East Asian Languages&Cultures - Intro to Contemporary Japan

Catalog description

This course explores works of contemporary Japanese media in their socio-historical, cultural, and political contexts and in conversation with each other (the Japanese “media ecology”). Throughout the course we will examine such genres in contemporary Japan as manga, anime, popular music, (video)games, television shows, and film. These popular cultural expressions will be explored against the backdrop of modern Japanese technology and media, including the intertwining of these popular culture genres (“media mix”). In addition to developing an understanding about contemporary Japan through the lens of popular culture, we will develop close reading skills of various media forms, critical and aesthetic appreciation, and theoretical approaches to popular culture, media, and technology. No prior knowledge of Japan or Japanese is required.