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 their cultural contexts. Some themes include the role of government, dilemmas of love, the methods and aims of education, gender roles and family, social inequality, self and society, and the social roles of literature and history. This course does not aim to be exhaustive, but seeks to enlarge narrow conceptions of Asian cultures and to offer tools for future exploration. |