ASN 262 Love and Death in Japanese Literature before 1900

This course offers an overview of Japanese literary history from the eighth to the early twentieth century. We will read a variety of translated works from premodern to modern Japan, the social and religious background that shaped Japanese literature’s forms and aesthetics, as well as the role of Japanese literature in constructing world views and national identity towards modern times. We will also analyze the textual sources in comparison with visual materials and objects to further explore the themes that connected premodern and modern cultural lives. Through secondary scholarship that examines these texts from multiple disciplines, we will explore different ways of critically engagement with Japanese literature. At the end of the semester, students will produce a free-form media presentation that analyzes one of the literary works covered in this course. The source texts are translated into English and knowledge of the Japanese language is not required.

Credits

4 units

Cross Listed Course

CSLC 262

Core Requirements Met

• Regional Focus
• Pre-1800