Reading and discussion in Japanese of a variety of advanced-level materials, including newspaper articles, short stories, and poetry.
How does Japan fit into the modern world? What are the commonalities, contrasts, and connections among Japan and other societies and states? By exploring how various historical processes and developments - such as industrialization, state-building, nationalism, neo-imperialism, new political institutions and legitimacy, capitalism, economic class-played out in Japan, a number of issues are illuminated: what are the traits of "modernity"? Are there meta-narratives of historical change? Is all history only local or regional? In what ways is the world "global"? We will explore these questions by approaching the pertinent issues from three angles: (1) the modern history of Japan; (2) comparing Japan to other geographical/cultural areas; and (3) adopting major themes which will act as conceptual prisms.
Advanced readings in Japanese and English on specific topics in Japanese linguistics.
Phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics of the Japanese language.
An introduction to the pre-modern Japanese literary language (termed hereafter Classical Japanese (CJ)), approached through the translation of texts from the 8th to 13th century into English. There will be an introduction to the language - its history, structure, and relationship to Modern Japanese (MJ) - after which it will proceed through in-class reading and translation of prepared passages taken from the literary texts specified below. Certain classes will be set aside for quizzes as well as seminar discussion of specific topics.
Introduction to general issues of gender and language use, specific gender-related differences in the Japanese language, and gender roles in Japan.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
This course explores the history and mythology surrounding one of the most iconic symbols of premodern Japan: the samurai. Comprising only six percent of the Japanese populace, the cultural prestige and historical memory of Japan's warrior elites far outweigh their undersized ranks. Yet much of samurai lore has also been romanticized, embellished, or even made up. Were the samurai loyal retainers or pragmatic power-grabbers? Were they stoic swordsman or struggling bureaucrats? Why do we care so much about the violent social world of the samurai, and how do our impressions of them diverge from what we know about the history of their rise, reign, and fall? How do ideas of the "Way of the Warrior" get reinterpreted and recycled in Japan today? This course investigates these questions in two broad units: The History of the Samurai in War and Peace; and Remembering and Reinventing the Samurai in Modern Japan. This course welcomes undergraduates of all interests and majors, and no prior knowledge of Japanese language or history is required. Additional materials in East Asian languages will be made available upon request.
How do we know what is good for us, who gets to decide, and how does "healthy" change over time? This seminar explores these basic questions through the lens of Japanese food culture: the dietary trends, choices, and ideas of proper consumption that help shape the relationship between people's bodies and the world around them. We will discuss how and why "eating right" became such an important issue in Japan from the seventeenth century to the present and ask what the everyday experience of eating can tell us about the core themes, concepts, and events in Japanese and East Asian history. By putting Japanese foodways in conversation with global gastronomy, we will investigate what makes food cultural and what makes it historical. This course welcomes undergraduates of all interests and majors, and no prior knowledge of Japanese language or history is required. Additional materials in East Asian languages will be made available upon request.