Course Descriptions
Introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin) for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
Introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin) for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
This course is designed for students who have career plans of doing business in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. No previous Chinese background is required. The course will give students a foundation of basic Chinese language in a business context. While all four skills (speaking, reading, listening and writing) will be covered, more emphasis will be placed on speaking and listening. Topics include introducing oneself and family, meeting the company manager, inquiring about someone's profession, making appointments, and visiting a company. At the end of the course students will be able to engage in simple conversations with their co-workers in a company, their business partners, and their clients. This course does not satisfy the foreign language requirement. It also does not count towards required language units for EAS major or minor.
This course is the second semester of Beginning Chinese for Professionals. It will continue with foundations in basic Chinese language in a business context. As in CHN 107, more emphasis will be placed on speaking and listening. Topics include introducing products, dinner invitations, going out in the evening, asking for directions, shopping and farewells. At the end of the course students will be able to engage in conversations with their co-workers in a company, their business partners, and their clients.
Major trends and traditions in the arts, literatures and languages, religions and philosophies of China.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
The exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting.Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons. Research projects may or may not be required of course registrants.
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grammar, reading, and conversation in the modern (Mandarin) language for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
Grammar, reading, and conversation in the modern (Mandarin) language for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
The course is a comprehensive historical survey of the main religious traditions in China, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and popular religion. Through lectures, discussions, and reading of select primary and secondary sources, we will explore the formulations and subsequent transformations of key beliefs, doctrines, practices, and institutions that characterized specific religious traditions. We will also examine the patterns of interaction among different traditions, as well as the general character of religious life in both traditional and modern China.
This course introduces four basic aspects of Chinese popular culture: mass media, everyday life, folklore, and arts. It examines how the development of mass media (print culture, radio, film, television, music, the internet, and social media) reflects changes of Chinese culture, society, and politics since the early 20th century. Moreover, the course discusses how popular culture is practiced in everyday life by exploring such topics as work and employment, labor and migration, leisure and consumption, housing, individual creativity, collective justice, gender, sexuality, and arts.
Introduces students to contemporary Chinese films and studies the role of cinema as historiography and ethnography.
Historical development of China from 750 A.D. to 1900 A.D.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
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.
Advanced conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Chinese for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
Advanced conversation, grammar, reading and writing in Modern Chinese for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
Study of Kung Fu Cinema in its relations to the Chinese martial arts tradition with a focus on the context of its rise from a niche film genre to a global cultural phenomenon.
Intellectual foundations of Taoism in its two classical sources, the Lao Tzu and the Chuang Tzu, and a sampling of the varieties of religious practice which developed later.
Survey of major writers and genres in modern Chinese literature, with particular attention to the changing relationship between the writer and society.
For centuries, Chinese people have thrilled to the adventures of characters such as the Monkey King, Lord Guan, and Wu Song the tiger killer. All of these stories are found in classic novels printed in sixteenth century. The exciting plots and plain-speech storyteller style of these novels have made them accessible in the original to readers even today. Increasingly, however, such stories have found fame throughout Asia and the world through popular culture and new media adaptations. In this course, we will examine both the originals (in translation) and the modern adaptations. We will explore the historical setting of the sixteenth- century Ming dynasty in which the novels were first created, as well as recent films and other cultural creations based on them. The aim will be to uncover the cultural dynamics that allow for such creativity and fluidity. Topics may include Chinese religions, print and popular culture, literary and cross-cultural adaptation, film, graphic novels/manga, video games, and taboos against sex and violence. Readings will be primarily in English; supplementary/alternative readings, including portions of the original texts as well as secondary scholarship, will be made available for readers of Asian languages upon request.
The People's Republic of China has emerged as the second largest economy in the world and a major player on the global stage, and that has quickly turned it into an object of both admiration and fear, appreciation and vilification. How we view China depends in part on our political leanings, what kind of media we consume, but, most importantly, on what we actually know about the country, its people, and its history. This course explores some of the most important issues concerning today's China and its relationship with the rest of the world, by viewing them in a longer historical perspective and focusing on the complex legacy of the last two hundred years. While we will adopt a historian's approach, we will read and use works by sociologists, anthropologists, and political scientists. And while the focus of the course is China, the methodology we deploy here can and should be applied to other cases.
What is a good life? How does one make ethical choices? How do we create a just society? Two thousand years ago, amidst warfare and chaos, Chinese philosophers debated over the "Dao": the right Way to approach these critical questions. Contemporary China, officially Communist, has revived these traditional teachings as mark of China's unique identity in the modern world. Does China have perspectives to offer fresh insights on the human condition and its remedies?
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Requires faculty member approval, preceptor application on file with department.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
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 wide diversity among the minority peoples in China. It examines ethnic minority peoples' histories, cultures, and relationship to the Han majority and other minority populations. It also discusses theories of ethnicity, nationalism and globalization.
The course introduces students to the anthropological literature on contemporary China. It examines various social and cultural aspects of everyday life such as family, body, sexuality, consumption, citizenship, urbanization, and property ownership.
Study of advanced modern (Mandarin) Chinese through readings in social science texts for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
Study of advanced modern (Mandarin) Chinese through readings in modern literature. for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
Linguistic study of the phonological, morphological, and syntactic systems of modern Chinese, with particular attention to linguistic analysis.
Linguistic study of the phonological, morphological, and syntactic systems of modern Chinese, with particular attention to linguistic analysis.
Introduction to pre-20th-century Chinese styles through readings in classical Chinese literature.
Introduction to Confucian, Taoist, and legalist/military philosophical texts.
The origin and florescence of Chinese culture and civilization from an archaeological perspective. An in-depth survey of Chinese prehistory and early history from the early Pleistocene to the third century BC.
Studies of Chinese American literature and film centered on the experience of immigration and Diaspora.
Theory, practice, and aesthetics of Chinese brush writing, with emphasis on individual training and development.
This course investigates social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of mass media and visual culture in China. It examines various types of media, including print, mechanical, electronic, and digital media. It focuses on major theoretical perspectives and models.
This course is an introduction to the major themes and genres of Chinese literature from the pre-imperial period (before 221 BCE) to the Tang (618-907 CE) dynasty. Primary readings will be in Chinese, though translations will be available. Secondary readings will be in English. The course is intended to be an opportunity for advanced language learners to use their skills to read and translate premodern literature, and for graduate students to gain an understanding of major trends in the study of premodern Chinese literature.
This course is an introduction to the the major themes and genres of Chinese literature from the Song (960-1279) to the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Primary readings will be in Chinese, though translations will be available. Secondary readings will be in English. The course is intended to be an opportunity for advanced language learners to use their skills to read and translate premodern literature, and for graduate students to gain an understanding of major trends in the study of premodern Chinese literature.
Survey of the developments and trends in Chinese foreign relations in the modern period, focusing mainly on the relationship between the theoretical and actual objectives of China's foreign policies from 1949 to the present.
Introduction to the theory and practice of English-to-Chinese and Chinese-to-English translations including study of the role of translation in China-West encounters and learning the craft of translation.
Analysis of the role of women in Chinese society with equal emphasis on traditional and modern periods.
Survey of political, social, economic and cultural transformations undergone by China from ca. 1800 to the present. Provides students with a sense of both the major themes and the substance of the last two centuries of history of one of the world's major civilizations, as well as a better understanding of China's prominent position in the world today.
This course asks how the city was understood and urban space was experienced in China from the late imperial period to the twentieth century, from the walled cities of Ming and Qing to the neoliberal remaking of Beijing and Shanghai, passing through the modernist experiments of the Communist and Republican periods. Examining some of the key social, cultural and political factors that shaped urban life, we will address such questions as: how did changes in media shape conceptions of urban space and one's place within it, what did the Chinese urban landscape look like, what were some of its key features, and how did political changes at the national level affect life and governance in the city? Our investigations will also lead us into the realm of cultural and intellectual history. We will look at how such notions as cosmopolitanism, nation-mindedness, and scientific rationality developed in and around the city. In more general term, we will use the case of China to investigate how a history of "modern urban life" and urban space can be written, and what its significance might be. This course maintains a focus on the distinctive character of various Chinese cities while attempting to elucidate deeper commonalities and similarities that shape urban experience in China and elsewhere. Comparisons with other national experiences as well as theoretical reflections on issues of urbanism and urban life will then be integral part of the course.
This course is designed for graduate and undergraduate students who are current or future Chinese language educators. We will review different approaches and methods for language teaching in general, while focusing on specific issues related to Chinese pedagogy (e.g., the orthography system, Chinese heritage speakers, and teaching culture through language). It specifically aims to prepare the students to teach the Chinese language in the school setting in the US. Therefore, it highlights an integrated approach and emphasizes techniques to create a communicative, interactive, and effective language classroom. The course will also provide ways of incorporating technologies and the social media for Chinese pedagogical purposes, and help the students to become a lifelong learner through practices such as peer observation and teaching reflections. All students enrolled in this course are expected to have completed at least the advanced level Chinese language courses (or the equivalent).
This course seeks to understand the tumultuous events of 20th century China by examining the central historical figure of this era, namely Mao Zedong. Through a variety of course material, including biography, fiction, film, and primary source material, students will explore topics including the Pacific War, the Chinese Civil War, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the critical dilemma of how post-Mao leaders in China have sought to manage the historical memory of Mao and Maoism. In addition, the course will grapple with the question of how personalities may (or may not) affect the course of history.
Formation of ancient Chinese society; organization of families and clans; social stratification, mobility, conflict, and control in traditional China; and transformation from traditional to modern society.
The overarching goals of this course are two-fold. First, it aims to introduce students to the continuity as well as heterogeneity of the Chinese language(s) in the Sinophone world, including not only Mainland China but Taiwan and Hong Kong as well. Through highlighting issues related to language variation and change, and their relationship to social identity, the course is intended to guide students to understand the complex interaction between linguistic practices and social stratification as well as cultural changes. It focuses on sociolinguistic aspects that are particularly salient to Chinese, such as language and dialect, place, gender, pragmatics, cross-cultural communication, as well as language policy and planning. Secondly, this course strives to provide students with a comparative approach by incorporating studies on Chinese sociolinguistic and those based on other languages such as English. In so doing, it hopes to encourage the students to reflect upon their everyday linguistic experience here in Tucson and compare that with what is happening in the Sinophone world.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
The exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting.Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons. Research projects may or may not be required of course registrants.
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
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.
The course surveys six religious traditions founded and developed in Asian including two from India: Hinduism and Buddhism, two from China: Confucianism and Taoism, and two from Japan: Shinto and Japanese New Religions. The survey of each religion includes: 1. a primary or sacred text, 2. contemporary practices in Asia, 3. contemporary practices in America, and 4. depictions in modern media. The course studies how the central tenets and teachings of Asian religions create the cultural roots of contemporary Asian cultures and how these teachings have influenced America's religious diversity.
This course examines the phenomenon of study abroad as a construct; no study abroad experience is required. East Asia and the rest of the world are now connected not only economically and politically, but also academically. This course focuses on the phenomenon of study abroad -- both to and from East Asia. We begin by examining the trends of study abroad and how they relate to linguistic hierarchies and (in)equities in the world. We then take a comparative approach to discuss the history of study abroad in East Asia as a response to Western colonialism, while student mobility in the U.S. is shaped by the discourse of tourism. We further analyze individual case stories of study abroad to and from Asia and reflect on how culture differences are experienced as these students engage in the remaking of their ethnoracial, linguistic and national identities while overseas.
Explores the nature of writing and the origin of the oldest known systems. Surveys the history and modern decipherment of ancient writing systems, and examines the variety of systems in use in the modern world.
This course offers an introduction to the Chinese civilization from the earliest times to the end of the 18thcentury. It will cover major historical eras and events, as well as the traditions of thought and practices running through them. Literary and artistic genres will be introduced as means to better understand larger social trends. Students will practice close reading and analysis of historical documents, literary compositions, and cultural artifacts. Through these hands-on engagements, they will get to know the diverse voices and perspectives within the Chinese tradition and explore their contemporary relevance. Absolutely no previous experience with the study of China is necessary. At the same time, we hope to bring new perspectives to those who already have some familiarity with Chinese history and culture.
Although the countries of East Asia and many of those in Southeast Asia have very distinct cultures, languages, and national identities today, they share one important thing: all have been heavily influenced throughout their history by the world view known as Confucianism. This course is designed to examine Confucianism in Asia through education, and the importance of ritual and propriety. Beginning at the beginning, with the life of Confucius in the 6th century BCE and the principle text that bears his name, the Analects, we will explore the central ideas of Confucianism and their adoption and adaptation by different Asian societies at different times. We will end with a consideration of issues in contemporary Asia and among the Asian-American population in the U.S. that demonstrate the continued importance of this way of thought.
This course will explore the social, historical, and linguistic aspects of the languages and cultures of East Asia and how they have changed over time, drawing from anthropology, linguistics, sociology, and history.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
This course provides an introductory overview of the field of Asian Pacific American Studies. Through lectures, film screenings, readings, group exercises, and discussions, the course will cover a wide range of issues and problems that APA communities encounter. Topics include Asian Pacific American history, literature, identity, and activism.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
What would it be like to visit China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula in premodern times? What is East Asian Studies? This course offers an introduction to the histories, cultures, languages and scripts, religions, and literatures of traditional East Asia. It also invites students to participate in the interdisciplinary knowledge production that is East Asian Studies. While we explore what has been historically shared among these East Asian societies, our emphasis is on how East Asia has always been diverse and heterogeneous. We encourage students to debunk the popular myths about East Asia--particularly premodern East Asia--as an exotic and homogeneous place. This will not only inform our understanding of today's East Asia in its historical context, it will also prompt us to actively address the historical legacy of orientalism.
This course introduces students to East Asia in modern and contemporary times -- its recent histories, evolving cultures, languages and literatures, and the changes. China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula have all undergone drastic cultural, political, linguistic, and social changes. There have also been increasing transnational flows among these countries, which further shape these changes. This course engages students in discovering these changes and flows and understanding the social and cultural context in which they take place.
This course is designed to introduce students to the history,teachings,and practice of Zen Buddhism in China,Japan, Korea and the United States. The course will discuss Zen from a variety of perspectives but will center around the question of the meaning of history. Zen is a tradition of Buddhism that claims to have inherited and to pass on, in an unbroken historical transmission from patriarch to patriarch, the living experience of the Buddha's enlightenment. The course will discuss how Zen's conception of its history is related to its identity as a special tradition within Buddhism, as well as its basic teachings on the primacy of enlightenment, the role of practice, the nature of the mind, and the limitations of language.
What does it mean to imagine the Buddha? This course guides students in narrating the lives of Buddhist images by tracing their creation and movement in Asia as well as in cultural encounters within Europe and the U.S. Today art critics continue to discuss "Buddhist" elements in the work of iconic artists like Georgia O'Keefe and Mark Rothko, Tibetan mandala coloring books are being used for stress relief, and "Zen" aesthetics inform a broad range of fashion and design platforms. This course provides tools for critically reexamining the categories of "East" and "West" within this cultural moment. Through creative processes such as drawing, writing, and conversation, students interact with diverse imagery such as Chinese painted caves, Himalayan esoteric portraits of enlightened reality, and Japanese temple complexes. They interpret Buddhist texts describing the construction of buddha bodies in art, ritual, and in the mind. Students also engage with the work of contemporary performance artists inspired by Buddhist ideals of discipline and impermanence. Reflecting upon these experiences, students uncover how the categories of "East' and "West" have obscured the understanding of Buddhist art, artists, and communities. They document the ways in which power dynamics of colonialism and Orientalism have been integral to making these categories. In response to their findings, students work together to generate a virtual exhibition reimagining images of Buddhism and telling their stories.
Asian American Studies is an interdisciplinary field that arose out of the shared concerns of students of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Seeing that their universities had neglected Asian Pacific American (APA) perspectives, these students sought courses and research on the contribution of APAs to the United States. Accordingly, this course will introduce neglected and overlooked histories and perspectives of APAs. In the process, we will explore key issues in Asian American politics, racial formation, and culture. Themes includes identity, migration, class, gender, sexuality, panethnicity, youth culture, and social movements. Moreover, the process of unearthing hidden histories will provide practice for students of nearly any background to identify patterns of missing information and to formulate strategies to rediscover it.
This course examines conflict, typically expressing itself in violence and often resulting in wars and revolutions, as defining moments in the modern history of East Asia when opposing social movements, and their affiliated ideas about political, cultural, and economic organization, confront one another over questions of power and autonomy. The course explores how conflict introduces new social dynamics that may have led to revolutionary changes in ideas and institutions.
The course examines multiple meanings of gender and sexuality among peoples in Asia. Topics include family and kinship; desire, affect and happiness; sexed bodies, femininity and masculinity; gender and sexual norms; political economy; queer cultural and political activisms and projects.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
The exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting. Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons. Research projects may or may not be required of course registrants. Topics vary according to instructor, but include aspects of the histories, literatures, languages, religions and cultures of East Asia.
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 will explore diverse Buddhist communities in North America, including local expressions of Buddhism. Students will learn about Buddhist perspectives and practices and how these have been transmitted from Asia to the Americas over the past two centuries, with an emphasis on contemporary forms of North American Buddhism.
Major forms of Buddhist meditation from both the South Asian and East Asian traditions, with emphasis on the nature of meditation as a variety of religious experience.
This course will examine how the three genres of Zen Buddhism, the tea ceremony/tea culture, and poetry, have been presented over time as not only compatible, but as representative expressions of each other. We will consider the contemporaneous cultural, historical, and political factors that contributed to the formation of this discourse. We will also hold up to critical scrutiny the very concept of "genre" in pre-modern East Asia, as well as the distinction between "Zen Buddhism" and what may be termed "Zen culture." We will also investigate in depth how modern commentators such as Okakura Tenshin, Suzuki Daisetsu, and Hisamatsu Shin'ichi's dialogue with the West and Western models informed the now ingrained idea that the tea ceremony represents an artistic, aesthetic, and spiritual nexus of the other two genres, and indeed of East Asian Culture as a whole.
How do Tibetans Buddhists innovate while staying connected with tradition? In the Tibetan language, biographies are referred to as liberation tales. In this course, students explore the life experiences of Tibetan Buddhists striving for a variety of forms of liberation, from samsara as well as from social marginalization and political oppression. Students disassemble stereotypes about Tibet by exploring fundamental aspects of its distinct Buddhist tradition. They analyze the stories of figures as diverse as an eighth-century demon-tamer and his enlightened female partner, a contemporary artist exploring questions of identity, a Buddhist yogi seeking to move beyond the confines of the self, and a debut novelist reflecting on writing as a form of agency. Students apply their knowledge to interpret representations of Tibet in sources ranging from early texts on the nature of reality to an Instagram takeover by contemporary Tibetan female poets. In the process, they generate tools for interpreting the host of representations they encounter in their daily lives.
Is Buddhism a tradition of healing? In what ways has Buddhism been involved in reviving, sustaining, and curing human individuals? This course explores relationships and encounters between Buddhism and the domains of religion, science, and medicine. It considers historical relationships between Buddhism and traditional medicine in Asia as well as contemporary Western discourses involving Buddhism in popular culture, psychology, and spirituality. Finally, it invites a critical approach to the current dialogue between Buddhism and science. In the process, it reveals hidden assumptions behind commodifying `mindfulness' and the quest to document the therapeutic impact of meditation upon health, happiness, and success in the modern age. Students will have the opportunity to apply the ideas they have learned through analysis of relevant initiatives at the U of A such as the Neuropsychology, Emotion, and Thought Lab and the Center for Compassion Studies as well as of broader Tucson community events like the Gem Show.
This course looks at history of post-1949 China from two different perspectives. Students will read "proper" historical texts: political and intellectual essays, government documents, social reports, and scholarly historical monographs. These will be juxtaposed to different forms of narrative construction: movies, novels, and autobiographical accounts. With this integrated approach, the course examines the history of the People's Republic of China but also the continuous interplay between historiography and politics, history and memory, popular culture and learning.
This course examines sociological issues related to the political relationship among East Asian countries, especially during the colonial era (late 19th to the mid- 20th century) within the context of religious ideologies such as Shinto, Confucianism, Christianity, and Buddhism. Religion can be a powerful tool for controlling people, and Japan's colonial movement on Asia beginning in the end of 19th century was no exception. Japan constructed a variety of ideologies based on religious concepts in order to legitimate its imperialist project. Students will learn Japan's political strategy for accomplishing such a process and how Chinese and Korean people and institutions reacted to the challenge they faced in this complex cultural and sociological interaction. All readings are in English.
Throughout the modern development of what has been called "spirituality" in the United States, Asian Pacific Americans along with Asian and Pacific Islander religions have been integral. In the mid-nineteenth century, Asian Pacific American (APA) immigrants brought their religions, and towards the end of the nineteenth century non-APAs enthusiastically brought APA religious teachers to the mainland United States. In the twentieth century, this mixture of APA people and religions continued to reach new communities and develop into independent US-based religions; eventually, these influenced the emergence of more individualistic, non-traditional forms of religion - popularly called 'spirituality.' These lines of influence crisscrossed over the decades, leading to a complex mixture of interests, investments, discourses, and depictions of different racial groups. As a result, this course's examination of Asian and Pacific religions in US-based spirituality engages questions about its definition in distinction to the term 'religion' and in relationship to the social dynamics of race. The course explores its presence in diverse locations such as medicine, theatre, environmental activism, and children's video games.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
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.
Buddhism in China, Korea and Japan with emphasis on the relationship between East Asian Buddhist thought and practice and the various historical contexts in which they emerged.
Studies of major works and authors of fiction, drama, prose narrative and poetry in Asian American literature, in their relevant political, cultural and historical contexts.
The origins and subsequent development of prehistoric cultures in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Siberia and Southeast Asia. Broad concepts such as cultural change and environmental adaptation are stressed in order to draw parallels among these geographically and culturally diverse regions.
The origin and florescence of Chinese culture and civilization from an archaeological perspective. An in-depth survey of Chinese prehistory and early history from the early Pleistocene to the third century BC.
This course explores the Weberian thesis on the relation between culture and capitalist economy by investigating East Asia and its connection with global capitalism. Special attention will be paid to the formation of the dominating East Asian intellectual and religious traditions such as Confucianism and Buddhism and their impact on business ethics and practices in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Reading of translations of primary texts and case studies of East Asian entrepreneurs will be emphasized. To be able to make enlightened judgments about the depth and scope of East Asian thought and capitalist culture, we need to situate the current subject in the global context. As conceived in this course, the following topics will be covered with greater emphasis: 1. The formation of global capitalism and the role of East Asia 2. Life and thought of influential East Asian thinkers 3. Impact of their thoughts on East Asian business culture 4. Cultural and ethical aspects of East Asian economy and business.
An examination of American interaction with Japan and China since the Opium Wars, with special attention given to economic, cultural, and military relations and conflicts.
The course investigates ways in which humanities engage in the global creative economy. It examines key concepts such as creativity, aesthetics, and contemporaneity in humanities, and examines how they become inseparable to the rise of the global creative economy, whether through culture industries, digital media, creative spaces, artistic activisms, or urban development. It focuses on the connections and intersections between aesthetics and art, knowledge and information, and creative economies around the world. Examples of the creative economy include cities from Asia, America, Europe, and Africa. This course is suitable for students who are interested in humanities, global studies, media arts, e-society, visual culture and media studies, urban planning, economics, business, and even those dealing with intellectual property laws.
This course explores the mutual impact of culture and nature - how the natural environment has shaped culture, and how humans have impacted the natural environment (and to take this full circle, how human-induced changes in the natural environment subsequently impact societies). The relatively rapid and thoroughgoing transformations in East Asia over the past century allow us an ideal setting to explore the interaction between culture and nature. Focusing largely on China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, this course explores how the relatively new field of environmental history opens new dimensions of historical inquiry.
Though China and Japan share many civilizational traits, they have produced radically different political systems. Using the intellectual prism of "nationalism", this course explores how Japan and China have reacted to the "every people a polity" principle (nationalism).
The three major East Asian languages, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, are becoming increasingly popular in American K-16 schools. EAS 480/580 is for advanced undergraduate students and graduate students who wish to become language educators and/or specialists in one of these languages. The first half of the semester focuses on linguistic issues and pedagogical challenges specific to teaching the three East Asian languages (e.g., tones and syllabic features, writing systems,), and we then continue with sociocultural and sociopolitical dimensions of East Asian language teaching.
What is ritual? Tantric Buddhism employs ritual in radical ways to work towards the goal of enlightenment in this very lifetime. This course provides an introduction to the principles of tantric ritual, including themes of guru devotion, rites of consecration, vows of secrecy, and visualization practice. In particular, the course guides students in contemplating what it means to imagine oneself as a deity as a means of attaining enlightenment. The importance of ritual to the practice of Tantric Buddhism invites us to reflect upon the larger significance of "ritual" for understanding tantra, Buddhism, and religion at large. The course culminates in an in-class colloquium aimed at defining ritual in dialogue with tantric materials.
Buddhism in China, Korea and Japan with emphasis on the relationship between East Asian Buddhist thought and practice and the various historical contexts in which they emerged.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Requires faculty member approval, preceptor application on file with department.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
An introduction to the EAS M.A. program for students in the Accelerated Masters Program. The exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting. Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons. Research projects may or may not be required of course registrants.
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive senior project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Student must be in last semester of Senior year to take the class.
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
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.
Beginning conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Japanese.
Beginning conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Japanese. Students not in a University of Arizona Japanese class the previous semester must take a placement test.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Intermediate conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Japanese. Students not in a University of Arizona Japanese class the previous semester must take a placement exam.
Intermediate conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Japanese. Students not in a University of Arizona Japanese class the previous semester must take a placement exam.
This course analyzes the history of religions in Japan and the ways in which "Japanese religion" is portrayed in the contemporary world. In particular, the course examines how issues of race, ethnicity, and equity manifest in Western representations of Japanese religion, which is often essentialized, exoticized, and interpreted through a series of cultural stereotypes as the perpetual "Other" in relation to the West. In order to approach this central theme, the course adopts the disciplinary perspectives of Religious Studies, History, and Asian Studies, all of which will be synthesized through a number of writing exercises to allow for a robust analysis of Japanese religious history and practices in the original context of Japan as well as their portrayals in the West, as evident in such outlets as newspaper articles, travel guides, blogs, and YouTube clips, among others. By taking this course, students will be able to integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives to write analytically on the historical significance of Japanese religion as well as questions of race, ethnicity, and equity in representations of Japanese religion in various contexts.
This course will explore contemporary Japanese society by investigating its colorful, dynamic, and rich output of visual culture. More specifically, we will look at manga, cinematic anime, and items of material culture, illustrating how these examples of popular art teach us about the various aspects of life in Japan.
The study of the evolution of Japanese social values, aesthetic expression, religion and political institutions in order to understand Japan's cultural heritage and contemporary society.
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
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.
Advanced conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Japanese.
Advanced conversation, grammar, reading and writing in modern Japanese.
Sounds, words, grammar, change, writing, variation, and use of the Japanese language; provides basis for further study in the field.
This course provides an overview of the history of Buddhism in Japan. Major themes covered in the course include an integration of indigenous "kami veneration" (Shinto) into a Buddhist theological framework; a doctrinal emphasis placed on the notion of Buddha nature or "original enlightenment" (hongaku); the rise of the so-called Kamakura schools of Buddhism; bureaucratic roles imparted to Buddhist temples during the Tokugawa period; and challenges Buddhism faces in contemporary Japanese society.
Experiences of Japanese men and women in the second world war as portrayed in short stories, novels, and poetry written in Japan since the end of the war. All readings done in English translation.
Everyone dies. Because death and the afterlife are unknowable, people have attempted to imagine, visualize, and write about what comes after life in order to understand or overcome fear of the unknowable and inescapable. Since the beginning of recorded time, therefore, death has found its way into religion, art, and literary expression to demystify its meaning. This course surveys the literary discourse of death and dying in Japanese literature from the 8th to the 19th centuries. It is both a chronological introduction to the literary tradition and an exploration of the concept of death in premodern Japan. Our readings include mythologies, narratives, Buddhist didactic tales, poetry, diaries, and other theatrical works, all in English translation. We will learn and practice the skills of close reading, interpretation, and literary analysis through class discussions and critical writing about representations of death. We will study important works concerned with the rhetoric and topos of death within their historical, political, religious, social, and cultural contexts, aiming to establish connections across time and between writers and readers. The most important, yet paradoxical, lesson of this course is that focusing on death leads to reconsidering and celebrating the value of life.
This course explores the prominent tradition of monsters, wrathful gods, and ghostly phenomena related to religious beliefs, politics, wars, and environmental disasters in Japanese visual culture, literature, and historical records from the eighth century to the present. Using critical historical and theoretical perspectives, we will analyze a wide variety of literature, wood-block prints, present-day films, anime, and manga, to explore wrathful gods, terrifying monsters, vengeful spirits, and comical yokai, as well more recent cultural icons such as Godzilla, Princess Mononoke, and Sadako from the J-horror film Ringu. We will learn how these monstrous figures serve as literary and visual tropes that embody various social and cultural fears and fixations while deepening our understanding of how such figures often embody various marginalized populations. Our themes deal with relationships between monsters and politics, gender dynamics, and traumatic disasters. In addition, we will also read seminal theoretical and historical scholarship on horror, monsters, gender studies, postcolonialism, and Japanese ghostly culture in order to acquire the methods and vocabulary necessary for forming our own arguments about haunting figures and the monstrous.
This course provides an overview of the history of Shinto in Japan. Recent scholarship has problematized the simplistic characterization of Shinto as the "indigenous religion of Japan." The course introduces students to the on-going scholarly debate over the category of "Shinto" and dissects from a historical perspective modern appropriations of Shinto discourses in relation to modernization, nationalism, and Japan's "self-image" in the world.
Megacity Tokyo combines diverse perspectives in history, geography, anthropology, and cultural studies to analytically engage the myriad ways that infrastructure, traditional arts, and modern social life intermix in Japan's fascinating metropolis of Tokyo, the most populated urban area in the world.
Throughout the contemporary era, the United States' popular culture has spread abroad, including to Japan. After the American Occupation of Japan, Japanese popular culture began to spread to the United States, notably in film and animation. From this point onward, both nations' popular cultures have mutually influenced each other and in some cases created crossovers, where Japanese popular culture would be recreated in the United States and United States' popular culture would be recreated in Japan. This course takes a cultural studies approach to the rich exchange of these pieces of hybrid popular culture and the social, political, cultural, and sometimes violent forces that undergird them, along with the real lives affected by these forces. It will reflect on the original context of the popular culture in the United States or Japan, its recontextualization and translation in the other country, and in some cases further iterations of this process. Themes include war, Orientalism, horror, the radical Other, and entertainment industries. Media include film, theatre, animation, toys, haunted houses, and origami.
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.
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.
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.
Introduction to general issues of gender and language use, specific gender-related differences in the Japanese language, and gender roles in Japan.
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.
Phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics of the Japanese language.
Advanced readings in Japanese and English on specific topics in Japanese linguistics.
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.
Reading and discussion in Japanese of a variety of advanced-level materials, including newspaper articles, short stories, and poetry.
Reading and discussion in Japanese of a variety of advanced-level materials, including newspaper articles, short stories, and poetry.
This course provides an introduction to the phonetics and phonology of Japanese. Some related topics in morphology are also covered. Students develop a sophisticated understanding of some of the problems encountered by non-native speakers learning Japanese.
This course explores Japanese society employing anthropological methods. Topics include politics, social structure, gender, sociolinguistics, education, religion, and popular culture. The main theme of this course is to learn how to distinguish between images and realities.
This course focuses on the work of Haruki Murakami (1949-), the most popular and widely read novelist working in Japan today, and a major literary figure worldwide. We will read a substantial amount of Murakami's writings, all in English translation, beginning with his short stories, and covering his major novels. We will explore the major themes of Murakami's writings and develop a comprehensive view of his development as a writer. At the same time we will locate Murakami in the context of modern Japanese and world literature, and discuss his relationship with modern American literature, and his work as a translator and writer of non-fiction.
Introduction to Japanese sociolinguistics: questionnaire studies, variation analysis, ethnography of communication, conversation analysis, interactional sociolinguistics, and language and social interaction.
Survey of modern Japanese literature with readings in English translation: Meiji to World War Two.
Survey of pre-modern Japanese literature, with readings in English translation: Court literature, to 1330.
Survey of pre-modern Japanese literature, with readings in English Translation: 14th to 19th centuries.
This discussion-centered, research seminar examines strange and ambiguous bodies prominently featured in premodern Japanese literature. Reading literary works in translation from the 8th to the 19th century, we will engage with a variety of rich depictions of ambiguous and mysterious bodies, including mythical creatures, vengeful spirits, shape-shifting foxes, strange apparitions, and incorporeal or invisible figures. Our topics of investigation include how ambiguous bodies challenge and reinforce social boundaries; the significance of gender dynamics in premodern sexuality; how the trauma of war is inscribed onto bodies; political authority over corporeal and incorporeal bodies; and the transformation of sacred spirits into the everyday grotesque. We will read a wide range of primary materials in translation, including mythologies, official historical records, literary tales, Buddhist didactic stories, women's diaries, and war-tales. We will also engage with scholarship on the cultural history of the body, religious beliefs, and theories of the monstrous, in addition to various theoretical frameworks related to post-colonial thought and gender studies.
Survey of modern Japanese literature with readings in English translation: Postwar and Contemporary Literature.
This course offers students an in-depth look at the history and historiography of Edo Japan (1600-1868). Each week explores a different key theme in the social and cultural atmosphere of Japan under Tokugawa rule to provide a holistic view of life during the "Great Peace." Topics include the emergence of order from a time of instability and upheaval, exchange and tensions with the outside world and between social groups, and the political stakes of Edo's flowering popular culture. Class discussions will also provide an overview of the latest English-language scholarship on the Edo period to familiarize advanced undergraduates and graduate students with the styles of research and interpretation that inform our understanding of Japanese history today. We will pay particular attention to the major epochs in historiography and how their unique concerns influenced the diverse meanings attributed to Edo Japan over the last half century.
This course offers students an in-depth look at the history and historiography of Modern Japan (1868-Present), with a special emphasis on the relationship between empire and everyday life in Japan's modern experience. The course is divided into four chronological units spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and students will have the opportunity to crowdsource their reading materials from a list of recommended and representative books within each unit. Class discussions will provide an overview of the latest English-language scholarship on Japan's modernity to familiarize advanced undergraduates and graduate students with the styles of research and interpretation that inform our understanding of history today.
A selective survey of Japanese religious history from earliest times through the 11th century. Topics covered may include prehistoric religions; the development of Shinto; Nara-period state Buddhism; tantric Buddhism in the Heian period; and spirit possession and exorcism.
Selective survey of the history of religions in Japan from the 11th century through the 16th. Topics covered may include the medieval worldview; apocalyptic thought and related practices; Pure Land Buddhism; Zen; and proselytization and religious competition in medieval Japan.
A selective survey of the history of Japanese religion from the 16th century through the present. Topics may include Shinto and Buddhism; Christianity and its suppression; Edo-period official and popular religion; State Shinto; and Japan's "new religions" and "new new religions."
The exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting. Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons. Research projects may or may not be required of course registrants.
This seminar explores topics related to pre-modern and modern Japanese literature. Topics vary by year and participants conduct in-depth discussion, reading and research related to the topic.
This course involves the development and exchange of scholarly information on specific topics in the field of linguistics. Course rotates between various topics and may be taken up to four times. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
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 is the first of two half courses making up a full-year elementary level Korean course that is designed for learners of Korean with no previous (or very limited) knowledge of the language. The objective of the course is to help students to be active Korean language users who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in the 21st century. In order to do so, this course is designed around the five Cs: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. The course will be conducted using a communicative language teaching approach integrating all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - and the five Cs by utilizing the required textbook, workbook, and authentic materials. This course will first introduce the Korean Alphabet Hangul as well as the sound system of standard Korean. It will focus on writing the Korean alphabet and reading basic words, phrases, and sentences correctly. The latter part of this course will focus on grammatical patterns such as basic sentence structures and word order, assuming that students have no previous (or very limited) knowledge of Korean. In addition, students will be exposed to everyday life situations likely to be encountered in contemporary Korean society.
This is the second of two half courses making up a full-year elementary level Korean course is designed for learners of Korean with a very limited knowledge of the language. The course will be delivered using a communicative language approach to teaching all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, the five Cs (Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) will be used to facilitate learning. By combining the contents of the textbooks and workbooks with carefully chosen authentic learning materials, this course will strive to assist students to be proactive in their learning of the Korean language. This course will encompass six of the most common contexts that learners of Korean will encounter in daily life: The Weekend, In Seoul, Birthdays, At a Professor's Office, Living in a Dormitory, and Family. By exploring given dialogues along with related vocabulary and grammatical points, students will learn how they can interact with Korean speakers in each setting. Students will also be introduced to various cultural aspects such as National Holidays in Korea, How to Get Around in a Korean City, Age and Birthdays, Korean Music, Traditional Attire, and How to Address others in the Korean Hierarchical System. In addition, this course will provide students with an opportunity to practice different ways to conjugate verbs as well as to utilize casual connectives.
This course is the first part of the intermediate level Korean, and is designed for learners of Korean who have taken KOR 102, second part of Elementary Korean or had basic knowledge in Korean. The objective of the course is to help students to be active Korean language users who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in the 21st century. In order to do so, this course is designed around the five Cs, communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. The course will be conducted using a communicative language teaching approach integrating all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - and the five Cs by utilizing the required textbook, workbook, and authentic materials. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students will be exposed to everyday life contexts (e.g., language use, culture, etc.) likely to be encountered in contemporary Korean society.
This course is the second part of the intermediate level Korean, and is designed for learners of Korean who have taken KOR 201, first part of Intermediate Korean or had basic knowledge in Korean. The objective of the course is to help students to be active Korean language users who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in the 21st century. In order to do so, this course is designed around the five Cs, communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. The course will be conducted using a communicative language teaching approach integrating all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - and the five Cs by utilizing the required textbook, workbook, and authentic materials. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students will be exposed to everyday life contexts (e.g., language use, culture, etc.) likely to be encountered in contemporary Korean society.
In this course, we will explore our contemporary world through a lens of popular culture that has saturated our everyday life. In so many ways, we are spectators, be it movies, TV shows, popular music, animation, video games, etc. Sometimes, we go beyond being just spectators and actively engage in producing, circulating, and re-creating such cultural forms as fans or users. How does popular culture affect the way in which we see our world and define who we are? How do the values of cultural industries become the dominant economic logic of our era? How does popular culture interact with politics? This course will allow us to explore these questions. The focus on Korea will offer us unique contexts in which we situate our questions and answers. We will use our personal experiences as motivation to delve deeper into this topic and consider an extensive range of Korean pop culture from music to drama, cinema, online gaming, and Internet culture.
This course offers a thematic introduction to Korea using film as a window to Korean society. Korea has experienced a compressed modernity in reaction to complex international dynamics, which include colonialism, the Cold War, and globalization. Its rich historical and social particularities have been a valuable source for cultural products such as film production. Film enables us to see beyond our own experiences and reflect on our world and other people's lives through various aesthetic mediations. Through the medium of film, students will be able to learn about the country through vivid imagery. This course will also allow students to understand important issues related to class, gender, capitalism, and democracy that our contemporary world is facing using Korean films to illustrate these key concerns.
This survey-level course introduces students to the history of Korea from early times through 1945. From ancient civilization to the end of Japanese colonial rule, the course examines key moments, figures, and themes that speak to the varied experiences of the people who inhabited the Korean peninsula. Students will explore, apply, and reflect on the humanities perspective by learning about the historical continuities and transformations in Korean society, culture, politics, and government across time. Through a combination of diverse modalities of learning including in-person lectures and discussions and online assignments students will be immersed in humanities methods (esp. history) that connect close readings of primary sources with their historical context. Core questions of the class are related to Korea's place in East Asia, the formations of political orders, the making of identities and cultures from above and below, and the continuities and transformations in Korean society over time.
This is the first half of a third-year Korean course designed for students who have successfully completed KOR 202 or have an equivalent intermediate knowledge of Korean. The objective of the course is to facilitate fluency as students expand their knowledge of Korean and become active Korean language users who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in the 21st century. Utilizing the required textbook, workbook, and authentic materials with this aim in mind, this course is designed around the five Cs, communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and the course will be conducted using a communicative language teaching approach integrating all four skill areas. It is expected that, by the end of the semester, students will be able to read and communicate fluently on a variety of topics relevant to Korean society.
This is the second half of a third-year Korean course designed for students who have successfully completed KOR 301, or have an equivalent advanced-intermediate knowledge of Korean. The objective of the course is to facilitate fluency as students expand their knowledge of Korean and become active Korean language users who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in the 21st century. Utilizing the required textbook, workbook, and authentic materials with this aim in mind, this course is designed around the five Cs, communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and the course will be conducted using a communicative language teaching approach integrating all four skills areas. It is expected that, by the end of the semester, students will be able to read and communicate fluently on a variety of topics relevant to Korean society.
Korean culture, despite its important position in East Asian history, tends to be neglected in academia because it is located between China and Japan in both geographical and intellectual perspectives. This course not only introduces general historical information about Korean culture, but also considers its influence on Japanese religious and philosophical traditions, and even on Chinese culture. Such analyses will proceed from the following main topics: Shamanism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucian philosophy, religious discourse during war time, "new" religions in both North and South Korea in the modern era, and Korean religions beyond Korea.
This course aims to allow students to learn about Korea using the three focuses of class, gender, and family. Reading ethnographic literature will be a tool to understand how class, gender, and family have been formed in Korea. Korea has transformed from one of the world's poorest agriculturally based countries to a postindustrial country in a very short time period. More than 80% of the entire population redefined itself as middle class, which shows Korean people's strong desire for upward mobility. Family has played an important role in realizing upward mobility and forming a middle-class identity. The gender-division of labor based on the separation between public and private spheres has functioned as an effective system for fast economic development while deepening gender discrimination. Marginalization of women has resulted in the abnormal growth of the private sphere where an extremely competitive education system and real estate speculation have been formed as family strategies for upward mobility. The particularity of Korean modernity can be found in the process of the interwoven formation of class, gender, and family.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Requires faculty member approval, preceptor application on file with department.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Qualified University Honors students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
This is the first half of the advanced Korean course. This course delves deeper into the intricacies of the Korean language, focusing on advanced grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances. Throughout this course, students will immerse themselves in advanced reading materials, engage in in-depth discussions, and create well-structured written compositions, all aimed at fostering proficiency in the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. In addition to linguistic competence, this course will also equip students with the cultural knowledge and intercultural communication skills necessary to navigate diverse Korean-speaking contexts, from academic and professional environments to everyday social interactions.
This is the second half of the advanced Korean course, where the exploration of the complexities of the Korean language continues. Advanced grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances will be covered in this course. Throughout the course, students will study advanced materials, partake in discussions, and write reflection essays. The primary goal is to enhance proficiency in all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Beyond linguistic competence, the course is designed to furnish students with the cultural knowledge and intercultural communication skills essential for navigating a variety of Korean-speaking contexts, ranging from academic and professional settings to everyday social interactions.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Requires faculty member approval, preceptor application on file with department.
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
This course is designed to examine different topics in Korean studies, including the politics of modern Korea, late capitalism and social changes, new media and society, inter-Asia cultural flows and cosmopolitanism, youth culture, gender and sexuality, and beyond. Under this same course title, each year will focus on one of the listed topics. Students will be able to explore a variety of significant issues in Korean studies in relation to their own research agenda through this course.
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Qualified University Honors students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.