The landscape of keitai shôsetsu: Mobile phones as a literary medium among Japanese youth

摘要

With the increasing use of text messages on mobile phones, mobile media are becoming increasingly utilized in conjunction with literary communication in addition to oral conversation. In order to explore the landscape of mobile phones as a literary medium in Japan, this article looks into the phenomenon of keitai shôsetsu (keitai is a Japanese term for mobile phones and shôsetsu means ‘novel,’ thus keitai shôsetsu literally becomes ‘mobile novel’), which is gaining popularity among young Japanese females. This study, which approaches the concept of keitai shôsetsu from the perspective of a cultural practice, identifies the experiences of readers and writers as a key context through which to understand this phenomenon within urban space. While relying primarily on ongoing ethnographic reports, additional factors such as social discourses surrounding keitai shôsetsu and the industrial factors needed to form the external context will also be delved upon. Finally, some reflection will be offered on how mobile media are intervening in individuals' daily experiences, thereby evoking another cultural moment in the techno-social landscape. The article attempts to explore how Japanese youngsters have been able to translate and modify mobile technology by creating a unique literary practice.View full textDownload full textRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2012.665841