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Jazz Abroad

Name: Jazz Abroad
Director: Yuta Yamaguchi
Released: 2017
Duration: 14 min

Representation Score

5.5/10

Fair

2017

Director

Yuta Yamaguchi

Runtime

14 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jazz Abroad succeeds in disrupting the demographic expectations of the Jazz genre by centering women's ability to drive the story and cross-cultural exchange. The film highlights Japanese musicians navigating a Western musical tradition, offering a meaningful look at professional pursuits across cultural lines. However, the documentary lacks depth regarding LGBTQ+ identities and disability representation. While it avoids promoting the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender, it does not provide explicit visibility for non-straight or non-cisgender subjects. Ultimately, the film serves as a strong study of gender and ethnic diversity, even if it remains limited in its exploration of broader multi-layered identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Jazz Abroad have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include visible representation of non-straight or non-cisgender identities. The story focuses on musical education and cultural exchange rather than sexual orientation or gender identity.

How does Jazz Abroad portray gender?

Good

Three female Japanese musicians drive the narrative, playing a significant role in the traditionally male-dominated genre. They are shown as active practitioners and intellectual explorers of their craft.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Jazz Abroad?

Good

The documentary features a predominantly Japanese cast engaging with a Western art form. This provides a perspective that challenges the Western-centric dominance often found in Jazz.

How does Jazz Abroad represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film explores the blending of Japanese identity with Western musical structures. It adopts a globalist perspective through the lens of cultural movement.

Does Jazz Abroad include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of visible or invisible disabilities within the subjects presented in the film.

Present on Screen

Centers women's roles within the male-dominated Jazz genre.
Provides a strong portrayal of non-Western subjects engaging with Western art.
Challenges Western-centric dominance through a Japanese perspective.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
Provides no evidence of disability representation.
Does not explicitly address multi-layered identities beyond gender and ethnicity.

Official Synopsis

Three female Japanese musicians learn Jazz music in a new world.

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