Popular Culture and Social Change in Asia

Catalog description

TikTok, WeChat, Tai chi, anime, K-dramas, Hello Kitty, C-pop, yin and yang, Pokémon, manga. All of these have become part of global culture, but where did they come from and what meaning do they hold as cultural phenomena? In this class, we will explore topics in the popular cultures of East Asia to better understand the influences that have shaped the region’s contemporary societies and their cultures. Focus will be on one or a combination of the following: China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Korea. Students will study various media and genres of popular culture, which could include films, songs, dramas, advertisements, video games, manga, and anime, to explore the larger societal, political, and cultural issues behind them, situating popular culture within historical contexts, transnational currents, and exchanges when appropriate. Students may not receive credit for HU 2340 and INTL 2210. This course may be repeated for different topics. No prior knowledge of Asian history or culture is required for this class. This course will be offered in academic years ending in even numbers.