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'Studio 360:' Cuteness and Japan

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Published 14 March, 2008 06:22:00 Studio 360
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PRI's "Studio 360" considers the strange force of cuteness. Guest and author Gary Cross ponders the appeal with Kurt Andersen.


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Japan has embraced cuteness with a vengeance -- from the ubiquitous Hello Kitty to the successful artist-designer Takashi Murakami, the Andy Warhol of Japan. Sarah Lilley tries to figure out why an ancient culture like Japan’s would strive to be super adorable.  And in Japan, anxieties about the atomic bomb may be masked in cuteness.

Gary Cross is the author of "The Cute and the Cool," a study of how and why adults project cuteness onto their children -- and how our children are constantly rebelling against it. He is a Distinguished Professor of Modern History at Pennsylvania State University.

PRI's Peabody Award-winning "Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen" from WNYC is public radio's smart and surprising guide to what's happening in pop culture and the arts. Each week, Kurt Andersen introduces you to the people who are creating and shaping our culture. Life is busy — so let "Studio 360" steer you to the must-see movie this weekend, the next book for your nightstand, or the song that will change your life.

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Found in:   arts & entertainment   Studio 360   Kurt Andersen
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