Alexander Zahlten

Alexander Zahlten is a Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations and Chair of Regional Studies East Asia at Harvard University. His research focuses on film and audiovisual culture in East Asia, particularly Japan, examining media ecologies, postcolonial fantasy, and intersections between media aesthetics and socio-institutional structures. He has curated film programs for institutions like the German Film Museum and the Athénée Français in Tokyo, and directed the Nippon Connection Film Festival (2002–2010).

• Education: PhD in Film Studies (Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, 2007)
• Research affiliations: Nihon University (2003–2005), Meiji Gakuin University (2009–2011)

His work bridges film theory with historical analysis, addressing topics like media ecologies, shared East Asian media memory (e.g., Doraemon), and the role of amateur production. Recent publications include The End of Japanese Cinema (2017) and co-editing Media Theory in Japan (2017).