DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Jeffrey Angles, a professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University, who translated the original novellas by Shigeru Kayama that inspired the classic 1954 Godzilla film and its 1955 sequel. Angles discusses the background of Kayama, the author who drafted the original screenplays, and how his anti-nuclear message was toned down in the film adaptations by director Ishirō Honda.
Angles delves into the challenges of translating the novellas, which had never been available in English before, and the cultural significance of Godzilla as a metaphor for humanity's destructive impact on the environment. He analyzes the ethical questions raised by the character of Serizawa and the depiction of scientists' responsibilities in the face of weapons of mass destruction.
Throughout the interview, Angles explores the enduring appeal of Godzilla, its evolution from a symbol of post-war trauma to a more heroic figure, and the franchise's continued relevance in addressing environmental concerns in the Anthropocene era.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The 1954 Godzilla film and its sequel were based on original novellas by Shigeru Kayama, which had never been translated into English before Jeffrey Angles' work.
- Kayama's novellas had a stronger anti-nuclear and environmental message than the films, reflecting the post-war trauma and concerns about nuclear weapons in Japan.
- Godzilla serves as a metaphor for the destructive impact of humanity on the environment and the consequences of unchecked scientific progress.
- The novellas explore ethical questions surrounding the responsibilities of scientists in developing weapons of mass destruction.
- Translating onomatopoeic sounds and capturing the essence of the original work posed unique challenges in bringing Kayama's novellas to an English-speaking audience.
- Godzilla's enduring popularity stems from its multifaceted portrayal as both a victimizer and a victim, allowing for diverse interpretations and relevance in different eras.
- The Godzilla franchise continues to resonate with contemporary concerns about environmental destruction and the Anthropocene era.
- Angles' translation offers new insights into the origins and cultural significance of the iconic Godzilla character and franchise.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Godzilla is a multifaceted thing. On one hand, he is a victimizer, stomping across Tokyo and killing people and destroying homes and that sort of thing. But at the same time, he's also a victim, and he was awoken from his slumber by the hydrogen bomb.“ by Jeffrey Angles
- “Kayama was really concerned, especially as this project moved on and they started to, you know, build tiny miniature sets of Tokyo that were extremely realistic. Like, you know, those sets that they made in that first movie are based on, like, real individual streets and real individual buildings.“ by Jeffrey Angles
- “I decided to embrace all the sounds and try to include, you know, wherever there was something like a sound in Japanese. I tried to include a sound in English that didn't always work because sometimes, like, Japanese is a language that is so filled with onomatopoeias, there's so many of them.“ by Jeffrey Angles
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Episode Information
New Books in Environmental Studies
Marshall Poe
9/21/23