JAPN 310 - Japanese Cinema
Course Description
An introductory scrutiny of major Japanese directors and genres with attention to film composition, choices of subject and character, ideas of the cinematic, and the relationship of cinema to Japanese culture and society. Students will analyze and critique films. Discussion of films will deal with the production of their historical, social, and cultural context, as well as issues dealing with popular culture and equity. Taught in English. Fulfills MLO 2.
An introductory scrutiny of major Japanese directors and genres with attention to film composition, choices of subject and character, ideas of the cinematic, and the relationship of cinema to Japanese culture and society. Students will analyze and critique films. Discussion of films will deal with the production of their historical, social, and cultural context, as well as issues dealing with popular culture and equity. Taught in English. Fulfills MLO 2.
Reflective Narrative
This course exposed me to cultural values and products through both classic and modern Japanese films. Throughout this course, we watched various genres of Japanese films, from old school samurai to modern comedies, and analyzed the films in our weekly assignments featuring criteria such as camera angles, lighting, and cultural aspects, example 1. I learned a lot about how to interpret cinematography and plot from the many different perspectives presented in each film. In this course I learned a lot more about Japanese history and culture through the time setting of each film. For example, in my linked analysis of Kamikaze Girls, I discuss the films unique use of colored filters and camera angles that are not traditionally found in films, no matter the films country of origin. The movie also features two unique subcultures of Japanese fashion: yanki and lolita. Through the characters of Ichigo, a tough biker girl, and Momoko, a very feminine fashionista, students in this class were able to learn about two very different aspects of Japanese fashion culture. For my final essay, I chose to focus my analysis on Japanese comedy and how it affects social views, in terms of allowing individuals to feel more comfortable and open when discussing societal, familial, or other types of issues, example 2. By analyzing the way in which Japanese culture presents humor verses my home country, I was able to learn about many different societal problems including the stigmatism attached with those prepare dead bodies for encoffinment.
|
|