IN MY DEFENSE
Archival Inkjet print, Manga, Polyester, Adhesive, 2017
In My Defense is an installation created in response to the cultural shift that occurred in Japan post WWII. After being Westernized, by years of American occupation, Japan found creative ways to deal with the trauma of the war. One of the most notable methods is attributed to the Godzilla franchise. Although Godzilla may have been one of the first collective coping mechanisms, it was not the last. Post-war anxiety can be seen in other media such as Astroboy, Ultraman, and the Gundam universe, many of which began as printed manga. By creating a ghillie suit out of manga, I attempt to emphasize the underlying trauma camouflaged in the subtext of these fictional stories. Although Japan has built itself back up to its former glory, the ghost of American warfare still haunts the countries collective consciousness.