Anime, Manga and Religion in Japan

Catalog description

There are many Japanese works of anime or manga that are viewed without considering their religious connotations. In this course, students conduct theoretical analyses, decoding how social practices and issues are reflected in some popular cultural works and vice-versa, based on the methodologies of history, philosophy, anthropology and religious studies. Students learn how to look at diverse cultural elements from various perspectives in a broader context. The course consists of close readings, lectures and discussion concerning representative works of anime and manga in contemporary Japan. Taught in English.