Dr. Pedro Bassoe

Biography

Pedro Bassoe is an Assistant Professor in the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. in Japanese from the University of California, Berkeley in 2018 and joined the Purdue faculty in 2019. His primary research focuses on illustration and visual culture, exploring the relationship between text and image in the development of the modern novel in Japan. Currently, he is editing a book manuscript titled 'Eyes Heart: Illustration Visual Imagination Modern Japanese Literature' based on his dissertation. Additionally, he has begun research projects investigating the literature of the fantastic in Japan and its literary connections between Japan and Brazil, emphasizing the works of canonical Japanese authors and diasporic writers. Bassoe has published an article on Natsume Sōseki, art nouveau, and book design in the Review of Japanese Culture and Society, and a translation related to Sōseki's work. An article he wrote about Ozaki Kōyō and photographic imagination in Japanese literature has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Japanese Studies. Dr. Bassoe teaches various classes on Japanese literature from classical to contemporary eras, both original Japanese versions and English translations, as well as classes on Japanese film, visual culture, literary pedagogy, and popular culture. He has become affiliated with the program in Comparative Literature at the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and plans to offer additional classes.

Research Interests