In Search of the Good Life in Premodern Japan
CEAS 295
Fall 2016
| Section:
01
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This course presents works of literature from premodern Japan to consider how people conceptualized and struggled to attain the good life. How did people's evocations of their ideals and desires reflect and engage with the historical reality? How did their social status (such as a Buddhist monk, samurai, or a lady-in-waiting), occupation, and gender contribute to their aspirations as well as struggles? What were their strategies for not just survival, but for fulfillment in periods of warfare or disasters? Works will encompass diary literature, essays, fiction, and poems from a variety of authors across most of Japanese premodern history. Practices such as the tea ceremony and works of art will also be discussed to fill out the cultural context. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA CEAS |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-MN)(CEAS)(CEAS-Lit&Cult) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Sei Shonagon, THE PILLOW BOOK (excerpts)
Murasaki Shikibu, THE TALE OF GENJI (excerpts)
Kamo no Chomei, HOJOKI
Yoshida Kenko, TSUREZUREGUSA
Ihara Saikaku, THE LIFE OF AN AMOROUS WOMAN
Other works TBA
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Examinations and Assignments:
Oral presentations, 2-3 papers |
| Instructor(s): Watanabe,Takeshi Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: FISK121; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 9 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 2 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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