2.1 Students develop a comprehensive understanding, appreciation and knowledge of Japanese culture: perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), practices (patterns of social interactions) and products (both tangible and intangible, for example, art, history, literature, music).
2.2 Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
Classes:
JAPN 309 Japanese Literature in Translation
JAPN 310 Japanese Cinema
JAPN 311 Social Issues In Japan
Intro to Japanese Folklore
Women in Japan
MLO 2: Culture
2.1 In order to develop an overall understanding of Japanese perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), practices (patterns of social interactions), and products (art, history, literature), I took JAPN 310 (see 3 & 4 below) in which I watched various Japanese movies from different genre’s and eras. Through these films I was able to begin to understand the changing perspectives of modern Japan alongside the historical influences of its past. Weekly reflective essays about the films aided me in my understanding of the Japanese culture. I also took JAPN 309 (see 1 & 2 below) which was held in a group discussion format. I read excerpts from books and folklore anthologies before each class and brought mini reflections with which I would participate in class discussion. Through the critical analysis and culture points held from class discussions, I was able to really enjoy movies from Japan in a new way. This new understanding of why these movies tell their stories the way they do, it brought me to think more on how movies from different countries can serve as a mini snapshot of the culture.
2.1 Example Work:
2.2 In order to analyze global inter-relatedness and modern Japan, I took JAPN 311 at CSUMB and also Women in Japan while abroad in Japan. In JAPN 311, our class read current event articles each week after which we would participate in a group discussion ( see 1 & 2 below) about our opinions and understandings of these issues. Also in this class we were able to consult and listen to the personal views of Japanese exchange students, bringing further understanding of these issues. The midterm oral presentation we created a panel discussion in which our groups explored issues facing Japan (currently) and also completed a final essay which talked in depth about one additional topic of our choosing. In Japan, Women in Japan class was an exploration of the various social and cultural issues facing women in Japan from the past until modern day. The teacher selected relevant topics to facilitate connections between the issues that women around the world face and Japanese women, as our class was mixed with Japanese, European and American women. For my final I researched a notable woman figure in Japanese history (see 4 below) and presented about who they are and why they made an impact, in addition I turned in a paper outlining the individual’s relevance to the course topics and my own experiences. Overall these classes made a huge impact on how I view social issues from around the world. With my insights to Japanese issues in my class and the input from my Japanese classmates, I was able to expand my ability to understand and analyze objectively.
2.2 Example Work:
2.2 Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
Classes:
JAPN 309 Japanese Literature in Translation
JAPN 310 Japanese Cinema
JAPN 311 Social Issues In Japan
Intro to Japanese Folklore
Women in Japan
MLO 2: Culture
2.1 In order to develop an overall understanding of Japanese perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), practices (patterns of social interactions), and products (art, history, literature), I took JAPN 310 (see 3 & 4 below) in which I watched various Japanese movies from different genre’s and eras. Through these films I was able to begin to understand the changing perspectives of modern Japan alongside the historical influences of its past. Weekly reflective essays about the films aided me in my understanding of the Japanese culture. I also took JAPN 309 (see 1 & 2 below) which was held in a group discussion format. I read excerpts from books and folklore anthologies before each class and brought mini reflections with which I would participate in class discussion. Through the critical analysis and culture points held from class discussions, I was able to really enjoy movies from Japan in a new way. This new understanding of why these movies tell their stories the way they do, it brought me to think more on how movies from different countries can serve as a mini snapshot of the culture.
2.1 Example Work:
- JAPN 309 Group Midterm PPT
- JAP 309 Final Paper - Class and Social expectations from Japanese Literature
- JAPN 310 Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress - Film Reflection
- JAPN 310 Final Paper - Make up and Costuming in Japanese Films
2.2 In order to analyze global inter-relatedness and modern Japan, I took JAPN 311 at CSUMB and also Women in Japan while abroad in Japan. In JAPN 311, our class read current event articles each week after which we would participate in a group discussion ( see 1 & 2 below) about our opinions and understandings of these issues. Also in this class we were able to consult and listen to the personal views of Japanese exchange students, bringing further understanding of these issues. The midterm oral presentation we created a panel discussion in which our groups explored issues facing Japan (currently) and also completed a final essay which talked in depth about one additional topic of our choosing. In Japan, Women in Japan class was an exploration of the various social and cultural issues facing women in Japan from the past until modern day. The teacher selected relevant topics to facilitate connections between the issues that women around the world face and Japanese women, as our class was mixed with Japanese, European and American women. For my final I researched a notable woman figure in Japanese history (see 4 below) and presented about who they are and why they made an impact, in addition I turned in a paper outlining the individual’s relevance to the course topics and my own experiences. Overall these classes made a huge impact on how I view social issues from around the world. With my insights to Japanese issues in my class and the input from my Japanese classmates, I was able to expand my ability to understand and analyze objectively.
2.2 Example Work:
- JAPN 311 Midterm Paper
- JAPN 311 Group Midterm PPT
- JAPN 311 Business and Employment in Japan Paper
- Women in Japan Final Paper - Yuriko Koike