ESP Biography



MAXX CLARK, Stanford Junior Studying Japanese Culture



Major: Japanese and East Asian Studies

College/Employer: Stanford

Year of Graduation: 2012

Picture of Maxx Clark

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I have been studying Japanese Language and Culture at Stanford for the entirety of my academic career. I am majoring in East Asian Studies and Japanese, with a focus in Modern Japan and Japanese Business culture. I have extensively studied Japanese history, culture, religion, and mythology throughout my time at Stanford. I have a vested interest in Japanese novels, movies, animation, video games and music, while I always take time to study more classical Japanese history in my spare time.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

H1177: Nintendo and Japan: The Prevalence of Japanese Culture in Video Games in Splash! Fall 2010 (Nov. 13 - 14, 2010)
Have you ever wanted to know more about your favorite video games? Have you ever been interested in Japanese culture? This class takes a look at the prevalence of Japanese culture in video games and how it has evolved over the past 25 years. For students interested in learning more about Japanese mythology, religion, or culture this class sets out to broaden not only your understanding and knowledge of Japanese culture, but also its prominent role in the realm of popular video games. The class focuses on Nintendo franchises and expands beyond into many other popular Japanese video game companies. All that is required for students is a desire to learn more about Japan and its culture, or to just better understand Mario, Link, and Kirby as this class takes you through the historical significance and cultural ties of your favorite video games.


H585: Comiket, Touhou, NicoNicoDouga, and Vocaloid? Explore popular Japanese creative and memetic phenomena! in Splash! Fall 2009 (Oct. 10 - 11, 2009)
Do you know what a MAD is? What about doujins? You might have heard some of these terms if you have perused various online creative communities. These Japanese products are all fan-make works produced by the fans, for the fans, yet they are the source of some of the most viral memes on the internet. We will explore the sources of these phenomena in Japan, and how it has impacted Japanese popular culture and the internet, with a focus on the Touhou Project series of danmaku games and the virtual singing idol software Vocaloid, as well as the vehicles for such expressions of creativity, the Comic Market convention and the NicoNicoDouga website.


H282: Comiket and the Japanese Doujin Phenomenon in Splash! Spring 2009 (Apr. 04 - 05, 2009)
Comiket, doujinshi, Touhou, Type-Moon, you might have heard some of these names if you've watching some anime before. Yet, they are not made by commercial companies like Sunrise (who made Gundam) or Studio Pierrot (who made Naruto). Doujinshi are all fan-make works produced by the fans, for the fans. However, they are the source of some of the most viral memes on the internet. We will explore the sources of this phenomenon in Japan, and how it has impacted Japanese popular culture and the internet, with a focus on the Touhou Project series of danmaku games.