term often preferred to 'monster' remain firmly rooted in Japan, the figure has become a transnational spectacle. This book explores how kaij? went global, from the adoption of Godzilla movies in translation to the appropriation of cultural material across borders. With reference to the genre's global development, its exploitative Western circulation and the labour of fans, the book examines how genres with deep national roots can become transnational phenomena.