A Wesleyan Student's Guide to Fascism: The Case of Modern Japan
CEAS 395
Fall 2024
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
WLIT 395 |
| Course Cluster and Certificates: Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory Certificate |
"Fascism" is a term that is frequently encountered in social and political discourse. But what does this term actually mean? How can we conceive productively of different fascisms across different historical moments and (geo)political contexts--including our own? This course will consider fascism in modern Japan, and address the economic, (geo)political, social, and cultural circumstances that incited what we will call "fascist desire" in Japan's imperial moment and beyond. But while the specific experiences and characteristics of historical fascisms are informed by the unique contexts within which they unfold, including Japan's, fascism as phenomenon can never be reduced to national or cultural particularities, or confined to isolated historical moments. As one possible reaction to the experiences of modernity, that is, the specter of fascism is always with us, everywhere. By engaging with primary and secondary texts--scholarship, music, literature, film--that variously analyzed, challenged, bolstered, and critiqued fascism in the context of modern Japan, students will learn to recognize the specter of fascism in their own lived, everyday contexts, and grow in their ability to confront and counter the conditions and desires that help nourish it. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA CEAS |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-MN)(CEAS)(CEAS-Lit&Cult)(CSCT) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Primary texts may include historical writings by Sabur¿ Ienaga and Harry Harootunian, reflections on fascism and everyday life from Tosaka Jun and Slavoj Zizek, fictional work from Mishima Yukio and Natsume S¿seki, and others. Students will be assigned book chapters, literary selections, and other texts, as well as secondary-source readings designed to develop contextual understandings of the questions raised by the course. These will be made available via Moode and/or the Wesleyan course reserve system. Students are responsible for all readings, as well as for any listening and/or viewing tasks that may be assigned. Refer to course syllabus for comprehensive list of materials to be covered.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Reflection/reaction papers, in-class presentation, final research project. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
All textual materials will be provided in English translation. No prior knowledge of Japanese language or Japanese culture is necessary to succeed in this course, |
| Instructor(s): Aalgaard,Scott Times: .M..... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: FISK122; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 2 | JR major: 2 | | |
| Seats Available: 0 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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