HIS 272H,
CULTURAL INTERACTIONS: JAPAN

The organization of the course, its goals and objectives, assignments and expectations will be determined. Terms and concepts, themes and analytical perspectives key to success in the course will be addressed. Students will begin to explore defining aspects of traditional and modern Japanese society and culture and to define potential research topics and available resources.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2011 - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 (SIX SESSIONS):
THE IMPACT OF CHINESE AND KOREAN INFLUENCES ON THE FORMATION OF TRADITIONAL JAPANESE CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION

The transformation of prehistoric economic and social life, the emergence of a centralized political state, literary and aesthetic influences on aristocratic culture and the growth of Buddhist religious practices and influences.

Students will be asked to chart the process by which an element originating in traditional Chinese culture becomes integrated into traditional Japanese civilization either through an informal extended journal entry or a more formal short (3 – 5 pages) analytical essay.  Either undertaking must provide evidence of content mastery, individual research and appropriate concept application in its interpretation of the cultural element discussed as well as comprehension and understanding of the approach being utilized in the course of study.   (journal evaluated on a satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis - 12% of final course grade; essay graded on A – F scale – 12% of final grade)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011 - TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011 (SIX SESSIONS):
WESTERN INFLUENCES AT WORK IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY TRANSFORMATION OF JAPANESE CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE

The introduction and fate of modern Western systems and institutions -- political, economic and military; the whys and wherefores behind the adoption and adaptation of Western cultural patterns, habits and customs; the role of Western individuals in the acceleration of Japan's modern transformation in military affairs, science, architecture, economics, medicine and education.

Students will be asked to examine the process through which an element of Western civilization is integrated into modern Japanese life through an extended journal entry, a short (3 – 5 pages) analytical essay or a ten minute classroom presentation.  The journal entry / essay / presentation will be evaluated on the strength of its underlying research and its analytical and evaluative insights.  (journal evaluated on a satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis - 12% of final course grade; essay graded on A – F scale – 12% of final grade; presentation will be graded a satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis - 12% of final course grade)

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 - THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 (FIVE SESSIONS):
JAPONISME IN THE WEST AS AN EXPRESSION OF ORIENTALISM

The Japanese impact on Impressionism, Art Nouveau and the English Arts and Crafts movement; catering to Western expectations: Japanese "Occcidentalism"; creating an aesthetic image in the popular imagination -- Sadayakko, Madame Butterfly and "The Mikado".

In this section of the course, each student will investigate the impact on Western culture of some aspect of either the actual Japanese aesthetic tradition or the Western image of Things Japanese as evidenced in early twentieth century European and/or American life, individually presenting findings and analysis there of in the form of an extended journal entry, a short (3 – 5 page) analytical essay or as part of a panel presentation (dealing with the Japanese impact on Impressionism, Art Nouveau and/or the English Arts and Crafts movement).   (journal evaluated on a satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis - 12% of final course grade; essay graded on A – F scale – 12% of final grade; panel presentation will be evaluated on a satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis - 12% of final course grade)

Students will also participate in a graded class discussion on the emergence of Japanese "Occidentalism" derived from reading Lesley Downer’s Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha Who Bewitched the West or preparing a short analysis (3 – 5 pages) of this topic as evidenced by Sadayako, Madame Butterfly and "The Mikado".   (essay graded on A – F scale – 12% of final grade; group discussion will be graded on satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis – 12% of final grade)

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2011 - TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 (THREE SESSIONS):
THE JAPANESE IMPERIALIST QUEST FOR EMPIRE AND ITS AFTERMATH -- THE OCCUPATION YEARS (1945 – 1952) -- AS OPPOSING INSTANCES OF WESTERN INFLUENCES AT WORK IN MODERN JAPANESE HISTORY

The class will be divided into two groups, one assigned to examine the rise of militarism in Japan and the Western impact thereupon and the second to an analysis of the impact of American expectations on Occupied Japan between 1945 and 1952. Each group will present their findings to their fellow classmates as part of a two-part panel presentation.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011 - TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2011 (SIX SESSIONS):
THE “SOFT POWER” INFLUENCE OF CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE POPULAR CULTURE ON THE WORLD SCENE: RECONCILING THE UNIQUE AND THE GLOBAL

Individual student explorations of a specific illustration of expanding Japanese “soft power” influences (as defined and illustrated by the instructor) at work in a global setting will be undertaken, focusing on examples drawn from contemporary popular culture around the world. A classroom discussion of these examples will be followed by a consideration of the impact of these popular cultural influences on the global scene and within Japan itself.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011 - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011 (TWO SESSIONS):
CONCLUDING THE COURSE OF STUDY

The applicability of insights gained as applied to American culture and civilization will also be explored in class discussions.