Japanese Pop Idols: A Feminist Pragmatist Read of Perfect Blue

This article seeks to provide a critical reading of Satoshi Kon's 1997 movie, Perfect Blue, through the lens of feminist and pragmatist theory. The article begins with a discussion of pragmatist and feminist thought and how the intersection of women's experience as a legitimate form of knowledge is discussed in these theories. Then, a brief explanation regarding idol culture in Japan and women's experience with gender violence in Japanese society foregrounds the interpretations of Kon's film. Finally, Kon's characters, including Mima, Me-mania, and Rumi, are analyzed to provide evidence of how women's experiences with gender violence (such as stalking) are often invalidated by society.