Japanese Culture Courses

• Course Code: 01:565:395
• Course Title: Modern Japanese Novel and the West
• Semester(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 3

01:565:395/01:195:329 Modern Japanese Novel and the West
(Credit only for one of these courses)

Fall 2014

Description: Students will read several Japanese novels and short stories written from the late nineteenth century to the present that represent the West in the form of topics such as individualism, the Western woman, political and social freedom, mystery, and decadence, but also in the form of places and material objects. The goal in the course is to examine how the literary gaze on the Western Other, including both European nations and America, leads to questions not only about how Japanese viewed the West but also about what it meant to be Japanese at particular points in modern Japanese history.

Number of Credits: 3 

Prerequisites: None 

Expected Work: Regular attendance and participation; two 3-4 page papers; one 6-8 page paper

• Course Code: 01:565:210
• Course Title: Introduction to Japanese Culture
• Semester(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 3

01:565:210 Introduction to Japanese Culture 

Introduction to Japanese culture, past and present. Explores some of the major themes in Japanese culture across areas of art, religion, literature, and film. Themes may include Shinto and Buddhism, warrior culture, monsters and the supernatural, and war and disaster.

This course is a general introduction to some of the major themes in Japanese culture that span widely across many different areas including art, religion, literature, and film from the earliest times to the present. The course is divided into three units: “Religion and the ‘Other Worlds’”, “Social Values, Order, and Disaster”, and “Japanese Aesthetics—Fashion and Food”. We will investigate how each theme developed over time and how the themes have contributed to the forming of diverse and distinct culture of Japan through primary sources in translation and secondary sources that provide context. The diverse range of materials will introduce students to the different foundations for cultural knowledge and deepen their understanding and appreciation of Japanese society and culture.

Grading: Attendance and class participation (10 %) 10 Weekly Responses (3 pts. each; total 30 %) 10 Discussion Forums (2 pts. each, total 20 %) Midterm Paper (1000-1500 words) (20 %) Final Project (20 %) Total: 100%

Required Readings All required readings will be posted on Canvas course site.

Active participation is expected in this class. Students must complete their reading assignments before class and fully engage in discussions. If you expect to miss a class, please use the University absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to me. More than three unexcused absences will affect your grade.

Prompts for the weekly reading assignments will be posted on Canvas.

For discussion forums, post your thoughts and comments on lectures and class discussions. These could be ideas or questions that were raised in class. You must first post a question as a group (identify group # and members of the group) during or immediately after class discussion. Then submit a minimum of TWO posts (you are welcome to contribute more, of course!) in response to questions posted by groups other than your own. If you are absent on the day of the discussion, you must post your own question before 5:00 pm on the day of your absence (unless you have an excuse approved by the professor).

Individual/Group project on a topic on Japanese culture that can be associated with religions and values discussed in class (Shinto, Buddhism, and/or Confucianism). Topics and grouping will be discussed in class. If you cannot make it to class on that day, notify the professor and submit topics of interest before. Presentations and a written summary of the project (2 pages) indicating the project thesis and role of each group member must be submitted on Canvas. Prepare a class presentation (5 min. for individual presentation; 7 mins. for 2-people groups; 10 mins. for 3 or more. Points will be deducted for going overtime). Peer evaluation is also required.

Final paper (1000-1500 words) on any topic on Japanese culture (you may choose to expand on your Midterm Project) that can be associated with themes discussed in class. Students must select at least three readings from class (one can be a film + reading assigned for the film) and discuss how they are relevant to your topic. The papers must have proper citation of sources (any style). Submit through Canvas.