This is an archive. The current Bates College catalog is available at https://www.bates.edu/catalog/

Catalog Archive

2013–2014

Catalog


Asian Studies

Professors Dhingra (English), Grafflin (History), Kemper (Anthropology), Maurer-Fazio (Economics, chair), J. Strong (Religious Studies), S. Strong (Japanese), and Yang (Chinese); Associate Professors Boucher (Psychology), Fatone (Music), and Nguyen (Art and Visual Culture); Assistant Professor Fan (Chinese); Visiting Assistant Professors Eason (History and Asian Studies) and Wake (Japanese); Visiting Instructor Miao (Chinese); Lecturers Cui (Chinese) and Ofuji (Japanese)



In the early years of the twenty-first century, Asia has gained enormous visibility across the globe. Knowledge of Asian languages gives access to enduring, complex, and constantly developing societies to which the rest of the world has repeatedly turned for insight. An understanding of Asian cultures complements language study, concentrating on ways Asians live their lives and interact with the larger world.

Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to acquaint students with the economies, histories, politics, arts, languages, literatures, and religions of Asian societies. The program offers three majors, Chinese, Japanese, and East Asian studies. Each of these majors gives students an opportunity to develop an understanding of East Asia by intensive study of Chinese or Japanese and to pursue topical courses introducing some of the most accomplished civilizations and dynamic societies in today's world. In addition to the majors, the Program in Asian Studies offers minors in Chinese, Japanese, and Asian studies. More information on the Program in Asian Studies is available on the website (bates.edu/asian/).

Chinese

The Chinese major is built around a structured sequence of instruction in language skills leading to competency in spoken and written Mandarin, with classical Chinese taught at the advanced level. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with the rich cultural heritage of China's 4,000-year history, which is transmitted and embodied by the native language of more than one billion people. The program strongly recommends that majors spend their junior year on a departmentally recognized study-abroad program in mainland China or Taiwan.

Major Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of twelve courses that must include:

1) Language:


a) CHI 101–102, 201–202, 301–302, or the equivalent. Students with previous experience in Chinese who begin their study of Chinese at the second-year level may elect to fulfill this requirement with CHI 201–202, 301–302, 401–402 or the equivalent.
b) one course at the 400-level from the following: CHI 401, 402, 415, 421, s40, s42. CHI 401 and/or 402 may be used in fulfillment of either this requirement or (a) above but not both.

2. Literature and Culture:


a) AS/CI 207.
b) two courses from the following: AS/CI 225, CI/TH 230, FYS 280 or 386. CHI 415, 421, s40, or s42 may also be used to fulfill part of this requirement if not being used toward fulfillment of requirement (1b) above. Students may also apply, at most, one of the following courses toward the fulfillment of this requirement: AS/AV 234, AS/RE 208, AS/HI 171, or AS/HI 274.

3. Thesis Sequence:


a) ASIA 320.
b) CHI 457 or 458, the senior thesis. Students are expected to utilize some source materials in Chinese in conducting research for the thesis. Qualified students may elect to write the thesis in Chinese.

Courses Taken Abroad

Students may petition the program to have courses taken in their study-abroad program applied toward the fulfillment of requirements (1a) and (2b) above.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the Chinese major.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive credit for CHI 102 with a score of 4 on the Chinese AP examination, or credit for CHI 201 with a score of 5.

Minor

A minor requires seven courses, six of which must be in Chinese. At least one of the seven courses must involve the study of literature or culture. A student may petition to have up to three comparable courses, completed at other institutions in the United States or abroad, apply toward the minor.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the minor in Chinese.



Courses
CHI 101. Beginning Chinese I.
An introduction to spoken and written modern Chinese. Conversation and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of basic patterns of speech. Enrollment limited to 20. Normally offered every year. L. Miao, S. Yang.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 102. Beginning Chinese II.
A continuation of CHI 101 with increasing emphasis on the recognition of Chinese characters. By the conclusion of this course, students know more than one quarter of the characters expected of an educated Chinese person. Classes, conducted increasingly in Chinese, stress sentence patterns that facilitate both speaking and reading. Prerequisite(s): CHI 101. Normally offered every year. L. Miao, S. Yang.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 201. Intermediate Chinese I.
Designed to enable students to converse in everyday Chinese and to read simple texts in Chinese. Classes conducted primarily in Chinese aim at further development of overall language proficiency. Prerequisite(s): CHI 102. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. L. Miao, Staff.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 202. Intermediate Chinese II.
A continuation of CHI 201. Prerequisite(s): CHI 201 Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. L. Miao, Staff.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

AS/CI 207. Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation.
An exploration of Chinese literature through reading and discussion of some of its masterworks of poetry, drama, fiction, and belles-lettres prose from ancient times through the premodern era. Not open to students who have received credit for CHI 207. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. [W2] Normally offered every year. S. Yang.
Concentrations
AS/CI 222. Transnational Chinese Cinema.
This course introduces students to Asian culture and cinema through the study of movies from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. As they study various directors, genres, and forms, students consider how cinema acts as a sign system in the construction of sociocultural and aesthetic meanings. Topics include screening history, gender and representation, experiences from rural to urban, social transformation and ruin aesthetics, action and martial arts films, and independent documentaries.New course begining Winter 2014. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. One-time offering.
Concentrations
AS/CI 225. Art and Politics in China.
This course examines the interactions between art and politics in the People's Republic of China since 1949. This course not only provides a close analysis of Chinese visual and performing arts as social, cultural, and political institutions, but also looks into the political struggles and intellectual debates that have shaped artistic creation. The dramatic dialogue between politics and artistic creation in China since 1949 has been the most obscure yet crucial part of the bigger picture of constructing a "socialistic culture" within the parameters prescribed by the Chinese Communist Party. Students consider such art forms as painting, propaganda posters, sculpture, music, film, dance, and theater. Enrollment limited to 40. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

CI/TH 230. Drama and Theater of China.
Nothing is impossible in Chinese theater. On stage, we see a wronged soul lamenting his tragic death, a young lady being brought back to life by true love years after passing away, and a series of misunderstandings and coincidences twisting a funeral into a comedy. Chinese people celebrate happiness, joy, crisis, dilemma, desperation, and pain through theater. In this course, students experience breathtaking performance practices, apprehend inspiring theatrical aesthetics, and examine Chinese theatrical performances from ancient shamanistic rituals to contemporary intercultural collaborations. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. X. Fan.
Concentrations
CHI 301. Upper-Level Modern Chinese I.
Designed for students who already have a strong background in spoken Chinese, the course gives an intensive review of the essentials of grammar and phonology, introduces a larger vocabulary and a variety of sentence patterns, improves conversational and auditory skills, and develops some proficiency in reading and writing. The course makes extensive use of short texts (both literary and nonfictional) and some films. Classes are conducted primarily in Chinese. Prerequisite(s): CHI 202. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. L. Miao, Staff.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 302. Upper-Level Modern Chinese II.
A continuation of CHI 301. Prerequisite(s): CHI 202. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. Staff.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 360. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
CHI 365. Special Topics.
Designed for the small seminar group of students who may have particular interests in areas of study that go beyond the regular course offerings. Periodic conferences and papers are required. Instructor permission is required. Staff.
CHI 401. Advanced Chinese I.
This course is designed to further enhance students' ability to understand and speak idiomatic Mandarin Chinese. Included are readings of modern and contemporary literary works, journalistic writings, and other nonliterary texts. Classical texts may also be studied upon students' request. Prerequisite(s): CHI 302. Recommended background: three years or more of Chinese. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. X. Fan.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 402. Advanced Chinese II.
A continuation of CHI 401. Prerequisite(s): CHI 302 or 401. Recommended background: three years of Chinese or more. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. X. Fan.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 415. Readings in Classical Chinese.
An intensive study of classical Chinese through reading selections of ancient literary, historical, and philosophical texts in the original, including excerpts from the Analects, the Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Shiji, Tang-Song prose, and poetry. Conducted in Chinese. Prerequisite(s): CHI 302 or 401. Open to first-year students. S. Yang.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 421. Readings in Modern Chinese Culture.
An intensive study of modern Chinese culture through reading selections of literary and nonliterary texts in the Chinese original. Prerequisite(s): CHI 401 or 415. Not open to students who have received credit for CHI s42. Staff.
CHI 457. Senior Thesis.
An extended research project on a topic in Chinese literature, culture, or language utilizing some source materials in Chinese. Qualified students may, with approval of the Committee on Asian Studies, choose to write the thesis in Chinese. Students register for 457 in the fall semester or for 458 in the winter semester unless the committee gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors invited to pursue honors register for 457 and 458, contingent on the approval of the Committee. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

CHI 458. Senior Thesis.
An extended research project on a topic in Chinese literature, culture, or language utilizing some source materials in Chinese. Qualified students may, with approval of the Committee on Asian Studies, choose to write the thesis in Chinese. Students register for 457 in the fall semester or for 458 in the winter semester unless the committee gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors invited to pursue honors register for 457 and 458, contingent on the approval of the committee. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

Short Term Courses
CHI s24. Chinese Language and Culture in China.
Students pursue four weeks of intensive Chinese language study at Yunnan National University in Kunming, Yunnan, China, or Nanjing Normal University in Nanjing, China. Language study is complemented by field trips to famous historical sites in the Yunnan and Beijing areas or in other provinces. Recommended background: CHI 101 and 102. Enrollment limited to 15. L. Miao, S. Yang.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

CHI s40. Learning Chinese through Movies.
An intensive study of Chinese language, Chinese culture, and contemporary China through film in Chinese. The course includes film screenings, discussions, and writing. The course is taught in Chinese. Prerequisite(s): CHI 302. Enrollment limited to 15. Normally offered every other year. X. Fan.
CHI s42. Readings in Modern Chinese Culture.
An intensive study of modern Chinese culture through reading selections of literary and nonliterary texts in the Chinese original. Prerequisite(s): CHI 402. Not open to students who have received credit for CHI 421. Enrollment limited to 30. Staff.
CHI s50. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Japanese

The major in Japanese presents an opportunity for an in-depth and focused study of Japanese language and culture. The major places emphasis on the student's acquisition of oral and written language proficiency as well as on the development of cultural awareness and competency. The program strongly recommends that majors spend their junior year at the Associated Kyoto Program or another approved year-long study-abroad program in Japan.

Major Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of twelve courses that must include:

1) Language:
a) JPN 101–102, 201–202, 301–302, or the equivalent.
b) JPN 401.

2) Literature and Culture:
a) AS/JA 125.
b) two courses from the following: FYS 277 or another first-year seminar on Japan, ASIA 110, AS/JA 210, 216, INDS 255, JPN s27, ASIA s29, ES/JA s29, or another Short Term course on Japan. Students may apply one of the following courses toward the fulfillment of this requirement: AS/HI 172, AS/RE 209, AV/AS 236, AV/AS 247, or INDS 215.

3) Thesis Sequence:
a) ASIA 320.
b) JPN 457 or 458, the senior thesis. Students are expected to utilize some source materials in Japanese when conducting research for the thesis. Qualified students may elect to write the thesis in Japanese.

Courses Taken Abroad

Students may petition the program to have courses taken in their study-abroad program (including the Bates Fall Semester Abroad) applied toward the fulfillment of requirements (1a) and (2b).

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the Japanese major.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive credit for JPN 102 with a score of 4 on the Japanese AP examination and JPN 201 with a score of 5.

Minor

A minor requires seven courses, six of which must be in Japanese. At least one of the seven courses must involve a study of literature or culture. A student may petition to have up to three comparable courses, completed at other institutions in either the United States or abroad, applied toward the minor. Advanced Placement courses may not be applied toward the minor.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses toward the minor in Japanese.

Courses
JPN 101. Beginning Japanese I.
An introduction to the basics of spoken and written Japanese as a foundation for advanced study and proficiency in the language. Fundamental patterns of grammar and syntax are introduced together with a practical, functional vocabulary. Mastery of the katakana and hiragana syllabaries, as well as approximately seventy written characters, introduces students to the beauty of written Japanese. Normally offered every year. H. Wake, S. Strong.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 102. Beginning Japanese II.
A continuation of JPN 101, this course is normally taken immediately following JPN 101 in order to provide a yearlong introduction to the language. Through dynamic exercises carried out inside and outside the classroom, students extend their proficiency speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Japanese. An additional seventy written characters are introduced. Prerequisite(s): JPN 101. Normally offered every year. H. Wake, S. Strong.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

AS/JA 125. Japanese Literature and Society.
This course examines major trends in Japanese literature and society from its beginnings to the modern period. Students consider well-known stories, plays, and novels from the classical, medieval, early modern, and modern periods, placing each text within its unique sociohistorical context. All readings are in English. [W2] Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
Concentrations
JPN 201. Intermediate Japanese I.
A continuation of JPN 102, the course stresses the acquisition of new and more complex spoken patterns, vocabulary building, and increasing knowledge of cultural context through use of calligraphy, role play, video, and varied reading materials. Approximately seventy-five new written characters are introduced. A range of oral as well as written projects and exercises provides a realistic context for language use. Prerequisite(s): JPN 102. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. K. Ofuji.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 202. Intermediate Japanese II.
A continuation of JPN 201, this course is normally taken immediately following JPN 201. It stresses further acquisition of complex spoken patterns, vocabulary and cultural knowledge through exercises in culturally realistic contexts. Students extend proficiency in the written language through writing projects and the introduction of approximately seventy-five new characters. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. K. Ofuji.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

AS/JA 216. The Tale of Genji.
The eleventh-century Tale of Genji, written by an imperial lady-in-waiting, is Japan's most famous literary classic. Though it is usually lauded as a romance with universal appeal, it can sharply contradict the modern reader's expectations about love, gender, and literature itself. Students delve into these contradictions as well as topics including the fact and fantasy of the "world of the Shining Prince," whether the Tale is a "novel," and the narrative's Chinese influences. They also examine the Tale's place in Japanese cultural history through important artistic adaptations and critical reactions. Recommended background: prior course work in Asian studies or English. Enrollment limited to 30. Staff.
Concentrations
AS/JA 232. Japanese Popular Culture in the Age of Globalization.
This course surveys Japanese popular culture since the 1980s, both in and outside of the geographic borders of Japan. Students examine this culture through food, popular music, and anime. How have sushi chefs defined "Japanese sushi" to satisfy consumers and sell it in foreign markets? How could we define the cuteness of Japanese anime characters in the gender matrix that may be specific to each different culture? What elements—either material or ideological—are transferred, transformed, or discarded when introducing popular Japanese culture to different consumer markets? To answer these questions, recent products of popular culture are considered: tasted, or listened to and closely analyzed. Through these activities, this course aims to produce a critical language to envision how the ongoing process of economic globalization has been deconstructing conventional cultural boundaries. Course renumbered from AS/JA s23 beginning Winter 2015. Not open to students who have received credit for AS/JA s23. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

INDS 255. Modern Japanese Women Writers.
How do Japanese women writers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries portray the complexities of today's world? How do they negotiate the gendered institutions of the society in which they live? What values do they assign to being a woman, to being Japanese? Students consider issues such as family, power, gender roles, selfhood, and the female body in reading a range of novels, short stories, and poems. Authors may include Enchi Fumiko, Ohba Minako, Kurahashi Yumiko, Tsushima Yuko, Tawara Machi, Yamada Eimi, and Yoshimoto Banana. Readings and discussion are in English. Cross-listed in Asian studies, Japanese, and women and gender studies. Not open to students who have received credit for JA/WS 255. Open to first-year students. S. Strong.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 301. Intermediate Japanese III.
A continuation of JPN 202, this course and its sequel, JPN 302, complete the introduction of essential Japanese syntactic forms and sentence patterns. Students continue development of oral skills through culturally realistic exercises involving a range of topics. Emphasis is placed on increased competence in the written language. Approximately one hundred new characters are introduced. Prerequisite(s): JPN 202. Normally offered every year. K. Ofuji.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 302. Intermediate Japanese IV.
A continuation of JPN 301, this course is normally taken immediately following JPN 301, and completes the introduction of essential Japanese syntactic forms and sentence patters. Students continue development of oral skills through culturally realistic exercises involving a range of topics. Emphasis is placed on increased competence in the written language. Approximately one hundred new characters are introduced. Prerequisite(s): JPN 301. Normally offered every year. K. Ofuji.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 360. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
JPN 401. Advanced Japanese I.
Through the discussion and study of contemporary literary texts and other journalistic modes, the course seeks to utilize, develop, and integrate skills acquired in the earlier stages of language learning. Particular emphasis is placed on reading and writing, and translation. Through class presentations and discussion students further develop oral skills and expand their understanding of Japanese culture. Prerequisite(s): JPN 302. Normally offered every year. H. Wake, S. Strong.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 402. Advanced Japanese II.
This course covers materials in Japanese such as newspaper articles, other media material, and short stories. Through presentations and discussions students utilize, develop, and integrate spoken skills acquired in the earlier stages of language learning. Written skills are also emphasized; normally students complete a final research project on a topic of their choice. Students taking this course in conjunction with the thesis should also register for JPN 458. Prerequisite(s): JPN 401. Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

JPN 457. Senior Thesis.
An extended research project on a topic in Japanese literature, culture, or language utilizing some source materials in Japanese. Qualified students may, with approval of the Committee on Asian Studies, choose to write the thesis in Japanese. Students register for 457 in the fall semester or for 458 in the winter semester unless the committee gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors invited to pursue honors register for 457 and 458, contingent on the approval of the committee. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
JPN 458. Senior Thesis.
An extended research project on a topic in Japanese literature, culture, or language utilizing some source materials in Japanese. Qualified students may, with approval of the Committee on Asian Studies, choose to write the thesis in Japanese. Students register for 457 in the fall semester or for 458 in the winter semester unless the committee gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors invited to pursue honors register for 457 and 458, contingent on the approval of the committee. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
Short Term Courses
AS/JA s23. Japanese Popular Culture in the Age of Globalization.
This course surveys Japanese popular culture since the 1980s, both in and outside of the geographic borders of Japan. Students examine this culture through food, popular music, and anime. How have sushi chefs defined "Japanese sushi" to satisfy consumers and sell it in foreign markets? How could we define the cuteness of Japanese anime characters in the gender matrix that may be specific to each different culture? What elements—either material or ideological—are transferred, transformed, or discarded when introducing popular Japanese culture to different consumer markets? To answer these questions, recent products of popular culture are considered: tasted, or listened to and closely analyzed. Through these activities, this course aims to produce a critical language to envision how the ongoing process of economic globalization has been deconstructing conventional cultural boundaries. New course beginning Short Term 2014. Not open to students who have received credit for AS/JA 232. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/JA s27. Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The technologies of the industrial and postindustrial age have made possible a scale of destruction that seems impossible for human beings either to grasp or perhaps even to survive. Japan is the only nation to have experienced attack by atomic weapons. What is the role of art, literature, film, and journalism in expressing the "inexpressible" and possibly preventing its reoccurrence? This course examines Japanese and Korean responses to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Conducted in English. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

JPN s50. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

East Asian Studies

The East Asian studies major provides students with a broad introduction to the cultures and societies of East Asia and their interrelationships. The major includes, first, a core curriculum that consists of two years of Chinese or Japanese language study as well as two courses introducing the East Asian experience, and, second, a major concentration that focuses either on traditional or modern society and culture. East Asian studies majors are also encouraged to spend at least one semester at an approved program in mainland China, Taiwan, or Japan. Majors in Chinese or Japanese may count no more than two courses toward both their major in East Asian Studies and their major in Chinese or Japanese.

Major Requirements

Students majoring in East Asian studies must complete the core requirement, a major concentration, and the thesis sequence. Students must take at least one course dealing primarily with China and one dealing primarily with Japan.

The following core courses are required of all majors:
1) four courses of Chinese language and AS/HI 171 or four courses of Japanese language and AS/HI 172.

2) ASIA 110.

3) each major elects a major concentration, either East Asian Cultural Traditions or Modern East Asian Society and Culture.

East Asian Cultural Traditions:

a) three courses on traditional East Asian culture from at least two of the following four groups:
I) literature: AS/JA 125, AS/CI 207, AS/JA 216, CHI 415, FYS 280, FYS 386, FYS 426
II) visual and performing art: AVC 229, AS/CI 225, AV/AS 234, AV/AS 236, AV/AS 243, AV/AS 246, AV/AS 247, CI/TH 230.
III) religion: AS/RE 208, AS/RE 209, AS/RE 251, AS/RE 309.
IV) history: ASIA s24, AS/HI 171, or AS/HI 172 if not taken as a core course, INDS 215.

b) an additional course from the general list of courses in the East Asian studies major that follows.

Modern East Asian Society and Culture:

a) three courses on contemporary East Asian society drawn from the following two groups with at least one from each of the groups:

I) East ASian Society: AS/EC 231, AS/EC 241, AS/EC 242, AS/PY 260, AS/HI 274,
AS/HI 291, AS/HI 390G, AS/HI s26, INDS 215.

II) East Asian Culture: AS/CI 225, AS/CI 206, AS/CI 211, FYS 277, INDS 255, ASIA s24, ASIA s29, AS/HI s16, AS/JA s27, CHI s40.

b) an additional course from the general list of courses in the East Asian studies major that follows.

The Thesis Sequence

In addition to taking ASIA 457 and/or 458, written under the direction of an advisor in East Asian studies, majors must take ASIA 320 in the fall of the senior year.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major in East Asian studies.

Courses Taken Abroad

Students may petition the Asian studies program to have relevant courses taken in their study-abroad program (including the Bates Fall Semester Abroad) applied toward the fulfillment of the major requirements except for ASIA 110 and the thesis sequence.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive credit for CHI 102 or JPN 102 with a score of 4 on the corresponding language's AP examination, or credit for CHI 201 or JPN 201 with a score of 5.

Minor in Asian Studies

Students may fulfill a minor in Asian studies by completing six courses from the list of courses in Asian studies. In consultation with an Asian studies faculty member (chosen or appointed by the Asian studies chair) and in accordance with program guidelines, students may design their own course of study. Among the six courses, at least four should be related as a coherent group. Examples include a group of courses related to Buddhist studies, South Asia, gender issues, environmental concerns, a specific historical period, or the socioeconomic or political situation of a particular region.

The minor may include one Short Term course and a maximum of four language courses. No more than two of those language courses may be counted toward the coherent group. With the approval of the minor advisor, students may apply up to two courses taken on study-abroad programs toward the minor, as well as courses taken on Bates Fall Semester Abroad programs in Asia. Majors in Chinese, Japanese, or East Asian studies may count no more than two courses toward both the Asian studies minor and their major.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the minor in Asian studies.

Courses for the Major

Any course with the Asian studies designation (ASIA or AS) may be taken to fulfill the major in East Asian studies except those which focus on South Asia and Sourtheast Asia (245, 249, 250, 252, 380, s10, and s16).

In addition these courses may be taken to fulfill the East Asian studies major:

CHI 101-102. Beginning Chinese I and II.
CHI 201-202. Intermediate Chinese.
CI/TH 230. Drama and Theater of China.
CHI 301-302. Upper-Level Modern Chinese.
CHI 401-402. Advanced Chinese I and II.
CHI 415. Readings in Classical Chinese.
CHI 421. Readings in Modern Chinese Culture.
CHI s42. Readings in Modern Chinese Culture.

EN/WS 121G. Asian American Women Writers.
EN/WS 395S. Asian American Women Writers, Filmmakers, and Critics.
ES/JA s29. Haiku Poetry.

FYS 277. The Fantastic in Modern Japan.
FYS 280. Confucius: Faith and Transgression.
FYS 386. Chinese Traditions, Great and Small.

JPN 101-102. Beginning Japanese I and II.
JPN 201-202. Intermediate Japanese I and II.
JPN 301-302. Intermediate Japanese III and IV.
JPN 401-402. Advanced Japanese I and II.

Courses for the Minor

All courses offered in Asian studies (designated ASIA or AS) may be taken to fulfill the minor in Asian studies. In addition, the following courses may be taken to fulfill the minor in Asian studies:

ANTH 240. Person and Society in South Asia.
ANTH 263. Buddhism and the Social Order.
ANTH 264. South Asian and Its World: Bhangra, Bollywood, and Buddhism.

AV/RE 244. Visual Narratives in South and Southeast Asia.
AVC 248. Rock-Cut Temples in Asia.

ENG 260. Passages to and from India.

FYS 259. The Life of Buddha.

MUS s25. Performing Musical Art of Indonesia.

Courses
AS/HI 110. East Asia between Tradition and Modernity.
China, Japan, and Korea each had a watershed moment in which they transformed themselves into modern, independent nations. This course first provides an introduction to traditional cultures, and then explores the violent changes that swept over East Asia from the mid-nineteenth century through the Chinese Civil War and the destruction of World War II. Imperialism, women's liberation, and cultural nationalism are examined through an interdisciplinary approach that draws from intellectual history, literature, and visual and performing arts. Course cross-listed as AS/HI 110 beginning Winter 2014. Not open to students who have received credit for ASIA 110. Enrollment limited to 50. Normally offered every year. P. Eason.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

ASIA 110. East Asia between Tradition and Modernity.
China, Japan, and Korea each had a watershed moment in which they transformed themselves into modern, independent nations. This course first provides an introduction to traditional cultures, and then explores the violent changes that swept over East Asia from the mid-nineteenth century through the Chinese Civil War and the destruction of World War II. Imperialism, women's liberation, and cultural nationalism are examined through an interdisciplinary approach that draws from intellectual history, literature, and visual and performing arts. Course cross-listed as AS/HI 110 beginning Winter 2014. Enrollment limited to 50. Normally offered every year. P. Eason.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

AS/JA 125. Japanese Literature and Society.
This course examines major trends in Japanese literature and society from its beginnings to the modern period. Students consider well-known stories, plays, and novels from the classical, medieval, early modern, and modern periods, placing each text within its unique sociohistorical context. All readings are in English. [W2] Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
Concentrations
AS/RE 155. Introduction to Asian Religions.
An introduction to the major religious traditions of Asia, in both their classical and modern forms, with a focus on the lifestories of individual figures in the Hindu, Buddhist, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese traditions. The course explores their basic teachings, examines their historical and social contexts, and seeks answers to questions such as: What is the nature of religious experience? What are the functions of myth and ritual? How do Asian world views differ from each other and from Western ones? J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/HI 171. China and Its Culture.
An overview of Chinese civilization from the god-kings of the second millennium and the emergence of the Confucian familial state in the first millennium B.C.E., through the expansion of the hybrid Sino-foreign empires, to the revolutionary transformation of Chinese society by internal and external pressures in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Enrollment limited to 48. Normally offered every year. D. Grafflin.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/HI 172. Japanese History: From Jōmon to J-Pop.
This course provides an overview of the history of Japan from the earliest evidence of human settlement to contemporary times. A mix of primary documents, secondary scholarship, literature, visual images, and occasional films are used to explore Japan's evolution from a collection of divided islands into a single nation, both politically and culturally. Major topics include the impact of continental Asian civilizations, the rise and centrality of both elite and broader popular cultures, political fragmentation and unification, and rapid transformations in social, cultural, economic, and political values and realities in the modern era. Enrollment limited to 48. Normally offered every year. P. Eason.
Concentrations
AS/CI 207. Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation.
An exploration of Chinese literature through reading and discussion of some of its masterworks of poetry, drama, fiction, and belles-lettres prose from ancient times through the premodern era. Not open to students who have received credit for CHI 207. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. [W2] Normally offered every year. S. Yang.
Concentrations
AS/RE 208. Religions in China.
A study of the various religious traditions of China in their independence and interaction. The course focuses on the history, doctrines, and practices of Daoism, Confucianism, and various schools of Mahayana Buddhism. Readings include basic texts and secondary sources. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/RE 209. Religions in Japan.
A study of the various religious traditions of Japan in their independence and interaction. The course focuses on the doctrines and practices of Shinto, folk religion, and various schools of Buddhism. These are considered in the context of Japanese history and culture and set against their Korean and Chinese backgrounds. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

INDS 215. The Environmental History of Japan: Pollution, Protection, and the Public Good.
This course looks at a range of environmental issues in the history of Japan from the late seventeenth century to the present. Key topics include managing scarce resources, the legacy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, heavy industrial pollution tied to breakneck industrial and economic growth, the rise of the environmental movement, and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and its implications. Students discuss conflicts between conservation and consumption, defining progress and growth, the individual costs behind larger societal and economic decisions, and balancing the material needs of human society with environmental preservation and ecological management. Cross-listed in Asian studies, environmental studies, and history. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. P. Eason.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/JA 216. The Tale of Genji.
The eleventh-century Tale of Genji, written by an imperial lady-in-waiting, is Japan's most famous literary classic. Though it is usually lauded as a romance with universal appeal, it can sharply contradict the modern reader's expectations about love, gender, and literature itself. Students delve into these contradictions as well as topics including the fact and fantasy of the "world of the Shining Prince," whether the Tale is a "novel," and the narrative's Chinese influences. They also examine the Tale's place in Japanese cultural history through important artistic adaptations and critical reactions. Recommended background: prior course work in Asian studies or English. Enrollment limited to 30. Staff.
Concentrations
AS/CI 222. Transnational Chinese Cinema.
This course introduces students to Asian culture and cinema through the study of movies from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. As they study various directors, genres, and forms, students consider how cinema acts as a sign system in the construction of sociocultural and aesthetic meanings. Topics include screening history, gender and representation, experiences from rural to urban, social transformation and ruin aesthetics, action and martial arts films, and independent documentaries.New course begining Winter 2014. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. One-time offering.
Concentrations
AS/CI 225. Art and Politics in China.
This course examines the interactions between art and politics in the People's Republic of China since 1949. This course not only provides a close analysis of Chinese visual and performing arts as social, cultural, and political institutions, but also looks into the political struggles and intellectual debates that have shaped artistic creation. The dramatic dialogue between politics and artistic creation in China since 1949 has been the most obscure yet crucial part of the bigger picture of constructing a "socialistic culture" within the parameters prescribed by the Chinese Communist Party. Students consider such art forms as painting, propaganda posters, sculpture, music, film, dance, and theater. Enrollment limited to 40. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/EC 231. The Economic Development of Japan.
This course surveys the development of Japan's economy. A brief historical introduction focuses on the preconditions for economic modernization and the role of the government in Japan's late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century experience. The course then concentrates on an overview of Japan's post–World War II experience of recovery, explosive growth, slowdown, and attempted reform. Students consider whether the Japanese economy operates according to principles, objectives, and structures that are substantially different from those of the West. Japan's economic impact on other East Asian countries and relatedness with the world economy are also explored. Prerequisite(s): ECON 101 or 103. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. [W2] M. Maurer-Fazio.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/JA 232. Japanese Popular Culture in the Age of Globalization.
This course surveys Japanese popular culture since the 1980s, both in and outside of the geographic borders of Japan. Students examine this culture through food, popular music, and anime. How have sushi chefs defined "Japanese sushi" to satisfy consumers and sell it in foreign markets? How could we define the cuteness of Japanese anime characters in the gender matrix that may be specific to each different culture? What elements—either material or ideological—are transferred, transformed, or discarded when introducing popular Japanese culture to different consumer markets? To answer these questions, recent products of popular culture are considered: tasted, or listened to and closely analyzed. Through these activities, this course aims to produce a critical language to envision how the ongoing process of economic globalization has been deconstructing conventional cultural boundaries. Course renumbered from AS/JA s23 beginning Winter 2015. Not open to students who have received credit for AS/JA s23. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AV/AS 234. Chinese Visual Culture.
This course introduces Chinese visual cultures, from the Neolithic period to the present day, focusing on a period of particular cultural significance from the Han to Qing dynasties. The course reveals interrelationships among Chinese art, literature, religious philosophy, and politics. Topics discussed include artists' places within specific social groups, theories of arts, questions of patronage, and the relation of traditional indigenous art forms to the evolving social and cultural orders from which they draw life. Principal objects include ritual objects, bronze vessels, ceramics, porcelain, lacquer ware, sculptures, rock-cut temples, gardens, painting, calligraphy, and wood-block prints. Recommended background: AS/HI 171, AS/RE 208, and CHI 261. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 45. [W2] T. Nguyen.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AV/AS 236. Japanese Art and Culture.
This course surveys the history of Japanese art and visual culture focusing on the development of pictorial, sculptural, and architectural traditions from the Neolithic to the present time. The course explores the relationship between indigenous art forms and the foreign concepts, art forms and techniques that influenced Japanese culture, and social political and religious contexts as well as the role of patronage for artistic production. Topics include architecture, sculpture, painting, narrative handscrolls, the Zen arts, monochromatic ink painting, woodblock prints, decorative arts, contemporary architecture, photography, and fashion design. Recommended background: AS/JA 125 or AS/RE 208 or AV/AS 236. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. T. Nguyen.
Concentrations
AS/EC 241. China's Economic Reforms.
China's economy, now among the world's largest, has grown more rapidly than any other nation's over the last three decades. In this course, students explore the dynamism of China's recent economic transformation and the challenges it faces in the context of the enormous structural changes China has experienced in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. They address fundamental questions about the transition from socialism, the nature of market systems, and how institutions and institutional change affect economic development. Prerequisite(s): ECON 101 or 103. Enrollment limited to 25. [W2] M. Maurer-Fazio.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/EC 242. Work and Workers in China.
In this course students investigate how China's economic reforms are affecting the working lives and well-being of its immense work force. Over the last three decades, China has experienced rapid structural change as tens of millions of Chinese have moved out of the agriculture sector and into the industrial and service sectors. The concomitant migration of workers from the countryside to urban areas is the largest migration in human history. Students focus on the distributional implications of China's reform experience. They consider which institutional legacies are shaping emerging labor markets, how far China has moved toward a market-determined labor system, and which segments of China's enormous population have benefited and which have been harmed by the reforms. Prerequisite(s): ECON 101 or 103. Enrollment limited to 25. M. Maurer-Fazio.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AV/AS 243. Buddhist Visual Worlds.
The course examines the history of Buddhist visual cultures. It provides a basic introduction to a broad spectrum of Buddhist art, beginning with the emergence of early Buddhist sculpture in India and ending with modern Buddhist visual works. It examines selected works of architecture, sculpture, and paintings in their religious, social, and cultural contexts. It also briefly surveys regional Buddhism and its arts. Open to first-year students. [W2] Normally offered every year. T. Nguyen.
Concentrations
AV/AS 245. Architectural Monuments of Southeast Asia.
This course examines the arts of Southeast Asia by focusing on significant monuments of the countries in the region. It examines the architecture, sculpture, and relief carvings on the ancient monuments and their relations to religious, cultural, political, and social contexts. Sites covered include Borobudur, Angkor, Pagan, Sukkhothai, and My-Son. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. [W2] T. Nguyen.
Concentrations
AV/AS 246. Visual Narratives: Storytelling in East Asian Art.
This course examines the important artistic tradition of narrative painting in China and Japan. Through study of visually narrative presentations of religious, historical, and popular stories, the course explores different contexts in which the works—tomb, wall, and scroll paintings—were produced. The course introduces various modes of visual analysis and art-historical contexts. Topics include narrative theory, text-image relationships, elite patronage, and gender representation. Open to first-year students. T. Nguyen.
Concentrations
AV/AS 247. The Art of Zen Buddhism.
The art of Zen (Chan) as the unique and unbounded expression of the liberated mind has attracted Westerners since the mid-twentieth century. But what is Zen, its art, and its culture? This course considers the historical development of Zen art and its use in several genres within monastic and lay settings. It also examines the underlying Buddhist concepts of Zen art. The course aims to help students understand the basic teachings of Zen and their expression in architecture, gardens, sculpture, painting, poetry, and calligraphy. Recommended background: AV/AS 243, AS/RE 208, 209, 250, or 309. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. T. Nguyen.
Concentrations
AS/RE 249. The Hindu Tradition.
An examination, through the use of primary and secondary texts, of the various traditions of Hinduism, with some consideration of their relation to Jainism and Indian Buddhism. Special attention is paid to the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita, as well as to the classical myths of Hinduism embodied in the Puranas, and to ritual and devotional practices. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/RE 250. The Buddhist Tradition.
The course focuses on the Buddha's life and teachings; on early Buddhism in India and the rise of various Buddhist schools of thought; on the development of Mahayana philosophies; on rituals, meditation, and other forms of expression in India and Southeast Asia. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/RE 251. Religions of Tibet.
Tibetan religions are a complex mixture of Indian, Chinese, and indigenous elements. This course focuses on the history, doctrines, practices, literatures, major personalities, and communities of the different religious traditions that are expressions of this mixture, including the rNying ma, bKa' brgyud, Sa skya, and dGe lugs sects of Buddhism as well as the Bön and "folk" traditions. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/MU 252. Musics of Southeast Asia.
Designed for students interested in performing arts cultures based outside the West, this course introduces selected historical and contemporary musical traditions of mainland and island Southeast Asia. The integration of music, dance, theater, and ritual is a unifying theme of the course. Special attention is given to historical and contemporary gong-chime cultures of the region. The study of Southeast Asian arts contributes to students' understanding of the region. Several practical sessions, in which students learn to play instruments of the Bates Gamelan Ensemble, enhance the grasp of formal principles common to a variety of Southeast Asian musics. Prerequisite(s): any course in music or Asian studies. Open to first-year students. [W2] G. Fatone.
Concentrations
INDS 255. Modern Japanese Women Writers.
How do Japanese women writers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries portray the complexities of today's world? How do they negotiate the gendered institutions of the society in which they live? What values do they assign to being a woman, to being Japanese? Students consider issues such as family, power, gender roles, selfhood, and the female body in reading a range of novels, short stories, and poems. Authors may include Enchi Fumiko, Ohba Minako, Kurahashi Yumiko, Tsushima Yuko, Tawara Machi, Yamada Eimi, and Yoshimoto Banana. Readings and discussion are in English. Cross-listed in Asian studies, Japanese, and women and gender studies. Not open to students who have received credit for JA/WS 255. Open to first-year students. S. Strong.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

AS/PY 260. Cultural Psychology.
This course provides an introduction to the theoretical perspectives and research findings of cultural psychology, with an emphasis on comparisons between North American and East Asian cultural groups. Topics include defining culture as a topic of psychological inquiry; the methods of conducting cultural research; the debate between universality versus cultural specificity of psychological processes; acculturation and multiculturalism; and cultural influences on thought, emotion, motivation, personality, abnormality, and social behavior. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 101. Enrollment limited to 50. Normally offered every year. H. Boucher.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/HI 274. China in Revolution.
Modern China's century of revolutions, from the disintegration of the traditional empire in the late nineteenth century, through the twentieth-century attempts at reconstruction, to the tenuous stability of the post-Maoist regime. Recommended background: AS/HI 171. Enrollment limited to 40. Normally offered every year. D. Grafflin.
Concentrations
AS/HI 291. World War II in the Pacific: Captors, Captives, Civilians, and Collaboration.
This course follows the history of World War II from the perspective of individuals who lived through the conflict. The primary focus is less on political and military strategy and more on the ordinary soldiers and noncombatants whose lives were transformed and defined by the waging of total war in the Pacific. Larger goals for this course include understanding the demands total war placed on all segments of the nations (and colonies) at war, the diversity of both individual and community experiences, and the historical lens through which the war continues to be remembered. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. P. Eason.
Concentrations
AS/RE 308. Buddhist Texts in Translation.
This seminar involves the close reading and discussion of a number of texts representing a variety of Buddhist traditions. Emphasis is placed on several different genres including canonical sutras, commentarial exegeses, philosophical treatises, and popular legends. Prerequisite(s): AS/RE 250, AN/RE 263, or AV/AS 243. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/RE 309. Buddhism in East Asia.
This seminar focuses on the teachings, traditions, and contemplative practices of a number of East Asian schools of Buddhism, including the Tiantai (Tendai), Huayan (Kegon), Chan (Zen), Zhenyan (Shingon), and Pure Land traditions. Special consideration is given to the question of the continuities and discontinuities in the ways these schools became established in China, Korea, and Japan. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: AS/RE 208, 209, or 250. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] J. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

ASIA 320. Old/Young, Man/Woman: Individual and Society in East Asia.
This advanced seminar provides key tools for the study of modern and contemporary East Asia. It takes a multidisciplinary approach, giving particular attention to literature and visual and performing arts, making use of a heterogeneous body of primary sources and criticism. Topics include age and gender, the construction of national and personal identity, the consequences of colonialism, and the heritage of traditional culture in contemporary society. This course is designed for students who have traveled in East Asia or have a significant background in one or more aspects of East Asian cultures, as it lends theoretical perspectives to students' experiences. The course also aims to strengthen senior thesis proposals in East Asian studies. Prerequisite(s): two courses in Asian studies. Normally offered every year. P. Eason.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

ASIA 360. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

AS/HI 390G. East Asia: Crimes of Modernity.
Modernization came to East Asia in a context of violence. The academic abstractions of imperialism, colonialism, revolution, and civil war were experienced on the ground as shattering transgressions and transformations of the traditional social, political, and economic orders, generating shock waves that continue to spread. This seminar proposes as a model researcher the homicide detective, working to build an explanatory context around deadly ruptures of civilized existence. Prerequisite(s): AS/HI 171, 172, 273, 274, 276, 277, or 278. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] Normally offered every year. D. Grafflin.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

ASIA 457. Senior Thesis.
An extended research project on a topic relevant to East Asian society and culture that adopts one or more of the disciplinary approaches represented in the Asian studies curriculum. Students register for 457 in the fall semester and for 458 in the winter semester unless the Asian studies program committee gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors invited to pursue honors register for 457 and 458, contingent on the approval of the program committee. [W3] Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

ASIA 458. Senior Thesis.
An extended research project on a topic revelant to East Asian society and culture that adopts one or more of the disciplinary approaches represented in the Asian Studies curriculum. Students register for 457 in the fall semester and for 458 in the winter semester unless the Asian studies program committee gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors invited to pursue honors register for 457 and 458, contingent on the approval of the program committee. [W3] Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

Short Term Courses
AS/HI s11. Pacifism, Militarism, Environmentalism, and Giant Robots: Exploring Postwar Japan through Film.
Japan's film industry, the world's fourth largest and 115 years old, has produced a range of both critical and commercial successes. It also offers a window into the circulation of ideas in modern Japanese society and culture at large. This course looks at issues in the history of Japan since 1945 through a range of films, including comedies, space operas, animated films, and—of course—Godzilla, as well as framing readings. Key themes considered include Japan's own historical self-image and attitudes toward militarism and pacifism, environmental and technological anxieties, consumerism, and individualism in postwar Japan. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. P. Eason.
Concentrations
AS/JA s23. Japanese Popular Culture in the Age of Globalization.
This course surveys Japanese popular culture since the 1980s, both in and outside of the geographic borders of Japan. Students examine this culture through food, popular music, and anime. How have sushi chefs defined "Japanese sushi" to satisfy consumers and sell it in foreign markets? How could we define the cuteness of Japanese anime characters in the gender matrix that may be specific to each different culture? What elements—either material or ideological—are transferred, transformed, or discarded when introducing popular Japanese culture to different consumer markets? To answer these questions, recent products of popular culture are considered: tasted, or listened to and closely analyzed. Through these activities, this course aims to produce a critical language to envision how the ongoing process of economic globalization has been deconstructing conventional cultural boundaries. New course beginning Short Term 2014. Not open to students who have received credit for AS/JA 232. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. H. Wake.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

ASIA s24. Food and Famines in China.
This course examines the role of food in Chinese traditional culture and contemporary society. Topics covered include food as a key to nourishing life, food as communication, the role of food in Chinese cosmology, Chinese cuisine, food as medicine, and food safety. Studenst consider famines in China with a particular emphasis on the Great Leap famine and its consequences. The course includes hands-on practice to gain experience in making (and tasting) Chinese food. Enrollment limited to 30. One-time offering. M. Maurer-Fazio, X. Fan.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

AS/JA s27. Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The technologies of the industrial and postindustrial age have made possible a scale of destruction that seems impossible for human beings either to grasp or perhaps even to survive. Japan is the only nation to have experienced attack by atomic weapons. What is the role of art, literature, film, and journalism in expressing the "inexpressible" and possibly preventing its reoccurrence? This course examines Japanese and Korean responses to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Conducted in English. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Strong.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

ASIA s29. Understanding Manga: Line, Language, and Audience.
Japanese comic books (manga) are read around the world today, but how and why did this form develop so successfully in Japan? This course introduces the evolution of manga from World War II to the present. Topics include historical precedents and postwar transformation, major genres and venues of publication, influential artists, and the contemporary state of the industry/art. The course's primary focus is the formal analysis of individual works, as students work together to develop a critical language true to the characteristics of the medium. Conducted in English; no knowledge of Japanese is required. Prerequisite(s): one course in art and visual culture, Asian studies, or Japanese. Enrollment limited to 30. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

ASIA s50. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Interdisciplinary Programs

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)