JAPN 313 - Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
Course Description
This course uses Japanese manga and anime as modern mirrors that reflect the Japanese experience of rapid economic and social transformation over the past 150 years. From ancient Japanese styles of visual expression, this course traces how popular visual texts such as Manga and Anime sketch out a parallel world linked both historically and culturally to the imagined community of the Japanese nation-state. Taught in English. Fulfills MLO 2.
This course uses Japanese manga and anime as modern mirrors that reflect the Japanese experience of rapid economic and social transformation over the past 150 years. From ancient Japanese styles of visual expression, this course traces how popular visual texts such as Manga and Anime sketch out a parallel world linked both historically and culturally to the imagined community of the Japanese nation-state. Taught in English. Fulfills MLO 2.
Reflective Narrative
This course was perhaps the most interesting in terms of Japanese culture as it was tied to an aspect that I am very familiar with and interested in: anime and manga. But this class went a step further in explaining the ties between themes presented in anime and manga and how they relate to Japanese culture both old and modern. The class began with its focus on early Tezuka animations including Story of a Street Corner (1962), Pictures at an Exhibition (1966), and Jumping (1984), all experimental films exploring Tezuka's early animation techniques. These films were also unique in their reflection of Japanese culture, which at the time was heavily influenced by Western culture and society as it was popularized after the second World War. These animated works reflected Japan's social and cultural clime towards the modern society it has become today. As the class continued, we moved towards more modern animated films such as Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1985) and Akira (1988), both of which feature post-apocalyptic themes. Nausicaa focuses on the Japanese social view of the importance of our relationship with nature as it is our only means of survival, while Akira serves as a forewarning to the dangers our of dependance on machinery and advanced weaponry as it can only bring about humanities downfall. Lastly, the class focused on Japan's Shinto religion as reflected in four animated works about yokai: Natsume's Books of Friends (2008-present), Mushishi (2005-6), Hotaru no Mori e (2011), and A Letter to Momo (2011). These anime give us a peak into the religious views, customs, and beliefs of the country of Japan, though many would say these customs are so integrated into the culture it is simply a way of life for them, something I also talk about it my Japanese Religions final presentation. In my final essay, example 1, and presentation, example 2, I discuss the Social, Cultural, and Religious Aspects of Japan as presented through Anime citing Hi no Tori, Nausicaa, Time of Eve, and A Letter to Momo as I analyze how they reflect Japanese social and culture issues, such as prejudice, and religions, such as Shinto and Buddhism.
|
|