Lauri Kitsnik

Lauri Kitsnik is a Researcher in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. His work centers on Japanese and Korean language and literature, with a strong emphasis on Japanese cinema, screenwriting, and cultural history. He teaches courses such as Introduction to Japanese Culture and Literature, Japanese Language 1 and 2, and Japanese Language 3, serving both undergraduate and graduate students in programs including Languages and Civilizations of Asia and Mediterranean Africa.

His research interests include classical and post-war Japanese cinema, screenwriting history, film adaptation, stardom, gender in film, and documentary modes. He explores the intersections between literature and film, particularly how screenplays are written, read, and adapted. His scholarship often focuses on key figures such as Yōko Mizuki, Kaneto Shindō, and Keisuke Kinoshita, situating their work within broader socio-political and industrial contexts.

Kitsnik's recent publications reveal a consistent and high-quality output across monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and book chapters. His 2024 monograph Tangible Images: Reading and Writing Classical Japanese Cinema represents a significant contribution to the field. His articles span topics from the poetics of The Naked Island to the legacy of the Kinoshita-gumi, reflecting a deep engagement with both aesthetic and historical dimensions of Japanese film. He frequently publishes in journals such as Japanese Studies, Journal of Screenwriting, and Asian Cinema, and contributes to edited volumes from major academic publishers.

His scientific contributions include critical reviews of major works in anime and Japanese film theory, demonstrating his role as an active interlocutor in contemporary scholarly discourse. While no formal awards or grants are listed, his sustained publication record and inclusion in prestigious handbooks and university press volumes indicate scholarly recognition.

Kitsnik advises on film and literature translation and has translated Japanese literary works into other languages. His office hours are held weekly, and he is actively involved in teaching and research. There is no mention of lab affiliations or team leadership, but his independent research output is robust and thematically cohesive.