Japanese Popular Culture
JAPAN 460
This class is the popular culture branch of fourth-year Japanese language study; as such the focus of the class is language acquisition, with almost sole attention given to reading. Students will not only increase their ability to read Japanese, they will also learn about various contemporary social and cultural phenomena. The bulk of each class will be spent going through each reading assignment closely, analyzing not only the language of the piece but the logic of its argument. Once we have gone over the language, the remainder of the class will be spent discussing the content. Readings will all be in Japanese; class discussion will primarily be in English. A high level of Japanese language ability is necessary for this class; for that reason JAPAN 313 or its equivalent is a requirement.
The class will read one piece of criticism at a time; the number of classes completing the piece requires will be determined by the average language level of the class. Readings (and dates) below are only suggestions. Scheduling will remain flexible throughout the term. Students will be expected to have prepared the appropriate material in advance. The largest single factor in determining a student's grade is his or her participation in the class. In addition, there will be vocabulary quizzes throughout the term, a special project, and a final exam.
In order to understand the readings, it is strongly recommended that students watch the films assigned for optional weekend viewing. They are all on reserve at the Media Center.
4/1 (Tuesday) —What is a Tomason?
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Machi no chôgeijutsu o sagase" in Chôgeijutsu Tomason, Tokyo: Chikuma Shobô (2001), 9-28.
—Explanation of special project.
4/3 (Thursday) —More Tomason.
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Machi no chôgeijutsu o sagase", con't.
Weekend, 4/5-6: No assignment.
4/8 (Tuesday) —More Tomason.
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Machi no chôgeijutsu o sagase", con't.
4/10 (Thursday) —More Tomason.
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Machi no chôgeijutsu o sagase", con't.
Weekend, 4/12-13: No assignment.
4/15 (Tuesday) —More Tomason.
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Machi no chôgeijutsu o sagase", con't.
4/17 (Thursday) —More Tomason.
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Machi no chôgeijutsu o sagase", con't.
—Tomason vocabulary list. Updated 5/2/03.
Weekend, 4/19-20: No assignment.
4/22 (Tuesday) —Kôgyaru
—Tomason vocabulary quiz.
—Masuno Kôichi and Miyadai Shinji, "Kogyaru-go" from Poppu karuchâ (Tokyo: Mainichi Shinbun-sha, 1999) 18-23.
4/24 (Thursday) —Otaku
—Nakamori Akio and Miyadai Shinji, "Otaku-ka" from Poppu karuchâ (Tokyo: Mainichi Shinbun-sha, 1999) 90-95.
—Vocabulary lists for Kôgyaru (updated 5/2/03) and Otaku.
Weekend, 4/26-27: No assignment.
4/29 (Tuesday) —Otaku, con't.
—Kôgyaru and Otaku quiz.
5/1 (Thursday) —Itami Jûzô
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Nôhau ga okashii" from Chotto eiga ni itte kimasu (Tokyo: Kinema Junpô-sha, 1990) 48-51.
—"Nôhau" vocabulary list.
Weekend, 5/3-4: Watch "The Funeral" (1987), DVD FOXL 008.
5/6 (Tuesday) —Itami Jûzô, con't.
—Otaku and "Nôhau" quiz.
—Akasegawa Genpei, "Nôhau ga okashii", con't.
—If there is time, we will begin Satô Tadao, "Itami Jûzô-ron" from Nihon eiga (Tokyo: Daisan Bunmei-sha, 1992) 132-138.
5/8 (Thursday) —Special Projects presentations
—Special project due.
—With the remaining time, we will work on Satô Tadao, "Itami Jûzô-ron" from Nihon eiga (Tokyo: Daisan Bunmei-sha, 1992) 132-138.
Weekend, 5/10-11: Watch "Tampopo" (1986), DVD FOXL 005.
5/13 (Tuesday) —Itami Jûzô, con't.
—"Nôhau" quiz.
—Satô Tadao, "Itami Jûzô-ron" from Nihon eiga (Tokyo: Daisan Bunmei-sha, 1992) 132-138.
—Satô vocabulary list, part 1.
5/15 (Thursday) —Itami Jûzô, con't.
—Satô Tadao, "Itami Jûzô-ron", con't.
—Complete Satô vocabulary list.
Weekend, 5/17-18: Watch "Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" (2002), DVD BVHE 054.
5/20 (Tuesday) —Itami Jûzô, con't.
—Satô Tadao, "Itami Jûzô-ron", con't.
5/22 (Thursday) —Spirited Away
—"Itami Jûzô-ron" quiz.
—Miyazaki Anime Kenkyûkai, "Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" from 'Sen to Chihiro' no nazo (Tokyo: Amyûzu Bukkusu, 2002) 192-200.
—"Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" vocabulary list.
Weekend, 5/24-25: no assignment.
5/27 (Tuesday) —Spirited Away, con't.
—"Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" quiz.
—"Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi", con't.
—Ôsugi Shigeo, "Teikoku no anime, anime no teikoku" from Yuriika (August 2002) 94-99.
—"Teikoku no anime" vocabulary list.
5/29 (Thursday) —Spirited Away, con't.
—"Teikoku no anime", con't.
Weekend, 5/31-6/1: no assignment.
6/3 (Tuesday) —Spirited Away, con't.
—"Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" and "Teikoku no anime" quiz.
—"Teikoku no anime", con't.
6/5 (Thursday) —Spirited Away, con't.
—"Teikoku no anime", con't.
6/10 (Tuesday) —Final Exam, 4:30-6:20 pm, Savery 209
Optional assignments:
Vengeance is Mine: Watch "Fukushû suru wa ware ni ari" (1979), Videorecord HOV 165.
—Satô Tadao, "Imamura Shôhei no 'Fukushû suru wa ware ni ari'" from Nihon eiga (Tokyo: Daisan Bunmei-sha, 1992) 65-69.
Princess Mononoke: Watch "Mononokehime" (1997), Videorecord EAL 199.
—Komatsu Kazuhiko, "Mori no kami koroshi to sono noroi" from Yuriika (Special issue, August 1997) 48-53.
Family Game: Watch "Kazoku gêmu" (1983), Videorecord EAL 531.
—Satô Tadao, "Kazoku gêmu" from Nihon eiga (Tokyo: Daisan Bunmei-sha, 1992) 209-215.
Spirited Away: "Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" (2002), DVD BVHE 054.
—Satô Kimitoshi, "Mizu no fushigi no monogatari" from Yuriika (August 2002) 172-180.
PARTICIPATION and PREPARATION (40%)
This is the main component of your grade. It will be determined based on your performance in each and every class. Note that your grade will not be determined on an absolute scale (determined by your Japanese language ability) but on a relative scale (based on your effort). In order to receive full credit, students should prepare each assigned reading in full prior to class, such that they can read each word, translate the sentence extemperaneously, and explain the grammatical constructions.
WEEKLY QUIZZES (30%–every Tuesday, unless otherwise noted)
Quizzes will have multiple components: vocabulary, grammar, and translation. Vocabulary questions will cover the readings and meanings of important words encountered in the text. Grammar questions will address specific points in sentences that appeared in the story. Translation questions will involve sentences chosen from the reading.
SPECIAL PROJECT (10%–due date 5/1)
Students will discover and document their own Tomason, which will be added to a course webpage showcasing all of them.
FINAL EXAM (20%–Tuesday, June 10, 4:30-6:20 pm, Savery 209)
The final exam will have both vocabulary questions (similar to those on the quizzes) and sentences to be translated (chosen from the works read).
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES:
Japanese-Japanese dictionary: Shinmura Izuru, ed, Kôjien. Fifth edition. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1998.
Japanese character dictionary: John M. Haig, et al, ed. The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary. Tokyo: Tuttle, 1997.
Japanese-English dictionary: Koh Masuda, ed. Kenkyûsha's New Japanese-English Dictionary. Fourth Edition. Tokyo: Kenkyûsha, 1974.