Spring 2014

Apocalypse Japan

Listed in: Asian Languages and Civilizations, as ASLC-336

Faculty

Timothy J. Van Compernolle (Section 01)

Description

This course is an introduction to contemporary Japanese popular culture through focused study of a particular theme. This semester we will concentrate on the apocalypse, among the most prominent themes in postwar Japan. Many would trace its origins to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for Japan is the only country in history to have been attacked with nuclear weapons, but we will examine a broader cultural matrix in this course, which will allow us to address questions of technology, human agency, utopia, dystopia, and spectacle, among other topics. Through reading and discussion of theories of mediation, we will also seek connections between works of popular culture and larger issues, such as globalization, politics, and discourses on cultural uniqueness. Finally, because many contemporary works utilize the apocalyptic theme as a way to explore the replacement of older media by newer technologies—such as the replacement of VHS by DVD or the displacement of traditional film by digital technology—we will also pursue issues of media specificity. This will entail learning the disciplinary terminology of film, anime, and manga studies.

Limited to 25 students.  Spring semester.  Professor Van Compernolle.

If Overenrolled: Preference to ASLC and FAMS majors

Cost: 60 ?

Offerings

2022-23: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2017