Required Texts: Japanese Aesthetics and Culture, Edited by Nancy Hume, State University of New York Press (1995).
                             You will also have numerous reading assignments all available through the library's electronic reserve.

Recommended Films: "Shower," directed by Zhang Yang; "The Last Samurai," directed by Edward Zwick;

Course Purpose: To introduce students to significant ideas of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian cultures.  Students will explore these cultures through a variety of disciplines, including religion, philosophy, art, literature, and film.  

Grading: All final grades will be based on a total system of 1000 points.  Here is the breakdown for grades:

A= 900-1000, B= 800-899, C= 700-799, D= 600-699, F= 599 and below.

To determine your final grade, assignments will be weighted as follows:  Reading responses and In-class writings, 250 pts. (25%); Three exams, 200 points each, (600 pts. or 60%); Cultural Presentation, (150 pts. or 15%).

Reading Response Entries:  In response to each assigned reading (when the syllabus indicates Journal Due), you will be asked to relect on cultural issues the author raises.  In these journal writings, you should both describe the author's work and offer your personal reflections on that work.  What is the author saying or suggesting about the Chinese or Japanese culture?  How do you feel about the ideas the author puts forth?   You are also free to respond to each writer's work in any other way you wish.  Each of these reading responses will be worth 20 points and will be due at the beginning of class on the day of the assigned reading.  These responses can range from 250-500 words, but should always try to engage the reading assignment in a thorough and thoughtful manner.  If you miss an assignment for any reason, it can be turned in for half credit for up to a week after the due date.  These reading responses can never be turned in more than a week late, and it is the student's responsibility to inquire about any assignment they have missed.   In addition to these reading response assignments, I will assign a variety of in-class writings in response to any day's classroom activities.  These assignments will always be worth 10 points and cannot be made up for any reason.  Finally, I will include 40 extra points in case anyone misses a class or two, but no student can earn more than 250/250 points.  

Exams: Examinations will be primarily essay examinations.  You will be given a series of essay questions prior to the examination, and you will be asked to write in-class responses to two or three of these questions.  A study guide for each examination will also be available from my NSU faculty homepage a week prior to each examination.  You are responsible for downloading this study guide and bringing it to each exam review session.  If for some reason you miss taking an examination, your grade will be lowered by 10 points for each class day after the examination until you take it.  If you call me prior to the examination and present me with a documented medical excuse, then you may have a one week grace period before I start deducting points. 

Attendance: Attendance at all class meetings is required.  Excessive absences will endanger the health of your grade and could result in failure and loss of credit for the course. If you miss a class for any reason, you cannot make up the points for any quiz or in-class activity that takes place on that day.

Class Rules:  Always bring your assigned work for each day to class. You may sit where you wish, but if you talk during class when others are talking or working you will be moved to another permanent seat.  Finally, anyone caught cheating in class will be reported and subject to disciplinary actions, which may include failure of the course.

ADA Policy: If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.
 

Schedule (subject to change; additional readings may be added to this list)

1/14     Course Intro

1/19     "Confucian Thought," (from link "Asia for Educators"): scroll to "religion and philosophy," click "China Teaching Units," click "Confucian Thought."
             The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation, trans. Ames & Rosemont (Library e-reserve)

1/21      Tao Te Ching and Taoism,  (readings from website link "Tao Te Ching"; please read poems 1, 2, 3, 8, 28, 29, 36, 78.)

1/26      Contemporary China:  Film:  "Shower"

1/28       Film: "Shower"

2/4        Chinese and Korean Art

2/9        Singapore:  "Tough Love in Singapore" (Library e-reserve) Journal Due       

2/11       Exam Review

2/16       Exam #1

2/18       Intimacy: A General Orientation in Japanese Religious Values, Kasulis (Library E-reserve)  Journal Due  

2/23        "Japanese Aesthetics," Donald Keene (27-41)  Journal Due  

2/25      "Ways of Japanese Thinking," Graham Parkes (77-108)  Journal Due  

3/2        "Basho on the Art of Haiku," Makoto Ueda (151-175)  Journal Due  

3/4        American Perceptions of Japanese Culture: The Last Samurai, Film

3/9        The Last Samurai, Film

3/11      "Bushido: Mode or Ethic," Roger Ames (279-294)  Journal Due  

4/6       "The Atomic Bomb," (from link "Asia for Educators"): click "20th century," scroll to "Japan  History /Society (World War II), click "The Atomic Bomb"

4/8        "Introducing Little Boy" (pp. 241-261) (Library e-reserve); Student Presentations;  Journal Due

4/13       Anime: "Akira" or "Neon Genesis Evangelion"; Student Presentations;

4/15       Anime: "Akira" or "Neon Genesis Evangelion"; Student Presentations;

4/20      'Beyond the Pleasure Room" (pp. 209-239) (Library e-reserve); Student Presentations

4/22       Student Presentations

4/27       Student Presentations

4/29      Student Presentations

5/4        Student Presentations, Exam Review

Final Exam: Thursday, May 13, 1:00 pm-2:50 pm