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20 courses found.

EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES & CULTURES (L81) (Dept. Info)

Arts & Sciences (Policies)

Ampersand: Knowing Through Objects:The World of an Antique Chinese Wedding Bed

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Where do modern people spend almost a third of their life? Their beds! In addition to facilitating sleep and relaxation and its association with marriage and sexuality, the bed also is the centerpiece and likely the most expensive item of furniture item in the bedroom. Across cultures, from medieval Europe to imperial China, beds served as tokens of status that marked families' success and material wealth in increasingly commercialized and stratified societies. In the modern era, beds have drawn scrutiny from sociologists, sexologists, and social critics interested in questions of gender, family, and sexuality. A historical bed might also capture other meanings: its pathways through production, circulation, and consumption might illuminate global trading networks in lumber, labor, and finished commodities. It might reveal (or allow people to imagine) the transmission of craft knowledge, family formation, wealth accumulation (or dissipation), and social mobility. With these possibilities in mind, students will investigate and restore an antique Chinese wedding bed. Work will combine digital tools with humanistic research methods to facilitate a cultural history that engage questions of intimacy, nuptials, curation and conservation, and global trade and cultural exchanges. Prerequisite: first-year, non-transfer students only.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

N/A

Building / Room

01

-T-R---

4:00P-5:20P

TBA

Ma, Sangrey

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

0

0

Actions:

First-Year Seminar: Exploring East Asian Classics

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This first-year seminar introduces students to major works of the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese traditions. Although written centuries in the past, these texts still reverberate with meaning today and offer important means to understand the often chaotic and confusing events occurring daily around us. What is the self? What is the relationship between the individual and society? How do we live an ethical life? What is literature and for whom is it intended? In grappling with these questions, students will directly engage with the texts through close reading and in-class discussion. Students will, at the same time, also ask broader questions that concern how knowledge is produced, spread, and consumed: what is a canon? Who are the gatekeepers? What does it mean to approach East Asia through a set of "canonical" texts? Among the texts considered will be The Analects, Daodejing, Lotus Sutra, Tale of Genji, Tales of the Heike, Tales of Moonlight and Rain, Samguk yusa, and Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong. Prerequisite: first-year, non-transfer students only.

A&S: FYS A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: BA EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L04 150 L05 150 L51 150 L61 150A

Unpredictable / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

11:30A-12:50P

TBA

Poletto

Paper/Project/TakeHome

15

0

0

Actions:

Korean Civilization

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This course introduces Korean civilization from earliest times to the present. While a broad survey, the course emphasizes cultural themes and social institutions, and explores the Korean past in East Asian and global perspectives. To help with building this comprehensive view, the class follows a chronological progression of history using a textbook. But throughout, students also learn from diverse media-including film, drama, music, games, and primary historical sources-to make their own sense of Korea and Korean culture. In terms of methodology, the class adopts various approaches, from source criticism and material studies to critically engaging modern-day representations of Korea in print and new media. Some of the topics covered include: foundation myths, ancient literature, colonialism, civil war, authoritarianism, rapid industrialization, and democratization in Korea.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, SD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: IS EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L51 223C L97 223

Every 2 Years / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

10:00A-11:20A

TBA

Kang

Paper/Project/TakeHome

40

32

0

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Japanese Civilization

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This course will present a comprehensive overview of Japan, its history, its institutions and cultural products, and its society and people. The first half of the course will comprise a survey of Japanese history, with an emphasis on its social and cultural aspects, from the earliest period to the present day. Having established the historical framework- with its interweave of native and foreign elements, Kyoto-based imperial aristocracy, the samurai class and their crucial role, Zen-inspired meditative arts, and exquisitely diverse cultural products- the class will move on, in the second half, to an examination of recent and contemporary trends and issues. These will center on Japanese education, social and family structures, urban centers and the rural periphery, economic and socio-political trends, Japan's distinctive and vibrant popular culture, contemporary problems and challenges, and the nation's dramatically shifting position in East Asia and in the 21st-century global order.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: IS EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L05 226C L97 226C

Annually / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

1:00P-2:20P

TBA

Michael Crandol

Paper/Project/TakeHome

40

40

4

Actions:

Undergraduate Internship in East Asian Languages and Cultures

Var. Units (max = 3.0)

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Students receive credit for a faculty-directed and approved internship. Registration requires the completion of the Learning Agreement, which the student obtains from the Career Center and which must be filled out and signed by the Career Center and the faculty sponsor prior to beginning internship work. Credit should correspond to actual time spent in work activities (e.g., eight to ten hours a week for thirteen or fourteen weeks to receive 3 units of credit; 1 or 2 credits for fewer hours). Credit/no credit only.

Instruction Type:

Internship/Practicum

N/A

Every Semester / History

Building / Room

01

TBA

TBA

[TBA]

No final

0

0

0

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Waits managed by dept.

Contemporary Chinese Popular Culture

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This course analyzes the social and political meanings of Chinese popular culture from the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 to the present. Focusing on genre fiction, cinema, and media, we will place Chinese popular culture in the context of social reforms and technological innovation. Through the lens of cultural expressions, we strive to understand the major changes of the Chinese society. For instance, the Chinese writing system and the computer, narrative films and the marketization reform, science fiction and urbanization, documentaries and surveillance technology, identity and the digital self-image craft. Exposed to different cultural forms and theories, students will acquire critical perspectives in thinking about the causes and consequences of Chinese social and cultural transformation. All class materials are available in English. No prerequisites.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: HUM, IS EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L04 3211 L97 3214

Building / Room

01

M-W----

4:00P-5:20P

TBA

Gao

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

17

0

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Topics in Early Modern Korea: Guns, Tobacco, and Sweet Potato: A History of Material Culture

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This course is an introduction to both material culture studies and early modern Korea, through the use of compelling objects-from guns and ceramics, to drugs, foods, and artwork-as an entry point into Korean cultural history (with a focus on the period between 1592 and 1910). It starts with objects in times of crises, from the matchlock guns which wreaked havoc across the Korean peninsula, to the ondol heated floors which warmed Korean homes through the Little Ice Age. Then, it delves into a period of cultural efflorescence, when new material cultures emerged, by the hands of Buddhist papermakers, up-and-coming chungin ("middle people") painters, and aristocratic women. It ends with stories from the nineteenth century, when these "Korean" material cultures became closely entangled with their foreign counterparts-especially Western European-and how they were put on display at the world's fairs and expositions around the globe-in Japan, Chicago, Hanoi, and Paris. The overarching questions that run throughout the course are: What is material culture? How does the "material turn" change the nature of humanistic inquiry and expand the horizons of Korean/cultural studies? How may attention to "things" transform our understanding of the past and present, ourselves, and of the material world that we inhabit today? Fulfills premodern elective for EALC major.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM, VC EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

Every 1 or 2 Years / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

4:00P-5:20P

TBA

Kang

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

19

3

Actions:

Topics in Chinese Literature & Culture: Environment in Modern China: History, Politics, and Culture

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This course invites students to assess the Chinese ways of controlling and shaping the environment from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Through the analysis of the social, political, and cultural significance of coal, water, air, mushroom, and waste, this course charts how the Chinese society has seen and managed nature in order to survive and thrive in the modern world order. Examining the environment as an imperial symbol, a repertoire of energy resources, and even a threat to state ideologies, we will pay close attention to how historical and cultural agents have interacted with the natural world with different agendas. We will discuss a wide range of scholarship that bridges humanistic analysis with environmental studies. Interdisciplinary in nature, this course introduces students to the methodologies of environmental humanities and helps them understand the evolving meaning of the environment by considering the human tolls, political challenges, and technological forces across time and space. Besides essay writing, students will have the chance to develop creative projects (e.g. podcasts or video essays) as new critical practices. All class materials are available in English. No prerequisites.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H UColl: CD

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L04 330 L97 3301

Annually / History

Building / Room

01

-T-R---

4:00P-5:20P

TBA

Gao

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

9

0

Actions:

Topics in East Asian Religions: The Lotus Sutra in East Asia: Buddhism, Art, Literature

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This course is an introduction to the Lotus Sutra, the most popular and influential scripture in the history of East Asian Buddhism. After a close reading of the entire text and a discussion of its major ideas, it's contextualized within the history of Buddhism and, more broadly, of East Asia, by examining its contributions to thought, ritual, literature and art in China, Korea and Japan, from its first translations into literary Chinese - the canonical language of East Asian Buddhism - to modern times. Topics covered include: the ontological status of the Lotus and, more broadly, of Mahayana scriptures; commentarial traditions on the meaning of the Lotus and its place within Mahayana Buddhism; practices associated to the worship of the Lotus - e.g., copying, reciting, burying; the worship of buddhas and bodhisattvas appearing in the sutra; Lotus-inspired poetry, and visual and material culture; Lotus-centered Buddhist traditions. Readings (all in English) are drawn from Buddhist scriptures and commentaries, tale literature, hagiographic narratives, poetry, archeological materials, and other literary genres. Given the importance that the Lotus has played in East Asia, this course functions broadly as an introduction to East Asian Buddhism. Previous coursework on Buddhism or East Asia is recommended but not required, and no prior knowledge of any East Asian languages is required. Fulfills premodern elective for EALC major.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L04 3340 L05 3340 L23 3340 L51 3340

Every 1 or 2 Years / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

2:30P-3:50P

TBA

Poletto

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

10

0

Actions:

Early and Imperial Chinese Literature

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Building / Room

01

-T-R---

10:00A-11:20A

TBA

Wang

Paper/Project/TakeHome

40

40

10

Actions:

U.S.-China Relations from 1949 to the Present

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The United States and China are the two most important global powers today, and the relationship between them is one of the most comprehensive, complex, and consequential major-power relations in the world. The tangled relationship is at times turbulent, and its future remains uncertain. This course studies the bilateral relationship from the Chinese Civil War to the rise of China as a major political and economic power in the 21st century. It invites students to explore the following questions: What have China and the U.S. done to confront or accommodate each other in global politics? How has foreign policy in both countries balanced the often competing goals of state security, economic stability, domestic political order, and international influence? What are the impacts of a rising China on geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific region and on the U.S.'s global leadership in the 21st century? By drawing on scholarship in political and social history and area studies, this course helps students better understand both the historical context and current developments of U.S.-China relations. Fulfills modern elective for EALC major.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L04 350 L22 3503 L46 350 L97 3503

Every 1 or 2 Years / History

Building / Room

01

-T-R---

1:00P-2:20P

TBA

Ma

Paper/Project/TakeHome

50

50

24

Actions:

Literature of Modern and Contemporary Korea

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This undergraduate course surveys the major writers and works of 20th century Korean literature. During the 20th century Korea went through a radical process of modernization. From its colonization by Japan, to its suffering of a civil war within the cold war order, to its growth into a cultural and economic powerhouse, Korea's historical experience is at once unique and typical of that of a third-world nation. By immersing themselves in the most distinctive literary voices from Korea, students examine how the Korean experience of modernization was filtered through its cultural production. The course pays special attention to the writers' construction of the self and the nation. How do social categories such as ethnicity, class, gender, and race figure in the varying images of the self? And how do these images relate to the literary vision of the nation? Along the way, students observe the prominent ideas, themes, and genres of Korean literature. This class combines lecture with discussion, in which students are strongly encouraged to participate. All literary texts are in English translation and no previous knowledge of Korean is required. Fulfills modern literature requirement for EALC degrees.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, SD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: ETH, IS EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L51 352 L46 352 L97 3520

Every 1 or 2 Years / History

Building / Room

01

-T-R---

1:00P-2:20P

TBA

Lee

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

19

1

Actions:

Topics in Modern Japanese Literature: Japanese Horror Cinema

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This course examines the dilemmas of applying an English-language film genre - in this case the horror movie - to the cinema of a non-English speaking culture. Do Western definitions of the horrific and the monstrous work in the case of Japanese cinema? How do notions of genre and the global influence of Hollywood impact the production and reception of national cinemas? Should American remakes of Japanese horror films be called "J-horror?" By reading a combination of texts on genre, horror theory, and Japanese cinema, the course will consider the history and development of the "horror movie" in Japan in a course of study that takes into account both domestic cultural and filmmaking traditions as well as the larger, transnational world of popular film.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM BU: HUM EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L05 365 L97 3651

Every 1 or 2 Years / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

4:00P-5:20P

TBA

Michael Crandol

Paper/Project/TakeHome

19

6

0

Actions:

The Japanese Theater

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This course is an investigation, using English materials, of the major developments and forms of the Japanese theater, from Noh and its antecedents to the rise of a modern drama. While less concerned with the performative aspects of theatrical arts (though these will be introduced via videos), emphasis is placed on the ways in which dramatic texts influenced and borrowed from the literary tradition. Readings are from major theatrical texts, secondary studies on Japanese theater, and literary sources. Undergraduates enroll in the 400-level section; 500-level section is for graduate students only. Fulfills premodern elective for EALC major. Prerequisite: junior level or above or permission of instructor.

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD, SD Art: HUM EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L05 446 L05 546 L15 446 L81 546

Unpredictable / History

Building / Room

01

-T-R---

10:00A-11:20A

TBA

Newhard

Paper/Project/TakeHome

15

7

0

Actions:

Topics in Comparative Literature: Writing from the Periphery: The Question of Chineseness

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In this course, we will read a broad range of literary works written by ethnic Chinese from various parts of the world. We will examine the notion of "Sinophone," primarily its implications to the challenge of cultural identity formation to those Chinese who are not traditionally identified as "Chinese" because of war, migration, immigration, colonialism, among others. We will also examine the meaning of being on the margins of geopolitical nation-states. Finally we will discuss the notions of hybridity and authenticity vis-a-vis literary representation. We will read works by ethnic Chinese writers from the United States, France, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Mongolia, Tibet, and so on. This course is limited to seniors and graduate students only. All readings will be in English. Active class participation is required.

A&S IQ: HUM Arch: HUM Art: HUM EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L16 449 L04 449 L16 549 L46 449

Unpredictable / History

Building / Room

01

M-W----

2:30P-3:50P

TBA

Chen

Paper/Project/TakeHome

15

8

0

Actions:

Japanese Textual Analysis

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This course introduces the advanced student of Japanese to a variety of prose narratives in the modern language. Readings, which include literary texts and topical essays on aspects of Japanese society and culture, reflect the needs and interests of the enrolled students. Focus is on close reading and syntactic analysis of the selected texts. Regular translation exercises gauge the mastery of grammar, syntax, and idiomatic usages. All readings are in Japanese, with class discussion conducted predominantly in English. A final translation project, to be chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor, is required. Undergraduates enroll in the 400-level section; 500-level section is for graduate students only. Prerequisite: L05 458 or permission of instructor.

A&S IQ: LCD EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L05 464 L05 564 L81 564 L97 4641

Unpredictable / History

Building / Room

01

-T-----

3:00P-5:50P

TBA

Poletto

Paper/Project/TakeHome

6

2

0

Actions:

Topics in Japanese Culture: Otaku: Anime and Beyond

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The global spread of Japanese popular culture since the turn of the millennium brought with it increased visibility of the 'otaku' - the superfans of anime, manga, videogames, and other forms of entertainment. This course will examine the role anime in particular played in the creation of otaku culture, how anime and other media both reflects and shapes evolving attitudes towards otaku in Japanese society, and the advent of the 'global otaku' in the digital age. Beginning with the origins of the term 'otaku' in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the course will consider how and why overwhelmingly negative stereotypes of otaku as potential threats to society eventually gave way to more positive perceptions in tandem with the rise of anime and manga as internationally recognized icons of Japanese culture. To answer these questions the course will look at a variety of written and animated texts that consider otaku in terms of fandom activities, perceived social worth, and as an alternative lifestyle to constrictive Japanese social norms, revealing what it means to be an otaku in the global 21st century. Undergraduates enroll in the 400-level section; 500-level section is for graduate students only. Prerequisite: junior level or above or permission of instructor

A&S IQ: HUM, LCD Arch: HUM Art: HUM EN: H

Instruction Type:

Classroom instruction

L05 4710 L97 4711

Every 2-3 Years / History

Building / Room

01

---R---

3:00P-5:50P

TBA

Michael Crandol

Paper/Project/TakeHome

15

10

0

Actions:

Independent Work for Senior Honors

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This course is taken in the fall semester. Prerequisite: senior standing, eligibility for Honors, and permission of the Department.

Instruction Type:

Independent study, tutorial, or other

N/A

Annually / History

Building / Room

01

TBA

(None) /

Jianqing Chen

No final

1

1

0

Actions:

02

TBA

(None) /

Ma

No final

0

0

0

Actions:

Waits managed by dept.

03

TBA

(None) /

Copeland

No final

0

0

0

Actions:

Waits managed by dept.