About the Event
There has been an explosion of interest in pilgrim stamps and the little books in which they are collected. Called goshuin, they reflect new aesthetic tastes and a renewed appreciation for calligraphy styles. This presentation will explore how their popularity is revealed in the novel and cute goshuin created by shrines and temples, as well as specialized guidebooks, goshuin tours, and even J-Pop songs dedicated to them.
About the Speaker
Laura Miller is the Ei’ichi Shibusawa-Seigo Arai Endowed Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis where she teaches courses on Japanese visual and material culture, ancient history, food culture, and yōkai. She has published more than ninety articles and book chapters on Japanese culture and language, and has authored or co-edited five books. Her forthcoming book is Occult Hunting and Supernatural Play in Japan (University of Hawai’i Press).