Courses Offered
Courses for Spring 2021
JAPN 211. Samurai: History and Myth (COLL 200 ALV>CSI)
This class introduces students to the history of the samurai and their modern-day representations. In Part I of the course, we survey the rise, the golden age, and fall of the warrior class in Japan between the tenth and nineteenth centuries. In Part II, we look at how the samurai were remembered, imagined, and narrated, and what political and cultural meanings were ascribed to them in the modern era. By examining the relations between history and representation (remembering that history is a form of representation, after all), we try to understand critically why the samurai keep resurfacing in the popular imaginary of Japan (and in Western ideas of Japan) as a significant element of national culture. In English.
JAPN 220. Japan's Ghosts and Demons (COLL 200 ALV>CSI)
This course explores the supernatural world and its inhabitants as imagined in Japanese literature and visual culture from ancient times to the present day. Our survey will take in a wide variety of fantastic phenomena, including spirit possession and exorcism in The Tale of Genji, the "hungry ghosts" of medieval Buddhist folklore, interwar Gothic tales of the bizarre, and recent Japanese horror films such as The Ring. In the process, we will consider the various roles that the supernatural has played in Japanese culture at various historical moments. In English.
JAPN 308. Savoring Japan: Food in Anime, Manga, Film & Literature (COLL 200 ALV>CSI)
Japan’s distinctive cuisine constitutes an important element of national identity and has inspired a range of cultural production. This “topics” course examines Japanese foodways and the figuration of food and eating in modern Japanese literature, cinema, manga, and anime, from 1900 to the present. Over the course of the semester, we will: gain familiarity with Food Studies as a discipline and with key concepts of Japanese foodways; analyze and articulate links between food and race, class, sex and gender, and local and nation identity; and use textual analysis to develop arguments about food in Japanese cultural production. In English.
JAPN 330. Japanese Popular Culture (COLL 200 ALV>CSI)
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the range of cultural forms that constitute Japanese popular culture, with an emphasis on the late 20th-early 21st centuries. The class will look at Japan’s exportation of culture and the reception of Japanese cultural products in the West. Taught in English.
JAPN 410. Japanese Food Culture
Washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. Washoku is associated with social practices that respect nature and value sustainable use of natural resources, especially locally sourced foods. In this course we explore interrelations among food, Japanese culture, and ourselves through readings, screenings of Japanese cinemas and anime, discussions, presentations, wikis and a hands-on cooking class. Classroom activities focus on how washoku initially strengthened social cohesion among the Japanese people by providing a sense of identity, belonging, and respect for human creativity, the environment, healthy eating and inspired food preparation. Then students examine recent change to the Japanese diet in order to critique modern Japan and modern life. Most class discussions, readings, and writings are in Japanese. This course is designed for students who have completed JPN300, 301, 305 or equivalent, with the instructor's permission.
We also offer four levels of language instruction.
Other Regularly-Offered Courses
JAPN 100. Big Ideas in Japanese Studies (COLL 100). Topics varyThinking Peace
JAPN 100. Anime Explores the Posthuman (COLL 100)
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JAPN 150. Japan's Alternate Histories (COLL 150)
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JAPN 205. Introduction to Japanese Studies (COLL 200 CSI>ALV)Are you fascinated by Japanese pop culture, history, or society? Interested in visiting or living in Japan? This brand-new introductory course will give you a tool-kit for analyzing and better understanding Japan--as well as what Japan can teach us about the modern world. Become familiar with a range of critical approaches, from colonial and post-colonial theory, feminist theory, and more. Read key works of criticism by Japanese thinkers together with the novels, films, and other cultural products that inspired them. This course is ideal for those considering a Japanese minor or a AMES major, and for anyone who wants to deepen their appreciation of Japanese culture. Taught in English. |
JAPN 208. Crossing Borders: Japan, Travel, the World (COLL 200 ALV>CSI; COLL 300)
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JAPN 210. Modern & Contemporary Japanese Literature (ALV)An introduction to Japanese literature through readings of modern and contemporary short stories, novels, drama and poetry. The course deals with both literary and cultural issues from the 18th century to the present day. Students with advanced language skills may, with the consent of instructor, take a 4th credit for reading and discussions (one additional hour per week) in the original language. In English. |
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JAPN 307: Topics in Japanese Culture - taught in both Japanese and English. Topics vary, but have included:Cultures of the Cold War
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JAPN 308. Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture - topics vary, but have included:Anime FictionsAnime has become Japan's most important cultural export, circulating widely through the global market in popular culture over the past two decades. In this course, we will review the historical development of anime as a technology, medium, and genre(s). We consider the contribution of major studios such as Ghibli, Gainax, and Production I.G., and contemporary directors such as Miyazaki Hayao, Oshii Mamoru, Kon Satoshi, and Makoto Shinkai. We trace some of the themes that have preoccupied anime artists and how these themes relate to the conditions of post-industrial capitalism. We will also analyze the development of characters and worlds that extend across several media, as well as the related phenomena of participatory fandom and otaku subjectivity. In English. |
JAPN 311. Japanese Cinema (COLL200 ALV>CSI)
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JAPN 320. The Japanese City (COLL 200 ALV>SCI)This course examines changes in both the historical development and the theoretical conceptualization of the city and urban life in Japan. The class will begin with the early merchant and industrial capital, Osaka, and the political capital, Edo/Tokyo. It also explores some of Japan's colonial enclaves, such as Shanghai, Dalian, and Keijo (colonial Seoul) during the 1930s. The class analyzes representations of the city in literature and film, as well as architecture and city planning. We look at representations of the city as a whole, as well as specific neighborhoods. Themes include: modernity, nationalism, and empire; the production of national and local identity; the city as a space of class boundaries, consumer culture, and the clash of old and new. In English. |
JAPN 411. Independent StudyStudents interested in pursuing language or cultural studies beyond the course offerings should contact any member of the Japanese section faculty. |
More information:
- Placement guidelines. Which class is best for you?
- Undergraduate Catalog Course Listing for Japanese Studies
- Use the Dynamic Schedule or Open Course List to see which courses will be taught in upcoming sememsters