Samurajer i filmens värld : Om historiebrukets förändring i filmer med japansk kultur och samurajer

Sammanfattning: Film is a popular media with many impressions and messages. The message can, among other things, be conducted through various historical uses within the films. As a viewer, it is important to have the knowledge of how to analyse these messages and the use of history. The essay makes an analysis of the use of history of six different films based on Japanese culture. The analysis is made by categorizing the films within the different history uses. This is done through a narrative film analysis of the samurai as a symbol in the films and the characteristics shown by the samurai. The result of the analysis is, that the samurais characteristics is shown in several different ways, for example as a strong and loyal warrior, but also as a spiritual character who is interested in writing and reading poems. Some of the films also show the humanity of the samurai, where themselves fail to live up to the ideal of the samurai. The films create a complex image of the samurai who do not always adhere to the ideal depending on what the film aims to show the audience. The samurais were in the earlier films shown to be loyal to the nation but in the later films the direction of the loyalty changed towards the family. The categories used by the films are five out of seven: ideological, political-educational, existential, non-use and commercial. Political-pedagogical and commercial history was the two most common categories and was present in all films, while non-use was the third most popular category and was clearly relevant in five of six films. The result also shows that the time has influenced the film's production both filmically and through messages.