My research examines the significance of historically overlooked or discredited forms of literature, especially commercial/entertainment fiction and media created primarily for a female audience. I am also interested in the relationship between author and audience and the tension surrounding “ownership” of creative works.
In my MA thesis, I examined the ninjōbon genre and how Edo-period authors navigated relationships with their readership. In my PhD research, I continue and expand this thread of inquiry, examining the cultural significance of commercial media while considering various tensions including copyright, censorship, and shifting gendered expectations.
I am especially interested in reader reception and creative reinterpretation of existing media. This can be seen in contemporary doujinshi and nijisōsaku, amateur publications and fanworks. The playful gesaku fiction of the Edo period, however, also saw many authors creatively reinterpreting existing stories with set characters. My interest in these creative fanworks informs my exploration of the author/audience relationship and the evolution of the concept of author as sole creative authority.