

Asian StudiesASIAN - 397B - BRIDGING ASIA & AMERICATalks by local and visiting faculty, as well as film screenings and performances, designed to introduce students to the multi-layered connections between Asia and Asian America. Areas that will be considered include: popular culture, youth sub-cultures, labor, issues of gender and sexuality, and migration and immigrant communities. Discussions emphasize how issues play out at local and transnational levels. 2 credits ASIAN STUDIES - 491A - SENIOR SEMINARRequired of all students working toward the completion of the Certificate in Asian and Asian American Studies. Contact the Certificate Advisors for details. Interested students should contact Professor C.N. Le in the Sociology Dept., in Thompson Hall. ChineseCHINESE - 110 - NON-INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY CHINESE IA beginning course of modern standard Chinese (Mandarin). Introduction to the romanization phonetic system of Chinese (Hanyu pinyin), essential sentence structures, basic vocabulary, and approximately 180 characters in traditional form. Develops the basic skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Equivalent to the first half of Chinese 126 in content. No prerequisites CHINESE - 120 - NON-INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY CHINESE IIEquivalent to the second half of Chinese 126 in content. Further development of communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Prerequisite: Chinese 110 (Non-Intensive Elementary Chinese I) or the equivalent. CHINESE - 126 - INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY CHINESE IBeginning course on modern standard Mandarin Chinese. Introduction to the Romanization phonetic system of Chinese (Hanyu pinyin), essential sentence structures, basic vocabulary, 300 Chinese characters in traditional form. Rigorous training in pronunciation and tones, accuracy and fluency in speaking. Emphasis on overall development of communication competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing. No prerequisites. 6 credits. CHINESE - 127 - INTEN. ELEM. CHINESE I: READING & WRITINGThis is a parallel course to Chinese 126 geared for heritage speakers, those who grew up knowing how to speak Chinese but not read or write. CHINESE - 136 - INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE CINEMAThis class presents an introduction to Chinese cinema from its birth in 1905 up to the present. It focuses on the close-reading and appreciation of representative Chinese films. Arranged chronologically and thematically, this course examines interaction of film texts with social contexts. In-depth analyses of films from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan leads students to consider theoretical questions such as film aesthetics, production, distribution, and reception. Topics include relationships of cinema and mass culture, history, ideology, colonialism, and globalization. CHINESE - 140 - CHINESE SCRIPT IYou can learn to write Chinese characters with no previous exposure on your part to the study of Chinese language. This course introduces historical and contemporary variations of the unique Chinese writing system. Analyzes the structure of Chinese characters from an historical perspective. Develops ability to recognize Chinese characters in a variety of non-printed forms. Emphasis is on hands-on experience. Lecture with slides and demonstrations. Requirements include participation in class discussion, quizzes, short essays and a term project. No prerequisites. Knowledge of Chinese characters would be helpful but is not necessary. CHINESE - 141 - CHINESE SCRIPT IIContinues technic learned in 140, but it can stand alone. CHINESE - 150 - PEOPLES AND LANGUAGES OF CHINASocial and cultural diversity in Chins through the elns of language. Three foci: classification of the minorities and their languages, language language contact and the formation of Chinese dialects, and the role of language in identifyling in identity ethnic groups and in maintaining distinct cultures. Conducted in English. No prerequisites and no knowledge of Chinese is required. CHINESE - 155 - CHINESE MYTHS & LEGENDSIntroduction to myths and legends of traditional China: gods, goddesses, immortals, dragons, and deified heroes. Their ancient forms and how they appear in literature and the arts will be discussed. Short essays, a long essay, a term paper are required. Course is conducted in English; no otherlanguage is required. This is a General Education AL/G course. CHINESE - 197S - CHINA IN WORLD AFFAIRSDarfur, world energy prices, the Olympics, peace or war on the Korean peninsula – all of these crucial global issues have one thing in common: China. As China rejoins the ranks of the great powers, how will it fit into the present global order? This course will approach this question through a study of China as a civilization over time. We will look at political culture and government; religion and philosophy; economy and society; and foreign affairs and diplomacy, in order to gain understanding of how current changes in China might work to determine the global future. Readings and instruction are in English. CHINESE - 197S - IDEA AND ACTION IN CHINESE CIVILIZATIONWill China become a democracy? Is Confucianism compatible with Enlightenment notions of human rights? Will China’s rise deepen the fault lines of potential world conflict? The re-emergence of China as a great world power raises important questions. This course will explore these and many more questions through an investigation of the interplay between idea and action in Chinese civilization from the earliest times to the present. We will look at political culture and government; religion and philosophy; political economy and society; foreign affairs and diplomacy; and literature and art to gain an understanding of how China’s past shapes its present. The course will be conducted in English; no prior knowledge of Chinese will be required. CHINESE - 241 - CONTEMPORARY CHINESE LITERATUREThe development of modern China as seen through its literature covering the period 1915-1989. Exploration of the relationship between writing and political change, the role of dissident writers, and the politics of gender in texts from mainland China and Taiwan. All readings are in English translation. This is a GenEd AL/G course. 3 credits CHINESE - 242 - CHINESE VERNACULAR LITERATURE
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JapaneseJAPANESE - 110 - NON-INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY JAPANESEAn introduction to modern standard Japanese, designed to help students to develop basic skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Requirements include regular quizzes and various assignments. No prerequisites. JAPANESE - 120 - NON-INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY IIEquivalent to the second half of Japan 126 in content. Further emphasis on listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Prerequisite: Japanese 110 (Non-intensive Elementary Japanese I). JAPANESE - 126 - INTENSIVE ELEMENTARY JAPANESE IBeginning intensive course in modern standard Japanese. Students will develop basic skills in speaking, reading and writing. No prerequisites. Students who have completed J110 with a grade of C or better are not eligible to take this course. 6 credits. JAPANESE - 135 - JAPANESE ARTS AND CULTUREExploration of Japan’s secular and religious arts and their impact on gendered literary texts, such as early aristocratic women’s writings and medieval warrior epics. Films about the traditional theater, which influences the culture of sexuality, and about the Zen-inspired art of the Tea Ceremony, which reflected political upheaval. Locating points of intersection between art and literature, religion and politics in modern Japan under Western influence. This is a General Education I/G course. No prerequisites. JAPAN - 143 - COURTLY ROMANCE AND WARRIOR EPICJapanese 143 is a lecture survey course with as much time as possible devoted to discussion. Students will read, in English translation, the supreme masterpiece of Japanese literature, The Tale of Genji (ca. 1010), which is also the world's first novel and the only world classic written by a woman. Startlingly different from Murasaki Shikibu's subtle romance about the elegant Heian court is The Tale of the Heike, a warrior epic inspired by the political intrigues and the horrors of the Genpei War (1180-1185). This second monumental work of Japanese literature was first transmitted orally by blind itinerant monks who recited episodes pitching the rise of a samurai honor culture against the fall of courtly society to the percussive sound of the lute-like biwa. The Tale of the Heike (compiled in 1371) belongs, like Homer's Iliad, to a male oral tradition. Students are encouraged to link humanistic, aesthetic, and religious values to literary expression and cultural transformation. Class participation (depending on class size) and/or quizzes; two papers are required. There are no prerequisites. This is a GenEd AL/D course. JAPANESE - 144 - JAPANESE LITERATURE – MODERNSurvey of the literature of modern Japan from the first flowering of urban culture in the early 17th century to the “internationalized” writings of the late 20th century. The course emphasizes reading and discussion of selected works 9all in English) chosen for their accessibility as well as their position in the Japanese literary canon. Lectures help to place each work and author in both their historical and cultural contexts. There is also a parallel series of films and further reading arranged. Thematically, special attention is paid to the development of fiction and narrative out of the predominately poetic tradition. We also consider especially the effect on literature of the tremendous cultural upheaval brought about by the establishment of a modern “Westernized” state in Japan in the late 19th century. This is a General Education AL/G course. No prerequisites. JAPANESE - 197C - INTRODUCTION TO JAPANESE RELIGIONSThis course examines the history of Japanese religions, including Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and various new religions through themes such as art, ritual, gender, charisma, and sacred space. No prerequisites. JAPANESE - 197M - STUDY ABROAD IN JAPANContact Professor Forrest directly for information regarding this course. JAPANESE - 235 - PERFORMING ARTS OF JAPANA study and discussion of the performing arts of Japanese. Begins with the Japanese musical tradition, indigenous and imported, in religious and secular modes. Japanese classical music and dance are essential to the unique forms of traditional Japanese theater. Students will read and/or view selected plays. Course ends with a student of modern theater and dance. Active class participation and oral presentations are required, as well as one research or creative term paper. JAPANESE - 297B - JAPANESE POP-CULTUREThis course explores the history of Japanese popular culture, starting from the Tokugawa era and running to the present. Beginning with an exploration of Tokugawa culture and the development of mass culture, we will then turn our attention to prewar popular culture. The bulk of the course will explore current forms of popular culture including manga and anime. The final portion of the course will look at the impact of Japanese popular culture on other countries including Asia and the United States. JAPANESE - 326 - INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE IReadings and analysis of literary texts. Much time devoted to understanding Japanese grammar and oral practice. Prerequisite is Japanese 246 (Intensive Elementary Japanese II). JAPAN - 327 - INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE IICourse builds reading skills through reading and grammatical analysis of the text; builds spoken fluency by discussion of the text, through oral drills on new vocabulary and grammar, and through the use of video material. Further emphasis on learning kanji. Requirements include regular class attendance and thorough preparation of assignment materials, regular quizzes. Prerequisite: Japan 326 or permission of the instructor. JAPAN - 391G - JUNIOR YEAR WRITINGAll undergraduates are required by the University to complete a course in their major for the Junior Year Writing program in order to graduate. The principal thrust of the course will be toward the development of the student's skill in writing proper English prose. The student will be expected to do a lot of writing during the semester. Writing assignments may include a variety of prose styles. Prerequisite for the course is the successful completion of the University's College Writing (CW) requirements (English 112 or 113). 3 credits. JAPANESE - 393A - HEIAN LITERARY CULTUREIn “Heian Literary Culture” we will go beyond “the Tale of Genji” and look closely ay a number of other Heian period literary works (all in English translation) that are sometimes skimmed over in survey courses: Ise Monogatari, Kagero Nikki, Makura no Soshi, Izumi Shikibu Nikki, and the Kokinshu, among others. We will also be grounding our view of this literature in he culture and history of the period by looking at some recent academic work by scholars such as Tomiko Yoda, Thomas LaMarre, Haruo Shirane, and Mark Morris. Where possible, we will be reading new translations of Heian works in the hope that we can discuss issues of interpretation and translation as well. This will be a seminar that will meet one day a week on Wednesday afternoons. Discussion – rather than lectures – will be the mainstay of the course. It is strongly recommended that students have a general knowledge of the Heian period before they register for this course. This general knowledge can be gained from previous courses (such as Professor Bargen’s Genji/Heike class) or from independent reading. Please contact the instructor for a reading list, if you so desire. JAPANESE - 397M - JAPANESE BUDDHISM & THE LITERARY ARTSThis course will examine how Japanese Buddhism manifested itself in its literature –primarily through poetry and tales—from t he Nara to the Tokugawa periods. Prerequisites: one course in premodern Japanese literature or one course in pre-modern Japanese religion/Buddhism. JAPAN - 397R - GIFT-GIVING IN JAPANGift Giving is, and always has been, very important to Japanese society. This course will explore how gift giving works and how it has changed over time to give us a dynamic and holistic picture of Japanese society. JAPAN - 496T - PRACTICUM & TUTORIALNon-native advanced students or native speakers of Japanese are assigned to work with one of the faculty and assist in teaching beginning or intermediate Japanese. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 1-3 credits. JAPANESE - 497A - READINGS IN MODERN JAPANESE IReadings in Japanese from a variety of contemporary sources, including short fiction, plays, newspapers, magazines and electronic media. This course will focus on readings for comprehension with attention to the acquisition of greater kanji and vocabulary recognition skills, mastery of grammatical structures of written Japanese, and the development of familiarity with Japanese cultural concepts. Prerequisite: Japanese 327. 3 credits. JAPANESE - 497B - CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE IThis non-intensive third year course continues on from Japanese 327: Intensive Intermediate II leading to completion of textbook-centered coursework and preparing students for working exclusively with authentic materials. Strong emphasis on oral proficiency and development of compositional skills, with attention also on increasing kanji recognition and production. Discussion primarily in Japanese. Prerequisite: Japanese 327. 3 credits. JAPAN - 497C - READINGS IN MODERN JAPANESE II FORRESTWide selection of modern Japanese literary materials, essays and newspaper articles will be read with discussion carried on primarily in Japanese. Emphasis continues on reading comprehension and writing fluency. Requirements include compositions, translation assignments, oral presentations and regular quizzes. Prerequisite: Japan 426 or permission of the instructor. JAPAN - 497D - CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE IIThis non-intensive third year Japanese course continues to train students to work exclusively with authentic materials. Strong emphasis on oral proficiency and development of compositional skills, while also increasing kanji recognition and production. Discussion is primarily in Japanese. JAPANESE - 499C - SEMINAR – THE SAMURAIThis is a Capstone course for honors students. The seminar explores the unique culture of the samurai warrior class from its ancient origins to its transformation under the Tokugawa regime and its demise in modern times. To the West, the enigma of Japan emerges from the samurai honor code the combines seemingly incompatible practices like Zen training and ritual suicide. How could a warrior class exist through a peace by practicing, philosophically, the Way of the Sword? In addition to aspects of samurai warfare and the philosophy of death, we will also study the samurai way of love. Among the primary and secondary material will be samurai legends and tales, the theater of war, and eight samurai films. There are no prerequisites. The Samurai is a 4-credit seminar (this first part of a two-semester 8-credit course). We will devote as much time as possible to discussion. Active class participation (20%) and an oral presentation (20%) as well as two 8 page papers (60% of the final course grade) are required. Capstone students must revise and combine the two fall papers with two spring term papers into one coherent whole or, ideally, a capstone honors thesis that requires a B+ or better for all written and oral work in the course. The seminar is open to honor students as well as regular undergraduate and graduate students. Priority will be given to senior honors capstone students. JAPAN - 499R - HONORS SEMINAR: REBELS AND MARTYRSThis is a capstone course for students enrolled in the Commonwealth College. Contact Professor Bargen or the ComColl staff in Goodell Hall for details and descriptions. JAPANESE - 532 - MEDIA JAPANESE IThe course is designed to improve reading and listening comprehension through the use of authentic materials in Japanese media including blogs, newspapers (print and web), television news and magazine programs, and movies reflecting life and thought in contemporary Japan. In particular we will concentrate on journalistic or newspaper Japanese, paying attention to stylistic habits and conventions of the genre. Prerequisite: Japanese 497C, or equivalent. Students returning from study abroad should contact the instructor. JAPANESE - 536H - ADVANCED MODERN JAPANESE IConducted entirely in Japanese. Assists students in reading quality Japanese texts in some quantity and different genres. Discusses pertinent issues to the texts. Students write in Japanese on issues brought out by the given texts. Prerequisite is Japanese 427/497B/497C (Readings in Modern Japanese II) or consent of the instructor. JAPAN - 537 - ADVANCED MODERN JAPANESE IIExtensive reading, discussion and appreciation of a broad range of modern Japanese materials selected on the basis of the needs and interests of the class members. Requirements include class participation, written translations, Japanese compositions and library exercises. Prerequisite is Japan 536 or permission of the instructor. JAPANESE - 556H - CLASSICAL JAPANESE IIntroduction to the literary language of Japanese through the study of classical grammar and the linguistic analysis of poetry and prose. Prerequisite: Japanese 426. This course is open to regular and honors students. JAPAN - 557H - CLASSICAL JAPANESE IIThis course is open to both regular and honors students. Critical reading and appreciation of selected major masterpieces in cultural and literary context; improving grammar and dictionary skills. Prerequisite: Japan 556H. JAPAN - 560H - REBELS AND MARTYRSThis course is open to both regular and honors students. Seminar addresses issues of Sacrifice Rebellion, and Martyrdom in Pre-modern and Modern Japan. Analysis of primary and secondary literature as well as films on a variety of topics. Taught in English, this course meets with Japanese 499D, the capstone course for honor students. JAPANESE - 591B - SEMINAR IN MODERN JAPANESE PHILOSOPHYThis offering will focus on the development of philosophy in modern Japan. Concentration will be on some of the major figures of the late 19th and 20th centuries and how they conceived of philosophy in contexts of war, in the ebb and flow of national sensitivities, and in relationship to the West will be major themes. How such philosophy grappled with the questions of “Japanese-ness,” while important here, will not overshadow the fact that philosophers were at the same time trying to cope with major questions about human existence, death, justice, and the ethical dilemmas of modern society. Reading will be from translated primary sources and from related works. Efforts will be made to relate much of this material to contemporary social and ethical problems – thus, it is hoped, showing how the thinking of these modern Japanese may have value and importance even for students with academic and long-term interests not specifically linked to the study of Japan. JAPAN - 592 - PROSEMINARS GRADUATE FACULTYVarious proseminars are offered by faculty as a requirement for the Master’s degree in Japanese. These are open to graduate students. Undergraduates may enroll only with the permission of the faculty. JAPAN - 592H - REBELS & MARTYRSSeminar addresses issues of Sacrifice Rebellion, and Martyrdom in Pre-modern and Modern Japan. Analysis of primary and secondary literature as well as films on a variety of topics. Taught in English, this course meets with Japanese 499D, the capstone course for honor students. JAPANESE - 593 - HEIAN LITERARY CULTUREAdvanced training in practical techniques associated with the translation of modern Japanese; familiarization with appropriate glossaries, dictionaries, and other translator’s tools. Discussion of specific problems in Japanese-English translation and practice with a variety of prose styles used in journalistic, political, commercial, literary and other forms of modern writing. For undergraduate students only. JAPAN - 597A - MANUSCRIPT JAPANESEA 1-credit course taken in conjunction with 557. Contact Professor Forrest for a detailed description. JAPANESE - 660 - PROBLEMS AND METHODS IN TRANSLATIONFor graduate students only. JAPAN - 691A - GRADUATE SEMINARTopic determined by the fields and interests of the students enrolled in the course. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. JAPANESE - 697A - READINGS IN JAPANESE THEORY AND METHODFor graduate students only. Consult Professor Miller, the graduate program director, for guidance. |