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East Asian Studies Course Descriptions

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EA150fs    Foundations in East Asian Studies      An exploration of the foundations of East Asian civilization, with a focus on reading the classical texts of ancient China, Korea, and Japan. Provides an introduction to East Asian studies as an interdisciplinary field of study, as we explore interpretations of these foundational texts from a number of perspectives (philosophical, historical, artistic, political, etc.). Students will also work on improving writing and research skills.     Four credit hours.  H, I.    CHO
[EA152]    Introduction to East Asia from the 18th Century to Modern Times      A survey of East Asia from the 18th century to the present in its global, regional, and local contexts, beginning with the empires of Qing China, Tokugawa Japan, and Choson Korea, examining the transformations that led to the rise of the modern nation-states of East Asia. Topics include cross-cultural encounters, the rise of imperialism and colonialism, the transformation of empires into nation-states, and the evolution of gender, ethnic, and status identities.     Four credit hours.  H, I.  
EA173s    Survey of Asian Art      Listed as Art 173.     Four credit hours.  A.    WEITZ
[EA231]    The Chinese Novel: Vignettes of Life in Imperial China      A critical examination of the development of classical Chinese literature of various genres such as poetry, popular songs, philosophical discourse, historical narrative, prose, fiction, tales of the supernatural and the fantastic, romance, and drama. All readings are in English translation.     Four credit hours.  L.  
[EA240]    Japanese Animation: Sensitivity to Differences      Japanese animations (animé) are artistic and dramatic expressions of realistic situations, happenings, and apprehensions. This course studies twelve animé as artistic expressions as well as socio-cultural and moral messages. The period covered spans from the 15th century to the post-human cyber-culture era, drawing a socio-cultural contour of Japanese history. As it discusses the values and relationships among regional tribes, social classes, genders, and human versus post-human beings, it cultivates sensitivity towards Japanese culture at multiple levels. It also hones skills in writing and public speaking. Formerly offered as East Asian Studies 297A.     Three credit hours.  A.  
[EA250]    History of Modern China      Listed as History 250.     Four credit hours.  H, I.  
EA251s    Gender Politics in Chinese Drama and Film      A historical survey of Chinese drama and film from the 13th century to the present with a focus on representations of gender and sexuality. Paired readings of major works from various genres that make up the Chinese dramatic tradition with viewing of modern and contemporary films are informed by reading secondary scholarship in order to place these works and their portrayals of gender and sexuality in their historical and cultural contexts. Students will hone analytical skills and improve their ability to communicate insights both orally and in writing.     Four credit hours.  L, I.    BESIO
[EA252]    Hell on Earth? Chinese Writers on Modern Chinese Society      An examination of how Chinese writers used literature and film to address the political and social crises their country faced during the 20th century. Through close readings of literary and cinematic works, students will reflect critically on the experiences of the Chinese people as they struggled to modernize and reform society. Students will reflect on what these experiences might teach us about our own society as well as contemporary China, and they will develop their ability to express insights both orally and in writing.     Three credit hours.  L, I.  
[EA254]    China in Transition: An Anthropological Account      Listed as Anthropology 264.     Four credit hours.  S, I.  
EA255s    Zen Theater: Acting, Dancing, Singing Japanese Noh      Listed as Music 255.     Four credit hours.  A.    NUSS
[EA257]    From Communism to Consumerism      An exploration of the fast-changing cultural scene in reform-era China. A wide range of popular cultural forms and newly-emerging consumption patterns (including films, popular music, avant-garde art, lifestyle magazines, hip-hop, and theme parks) are analyzed and discussed in the context of China's transition from a centrally controlled socialist state to a capitalist market economy and consumer-oriented society. Issues include the relationship between the masses and the state in cultural production and circulation; the political implications of late-socialist/postmodern forms of mass culture, and the social and historical contexts for the shaping of cultural sensibilities and commodities in urban "global" communities.     Four credit hours.  S.  
[EA261]    Japanese Language and Culture (in English)      An introductory course on Japan in which we explore a global perspective of how Japanese people interact and see the world through knowledge of their own culture and language. Examines cultural patterns of Japanese society by looking at various political, social, economic, and gender relations among people in current times. Analyzes the variety of ways in which culture is consumed, reconstructed, reproduced, and manipulated in various local contexts. All readings are in English, but students are expected to memorize Japanese terms that signify Japanese culture and language.     Four credit hours.  S, I.  
EA266f    East Asian Buddhist Philosophy      Listed as Philosophy 266.     Four credit hours.  L.    BEHUNIAK
EA268s    Politics of Satire and Humor in Modern China      Explores the evolving role of satire, jokes, and comics in modern China from the Republican Period (1912-48) to Maoist China (1949-78) and reform-era China (1978-present). Particular attention to new and historical forms and targets of Chinese political humor as a way to understand changing state-society relations. Should the proliferation of political humor on the Internet be seen as a sign of new political openness or a part of everyday forms of resistance under authoritarian rule in contemporary China?     Four credit hours.  S, I.    ZHANG
[EA273]    The Arts of China      Listed as Art 273.     Four credit hours.  A.  
[EA274]    The Arts of Japan      Listed as Art 274.     Four credit hours.  A.  
EA275f    The Arts of Korea      Listed as Art 275.     Four credit hours.  A.    WEITZ
EA276s    Zen and the Arts in Asia      Listed as Art 276.     Four credit hours.  A, I.    WEITZ
EA298s    Introduction to Korean History and Culture      Listed as History 298B.     Four credit hours.  H.    CHO
EA332s    Masterpieces: Modern Japanese Novels      An appreciation and examination of masterpiece novels and short stories written by 10 illustrious Japanese writers, including two Nobel Prize laureates. Cultivation of the students' sensitivities to the feelings and values questioned by Japanese novelists. Examination of the novels as works of literature, aided by published scholarship in the fields of literary philosophical, psychoanalytic, historical, and socio-anthropological studies in Japan and the West. Each student will pry out covert meanings, verbally express those findings to an audience, and write a high-quality research paper.     Three or four credit hours.  L, I.    PRINDLE
[EA350]    Women and Gender in East Asia      Listed as History 350.     Four credit hours.  H, I.  
[EA353]    Globalization and Human Rights in China      Globalization refers to a variety of political, economic, cultural, and social changes that are transforming our world. Countries are increasingly interconnected by flows of information and technology, capital and labor, ideas and culture. We will use China as a case study to address some major issues concerning globalization: its problems and prospects; terms of trade between and among nations; sweatshop labor; the role of states, markets, and global institutions; human rights and cultural preservation. Prerequisite:  East Asian Studies 152 or Anthropology 112 or Government 131.     Four credit hours.  S.  
EA371f    Japanese Language, Gender, and Sexuality      An examination of the many aspects related to Japanese language and culture. The goals are to learn how cultural ideologies affect how we speak our language, how language plays a role in constructing our experience and understanding gender, and how gender and sexuality are negotiated through language.     Four credit hours.  I.    ABE
EA397f    Written Culture of East Asia      Listed as History 397.     Four credit hours.  H.    CHO
EA397Af    Aging and Public Policy in East Asia      Examines how family structure, fertility rate, female labor participation, and gender roles have changed in China, Japan and Korea as these countries have experienced rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population aging over recent decades. Using case studies from East Asian countries, we compare and analyze how each country responds to challenges of rapid population aging, and why and how public policy shifts regarding state and private responsibility for the social safety net and the wellbeing of the elderly.     Four credit hours.    ZHANG
EA483f, 484s    Honors Project      An interdisciplinary analysis of an aspect of East Asian culture employing diverse sources and methods. Independent study, extensive readings, consultations, and a thesis. Successful completion of the honors project and of the major will result in the degree being awarded "With Honors in East Asian Studies." Prerequisite:  Senior standing, a 3.25 major average, and permission of a faculty mentor.     Three or four credit hours.    FACULTY
EA483Jj    Honors Project          Noncredit.    WEITZ
EA491f, 492s    Independent Study      Individual study of special problems in East Asian civilization, offered in the departments that participate in the program. Prerequisite:  Permission of the instructor.     One to four credit hours.    FACULTY
EA493f    Seminar: East Asian Art and Culture      Listed as Art 497.     Four credit hours.    WEITZ