Film Matters: Please tell us about your article that is being published in Film Matters.
Catey Midla: My article is about how the otaku subculture is referenced in Kon Satoshi’s films using techniques specific to animation.
FM: What research and/or methodologies do you incorporate in your article?
CM: This paper relies on Miriam Hansen’s idea of “vernacular modernism” as well as Thomas Lamarre’s work on animetism.
FM: Describe the original context for/when writing this article while an undergraduate student.
CM: I began writing this paper in a course titled History of World Cinema as a final research paper.
FM: How has your department and/or institution supported your work in film and media?
CM: My department has supported my ability to pursue my interests in film and media through research and study abroad opportunities.
FM: How has your faculty mentor fostered your advancement as a film scholar?
CM: I am indebted to my faculty mentor, Diane Wei Lewis, for her support and advice in continuing my film scholarship. She has been a great aide in improving my critical thinking and writing skills.
FM: How has the Film Matters editorial and publication process impacted the development/evolution of your article?
CM: This process has helped me develop the accessibility of the paper, and focus on the most engaging aspect of the paper.
FM: What audience do you hope to reach with your Film Matters article and/or what impact do you hope it has on the field of film studies?
CM: I hope that this paper helps to expand how audiences and film scholars think about the field of animation as not a genre but as a set of techniques that differ from live-action cinema.
FM: What are your future plans?
CM: I plan to complete my master’s degree in Media Studies and work in research or curation.
Author Biography
Catey Midla is a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where she received a BA in Urban Studies and Film and Media Studies. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Media Studies from Pratt Institute.
