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Press Release:   "Falling Bodies: Themes of Ascent and Descent in Ghost in the Shell," a lecture and a screening of the Japanese animated film, Ghost in the Shell
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[YOUR NAME HERE] thought you might be interested in this story from the University of Rochester.

MEDIA CONTACT: Babak Elahi (585) 275-2868 or Helene Snihur (585) 275-7800

April 5, 1999

"Falling Bodies: Themes of Ascent and Descent in Ghost in the Shell," a lecture and a screening of the Japanese animated film, Ghost in the Shell

TIME, DATE, AND PLACE: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 15, Room 203 in Meliora Hall on the University of Rochester River Campus

ADMISSION: Free and open to the public Note: Parking on University lots is available after 7 p.m. on weeknights.

Susan Napier, assistant professor of Japanese at the University of Texas at Austin, will speak on "Falling Bodies: Themes of Ascent and Descent in Ghost in the Shell" at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 15, in Room 203 in Meliora Hall on the University of Rochester River Campus.

Napier is a renowned expert on modern Japanese literature and has won the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for her current work on Japanese films.

There will also be a screening of the Japanese animated film Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii, based on one of the most popular Japanese comic books.

The themes of the film involve science fiction, artificial intelligence, and humanity. The main character is Kusanagi, a female secret service agent and quasi-cyborg, a human enhanced in both mind and body. She is in pursuit of a character called "The Puppetmaster," a form of artificial intelligence on a quest to inhabit a human body.

Japanese animation, called "anime," has a distinct art style and uses sophisticated camera movements and effects. It is generally more philosophical and character-oriented, with the character's struggles often forming the core of the story.

For more information, contact Babak Elahi at (585) 275-2868.


About the University of Rochester

The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and the Memorial Art Gallery.

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