2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
EAST1269 Japanese Culture and Society
20 creditsClass Size: 70
Module manager: Dr Jieun Kim
Email: J.E.Kim@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2020/21
Module replaces
EAST1266 Japan: A Cultural History from Buddhism to Murakami HarukiEAST1268 Premodern Japan through Modern MediaThis module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The module introduces the students to key terms and developments in Japanese cultural history (from ancient times to the present) and in contemporary Japanese society. Focusing on literature and the visual arts, the cultural history part emphasises larger aesthetic paradigms, but also keeps in sight the specific socio-political and religious contexts of particular historical periods. The aim is to critique the common stereotypical conceptions of a monolithic and unchanging ‘Japanese culture’ by exploring the rich dynamics of historical and cultural change. Through the seminars the module will also introduce students to the basics of close textual analysis of literary and filmic works. The second part of the module focuses on the social dynamics of contemporary Japan. Reading ethnographic accounts, the students will learn about some major social challenges experienced by Japanese today. Through seminars, students will have opportunities to apply anthropological concepts to develop a contextualised understanding of the changing social relations and practices and to link daily experiences to larger structural and historical forces.Objectives
The module aims to introduce the students to key terms and developments in Japanese cultural history (from ancient times to the present) and in contemporary Japanese society. Its main goal is to critique the common stereotypical conceptions of a monolithic and unchanging “Japan” and “Japaneseness” by exploring the rich dynamics of historical, cultural and social change.Learning outcomes
1. a solid grasp of key names, terms, texts, works of art and developments in Japanese cultural history.
2. a solid grasp of the major social challenges in contemporary Japan
3. ability to situate individual works and cultural practices in the historical constellations in which they emerged.
4. an ability to link daily experience to larger structural and historical forces.
5. basic skills for cultural and social analysis
Skills outcomes
Students will be expected to have:
- developed a foundation for critical analysis of the key debates in the field of Japan’s cultural history and society;
- enhanced their skills of expression and communication in both written and oral form;
- developed their abilities to plan, organize, gather, comprehend and analyze materials relevant to the study of Japanese cultural history and Japanese society.
Syllabus
The syllabus will include the following broad topics (precise content may be subject to change):
- The emergence of Japanese civilization: early aristocratic culture and the aesthetics of evanescence
- Ways of the Warriors: Medieval Japan
- The Edo period and the culture of play
- Ambivalent Moderns (1868–1945)
- Postwar Culture: Politics–Gender–Margins
- The rise and fall of Japan Inc.
- Intimacy and reproduction
- Social movements and resistance
- Global migration and ethnicity
- Ageing, disability and technology
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 20 | 1.00 | 20.00 |
Seminar | 8 | 1.00 | 8.00 |
Private study hours | 172.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 28.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
1. Background reading in preparation for lectures (4 hours per taught week, 80 hours)2. Reading and preparation of appropriate presentation material for seminars (5 hours per seminar, 48 hours)
3. Revision for exams (44 hours).
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
• Apart from seminar discussions, the seminars will also include unassessed group presentations which will give tutors opportunity to observe the work and thinking of students and offer feedback on the content and delivery of presentations.• Group presentations will also offer opportunities for peer learning and feedback.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay or Dissertation | 1,500 words | 50.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
Online Time-Limited assessment | 48 hr | 50.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 15/10/2020 15:39:35
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
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