VDP2023

THEME Laugh!

The Visual Documentary Project aims to use visual forms of expression to complement the growing academic literature that exists on Southeast Asian societies and help promote the richness of Southeast Asian cultures to people in Japan through the medium of documentaries.
This year, we chose “laughter” as a theme to explore what we can learn from Southeast Asian comedy, humor, and satire. We can find laughter, humor, and comedy in all societies, universal features across all of them. They serve to connect us and provoke diverse reactions. Laughter has diverse aspects; it can be both direct and subtle, involving metaphors and double meanings. We hope to have an opportunity not only to watch documentary that provoke laughter, but also make us think about the importance of laughter. How do we go after, provoke or aim for laughter? And how do we perceive it? Each of selected works reflects a unique aspect of different communities and human relationships.