CORE C167: FSEM Japan (Fall '25)

Offers a multidisciplinary introduction to the histories, cultures, and communities in what is now called Japan. Students focus on the last 175 years or so, from the country’s opening up to the world in the nineteenth century after centuries of relative isolation, to an imperialist expansion that ended disastrously with the Second World War, and then from a postwar economic boom to a post-bubble era of postmodern soft power. Special attention is given to topics such as diversity in Japanese society, the invention of traditions, and natural and unnatural disasters. Students analyze scholarly works, fiction, manga, and films—including short stories by atomic bomb survivors, a documentary account of industrial mercury poisoning, Godzilla, and Studio Ghibli movies—in order to understand not just what happened but how individuals and communities have created meaning and even beauty out of atrocity, anguish, and conflict. Students take an active role in shaping other themes through individual research projects, which allows students to explore topics and address questions of particular interest to them. By doing so, they also hone their research methods, critical approaches, and written and presentational skills. No prior knowledge of Japanese culture or language is expected, and all materials are available in English. In addition to fulfilling a core component, this course also counts toward a major in Japanese or a major or minor in Asian Studies. This FSEM is one of six that explicitly considers how to face the challenges to deep engagement posed by a world of shortened attention spans and rapid technological change.