This course introduces some of the cultural foundations of East Asia and how they have continued to resonate through history. We will be examining translated primary texts in history, literature, philosophy, and religion, mainly from China, Korea, and Japan. We will also be working with other media such as film and art. The course attempts to equip students with a basic fluency in interpreting ancient and modern materials from East Asia and identifying its cultural contexts. Some potential themes are: dilemmas of love, the role of government, the methods and aims of education, social inequality, and notions of illness and healing. This course does not aim to be exhaustive, but seeks to enlarge narrow conceptions of Asian cultures and to offer tools for future exploration. |