Marco Di Francesco

I am a doctoral candidate in Area Studies (Japan) at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and a Clarendon Scholar.

My research focuses on the Japanese performing art of rakugo, a centuries-old form of comic storytelling which has witnessed a significative revival in popularity since the beginning of the 21st century. Through an ethnographic account of the world of rakugo, I aim to investigate how ‘traditional’ cultural products and careers can maintain their relevance in modern societies, as well as exploring how socio-cultural norms regulate humour and satire in Japan, and how women can negotiate their role in hitherto male-dominated fields.

I hold an MSc in Japanese Studies from the University of Oxford and a BA (Honors) in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

St Antony’s College
Supervisor: Professor Roger Goodman