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CS92PROD
Japan's "Others": Cultural Production of Difference
ALIT 209
Fall 2010
Section: 01  
Crosslisting: EAST 209

This class will examine various types of texts throughout Japanese history that categorize groups or individuals as being different from the main culture of Japan. We will also explore texts attributed to these "othered" groups. Examples will range from early medieval discussions of demons; theatrical representations of China, Okinawan, and Ainu literature; views on Christianity in the early modern period; to a modern burakumin writer. The questions we will explore include, How do texts identify and ascribe "otherness"? What is the relationship between the formation of such otherness and the establishment of a "Japanese identity"?

Essential Capabilities: Intercultural Literacy, Interpretation
This course asks students to interpret and think critically about texts in various media -- ranging from fiction and film to documentary and ethnography -- and to express their interpretations through both speaking and writing. Furthermore, these texts will allow us to consider, in an analogous manner, the relationship between Japan and its historical "others," and our current context (that is, the U.S. and its "others").
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA AL&L
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Requirement for: None
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available

Last Updated on OCT-08-2024
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