MLO 2: Culture
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 interrelatedness.
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 interrelatedness.
Courses Taken
JAPN 212 - Samurai Spirit
JAPN 300 - Introduction to Advanced Communication
JAPN 310 - Japanese Cinema
JAPN 313 - Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
JAPN 395 - Special Topics: Japan Land and People
Power of Japanese Pop Culture (OGU)
Japanese Religions (OGU)
JAPN 300 - Introduction to Advanced Communication
JAPN 310 - Japanese Cinema
JAPN 313 - Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
JAPN 395 - Special Topics: Japan Land and People
Power of Japanese Pop Culture (OGU)
Japanese Religions (OGU)
Reflective Narrative
Japanese culture is something that I am very familiar with as I have been interested in it since middle school. Naturally my familiarity and understanding was very limited as I had only just begun the explore the world of manga and anime and had briefly dived into the world of the samurai through Hollywood films. The language class I had taken in high school was not as culture focused as my college level classes. Through the classes listed above my world, in some cases quite literally, expanded and towards the end of each class I was able to confidently give presentations of what I had learned about Japanese culture.
My first culture course, Samurai Spirit, was the most informative in terms of how the historical background of the samurai shaped and influenced modern Japanese culture especially those of great importance, such as the Shogunate Oda Nobunaga, sample 1. One such example is the samurai practice of committing "seppuku" or "harakiri" as a means of retaining honor in death. This, in my mind, relates to the high suicide rates in current society as many see suicide as "taking responsibility" for their actions or lack there of when they feel there is no other option (2.2). The Japanese Cinema class introduced me to varying film genres through the works of directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Juzo Itami. These films reflected cultural practices unique to Japan. For example, Akira Kurosawa's Dreams featured segments, such as the Hina Matsuri celebration and the fox wedding procession, specific to Japanese folklore and traditions (2.1). The Manga and Anime class came together to feature of mixture of perspectives, practices, and products. This can be seen in the animated film A Letter for Momo which features the Japanese religion of Shinto in which beliefs, interactions, and artworks centered around Yokai, creatures and apparitions unique to Shinto, sample 2 (2.1). The Power of Japanese Pop Culture and Japanese Religions class both featured cultural perspectives and products; citing music, art, beliefs, and philosophies in the curriculums.
Through each culture focused class taken both at CSUMB and Osaka Gakuin, my understanding of Japanese culture has exponentially expanded. My knowledge prior to CSUMB was very limited and skewed due to popular stereotypes as presented in Western media. Particularly my knowledge regarding the samurai was far off from what I learned in my Samurai Spirit class. Perspectives and practices were also very helpful in allowing myself to reflect certain values and methods of interaction when conversing with my teachers, fellow students, and Japanese friends. I have become greatly confident in my ability to understand Japanese perspectives, practices, and products and have learned much in comparing these with my own country's perspectives and such. Do not forget to click on each class listed above, all of which can also be found under the "terms" tab, to see specific examples through presentations and essays.
My first culture course, Samurai Spirit, was the most informative in terms of how the historical background of the samurai shaped and influenced modern Japanese culture especially those of great importance, such as the Shogunate Oda Nobunaga, sample 1. One such example is the samurai practice of committing "seppuku" or "harakiri" as a means of retaining honor in death. This, in my mind, relates to the high suicide rates in current society as many see suicide as "taking responsibility" for their actions or lack there of when they feel there is no other option (2.2). The Japanese Cinema class introduced me to varying film genres through the works of directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Juzo Itami. These films reflected cultural practices unique to Japan. For example, Akira Kurosawa's Dreams featured segments, such as the Hina Matsuri celebration and the fox wedding procession, specific to Japanese folklore and traditions (2.1). The Manga and Anime class came together to feature of mixture of perspectives, practices, and products. This can be seen in the animated film A Letter for Momo which features the Japanese religion of Shinto in which beliefs, interactions, and artworks centered around Yokai, creatures and apparitions unique to Shinto, sample 2 (2.1). The Power of Japanese Pop Culture and Japanese Religions class both featured cultural perspectives and products; citing music, art, beliefs, and philosophies in the curriculums.
Through each culture focused class taken both at CSUMB and Osaka Gakuin, my understanding of Japanese culture has exponentially expanded. My knowledge prior to CSUMB was very limited and skewed due to popular stereotypes as presented in Western media. Particularly my knowledge regarding the samurai was far off from what I learned in my Samurai Spirit class. Perspectives and practices were also very helpful in allowing myself to reflect certain values and methods of interaction when conversing with my teachers, fellow students, and Japanese friends. I have become greatly confident in my ability to understand Japanese perspectives, practices, and products and have learned much in comparing these with my own country's perspectives and such. Do not forget to click on each class listed above, all of which can also be found under the "terms" tab, to see specific examples through presentations and essays.
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