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JAPN 120 Introduction to Japanese Civilization Spring 2017

Mondays 3:00-5:50 Eureka 103

Instructor: Kristina S. Vassil Office/Hours: MRP 2063 M&W 10:00-11:30 & by appointment E-mail: vassil@csus.edu Japan is often described as a country that is both ultra-modern and extremely traditional. Over the course of Japan’s history, the country has seen many upheavals in which contact with foreign cultures and mass adoption of foreign elements has led to a deliberate rethinking of the nature of Japanese culture, yet ancient traditions and beliefs still retain power in Japan today. This class will examine key historical and cultural developments from the premodern period, to the modern era, and into the present day through its history, literature, film, and art. Paying particular attention to both cultural continuity and cultural change, we will attempt to gain an understanding of Japan and its ability to constantly recreate itself for new circumstances while retaining elements of its earlier self. At the same time, we will look for change within seeming continuity and continuity that underlies times of great change in order to question the notions of national identity, unchanging tradition, and to problematize monolithic, static notions of culture and civilization. Topics to be covered in class include Heian period court culture and aesthetics, samurai ethos, Meiji period modernization, WWII and its aftermath, the growth of an affluent consumer culture, and the transnational dimensions of popular culture. Our emphasis will be on critical reading and analysis of the assigned texts and films, which we will approach with the following goals in mind:

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1) To become familiar with important cultural materials from some of the most

transformative periods in Japanese history (historical documents, literature, film, essays, etc.) within their socio-historical contexts. This means drawing on broader historical, social, and ideological currents to see how authors, filmmakers, artists, etc. are participating in the larger intellectual questions of their day.

2) To identify and track thematic continuities between and among texts from different

historical eras. Doing this will make us think more deeply about the dynamics of reiteration—and about concepts of adaptation–in a culture known for its repeated adaptation of cultural material.

3) To develop and hone our skills as learners—to become sharper readers, more incisive

questioners, better discussants, and more informed interpreters of materials about Japan and the humanities in general.

4) To examine, through self-reflection and cultural comparison, some of our own cultural

assumptions, biases and stereotypes that inevitably emerge when we study a different culture.

More specifically, by the end of this course you will be able to: •Identify and characterize key transformative periods in Japanese history and culture •Describe various intellectual responses to and cultural developments stemming from those historical periods

•Demonstrate knowledge of some of Japan’s best-known fiction and film from the premodern and modern periods

•Learn about the structure of literary texts and films •Demonstrate improved critical reading and analytical skills •Demonstrate improved argumentative writing skills •Identify some of your own cultural biases and dispositions Textbooks, Films and Readings Books (3) Natsume Soseki, Kokoro (1914) Dazai Osamu, The Setting Sun (1947) Enchi Fumiko, Masks (1958) *Other Reading Assignments will be uploaded on SacCT* Films (4): Kurosawa Akira, The Seven Samurai (1954) Miyazaki Hayao, Spirited Away (2001) Ichikawa Jun, Tony Takitani (2004) Nakashima Tetsuya, Train Man (2005)

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Course Requirements Attendance/Participation (10%): Discussion of the course material will be an important component of the class and the contribution of a variety of ideas and perspectives will enrich the experience for all of us, so make every effort to attend all classes. Attendance will be taken at each meeting, and more than one unexcused absence during the semester will lower the participation grade. Chronic lateness will also affect the participation grade. All readings should be completed by the date that they are assigned. It is important that you come to class not only having done the reading, but also having something to say about it. Discussion questions to help focus the reading assignments are provided for every text/film. Also, please be sure to bring the text with you to class every day. Presentations (1 group 5%, 1 individual 5% = 10%): Once we get settled into the class I will ask you to lead class discussion in pairs. This will include a 20-minute presentation on the text and some activity to jump start discussion. For example, you might stage a debate about the nature of feminism in Enchi Fumiko’s novel Masks. When studying Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro, you might give voice to an important female character by rewriting and performing a scene from her perspective. You might write a contemporary analogue to Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji and set it on the CSUS campus. Games that creatively lead to substantive discussion are also encouraged. At the end of the semester you will also give a 10-minute presentation on your final paper. Presentation grading rubrics will be uploaded on SacCT. Response Posts (20% of grade): All students are asked to submit 7 (plot summary free) discussion posts during the semester, which you may choose from among 15 response topics that will accompany the readings and films. Each discussion post should be at least 400 words and should deal concisely with the response question, or on a question of your own. These responses will help form the basis of discussion in class and will be evaluated on a 10-point scale. Discussion posts for the weekly reading are due by 12 noon on the day they are assigned. For example, if the assignment is to read Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro for class on April 17, discussion posts on Kokoro are due by 12:00pm on April 17. Discussion posts are limited to 1 per week, so you will have to submit them for roughly half of the class periods this semester. It is your responsibility to keep track of how many you have done and to make sure you complete 7 by the end of the semester. Sample posts that received full credit can be found on SacCT. Reading Quizzes (25%): There will be 10 multiple-choice reading quizzes given throughout the semester worth 20 points each. If you do all the reading for the assigned day you will do well on the quiz. The quizzes are designed to see how thoroughly and carefully you read the material and understand its most salient points. See the schedule for quiz dates. Critical Essay (20%): Students will be asked to submit one analytical essay of 7 pages for the course. The paper is due on the last day of class and may be on any topic covered in class, or on a topic of the student’s choice. A formal assignment prompt will be uploaded on SacCT. Final exam (15% of grade): A final exam consisting of identification, short-answer questions and an essay question will be given during finals week.

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Extra Credit: Students have the opportunity to earn up to 5% extra credit by:

1. Organizing and participating in Japan Day Events (Sunday 4/9) – 2% 2. Preparing a brief presentation on Japanese food and participating in a Q&A session in

FACS 114 “Cultural and Social Aspects of Food” – 2% 3. Other opportunities will be announced throughout the semester.

Summary of Grading Attendance/Participation 10% Presentations 10% Response Posts 20% Reading Quizzes 25% Critical Essay 20% Final Exam 15%

ScaledScore LetterEquivalent93.0–100% A89.0–92.9% A-83.0–88.9% B79.0–82.9% B-76.0–78.9% C+73.0–75.9% C69.0–72.9% C-66.0–68.9% D+60.0–65.9% D

Academic Honesty Assignments and conduct in this course are governed by the Academic Honor Code. Course assignments should reflect your own ideas, but if you get information from a book, an article, a website, or a colleague, be sure to say so (except for information I give in class, which I consider to be in the public domain). The use of another’s ideas or words without acknowledgement constitutes plagiarism, which is a serious breach of the Honor Code, which will result in a 0 for the assignment, and possibly an F for the course, depending on severity. Cases of plagiarism will also be referred to the University administration.

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Course Schedule (subject to change): WEEK 1

1/23

Course Introduction

WEEK 2

1/30

Traditional Aesthetics – The Heian Period (794-1185) •Ivan Morris, The World of the Shining Prince, Chapter IV, “The ‘Good People’ and their Lives,” pp. 141-155; 165-169 •Sei Shonagon, excerpts from The Pillow Book “Introduction” and pp. 9-51; pp. 60-67; 81-83 •Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji, Chapter 1 *Reading Quiz (The Pillow Book & The Tale of Genji)

WEEK 3

2/6

•Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji, Chapters 2-4; Chapter 6 *Reading Quiz

WEEK 4

2/13

Samurai Ethos, Pathos, and Heroism C. Schirokauer, et al., A Brief History of Japanese Civilization “The Kamakura Period,” pp. 70-90 •Tale of the Heike (Selections) 12th Century *Reading Quiz (Tale of the Heike)

WEEK 5

2/20

Film: Akira Kurosawa, Seven Samurai (1954)

WEEK 6

2/27

Discussion: Seven Samurai •Mori Ogai, “The Abe Family” (1913) *Reading Quiz (Seven Samurai & “The Abe Family”)

WEEK 7

3/6

Meiji Period Modernization Introduction to the Meiji period (1868-1912) •A Brief History of Japanese Civilization

“The Meiji Restoration” pp. 167-173 “The Emergence of Modern Japan” pp. 174-188

•Mori Ogai “Maihime” (1890) •Higuchi Ichiyo, “Child’s Play” (1895) *Reading Quiz (“Maihime” & “Child’s Play”)

WEEK 8

3/13

Natsume Soseki, Kokoro (1911) *Reading Quiz (Kokoro)

SPRING BREAK 3/18-3/26

WEEK 9

3/27

WWII and Cultures of Defeat A Brief History of Japanese Civilization “Militarism and War” pp. 220-234 John Dower, Embracing Defeat, Ch. IV “Cultures of Defeat” Documentary Film: Risa Morimoto, Wings of Defeat (2007) Hara Tamiki, “Summer Flowers” (1947) Hara Tamiki’s Notes on the Atomic Bombing *Reading Quiz (“Cultures of Defeat” and “Summer Flowers”)

WEEK 10 4/3 Dazai, Osamu The Setting Sun (1947)

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*Reading Quiz (The Setting Sun) WEEK 11

4/10

A Feminist Novel? Enchi Fumiko, Masks (1958) Writing Workshop (Peer Review – Thesis Statements) *Reading Quiz (Masks)

WEEK 12

4/17

Contemporary Currents: Excess at the Margins Film: Spirited Away (2001)

WEEK 13

4/24

Murakami Haruki, Tony Takitani 2002 (+film) *Reading Quiz (Tony Takitani)

WEEK 14

5/1

Film: Train Man (2005)

WEEK 15

5/8 Student Presentations + Review Final Paper Due

Final Exam: Monday May 15 3:00-5:00PM