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About this talk

Beyond their significance within Japanese pop culture, historically themed manga and anime can offer readers new perspectives for reimagining ancient Mediterranean culture. This lecture will explore how 1970s manga and animation portrayed Cleopatra against the backdrop of the conflict between ancient Egypt and Rome. My analysis will focus especially on the works of Satonaka Machiko and Tezuka Osamu, produced during a decade often regarded as the golden age of shōjo manga and a time when experimentation in animation reached new heights. I will examine how these artists engage with the long-standing tradition of depicting Cleopatra through an Orientalist lens, reinterpret the conflict between Rome and Egypt from a modern perspective, and address issues of female agency in their portrayals. Header image: 'Akihabara, Taito City, Tokyo, Japan' by Sebastian Kurpiel via Unsplash

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