Superflat

Superflat is a postmodern art movement influenced by manga and anime. It is intended as an analysis of post-war Japanese culture through the eyes of the otaku subculture.

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Artists who do work that is considered "Superflat" include Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, and Aya Takano. In addition some animators within anime and some manga-ka are considered Superflat especially Koji Morimoto and much of the output of his animation studio Studio 4?C and the work of Hitoshi Tomizawa author of Alien 9 and Milk Closet.

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Murakami defines "Superflat" in broad sweeping terms so the subject matter is very diverse. Often the works take a critical look at the consumerism and sexual fetishism that is prevalent in post-war westernized Japanese culture. One target of this criticism is lolicon art, which is satirized by works such as those by Hanmaru Machino. These works are an exploration of otaku sexuality through grotesque and/or distorted images. Other works are more concerned with the Moratorium complex (a fear of growing up). For example Yoshitomo Nara's work often features playful graffiti on old Japanese ukiyo-e executed in a childish sort of manner. Other works are more concerned with the structure and underlying desires that comprise otaku and overall post-war Japanese culture.

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Postmodern art: Postmodern art is not a form of art. It may be considered as the ultimate phase of modern art, as art after modernism or as certain tendencies of contemporary art. Postmodern art uses a vocabulary of media, genres or styles as parts of an extended visual language that goes beyond the boundaries the ...

Manga: :This article is about the Japanese medium. For other uses see Manga (disambiguation)...

Anime: :This article is about Japanese animation. For the oleo-resin, see Anim? (oleo-resin)....