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111 Asian Conversations: Family and Self
in East Asia
This seminar introduces students to East Asian cultures through
the familiar institution of family. In contemporary novels, autobiographies
and short stories, students read about the struggles between traditional
ideals and modern pressures as East Asians strive to define themselves
within families. The course also develops students' writing skills
to prepare them for the rest of their college coursework. GE:
FYW
112 Asian Conversations: East Asia and the West
This is a history seminar to help students understand the impact
that the West and East Asia have had on each other from the beginning
of sustained contact in the 16th century to the end of World War
II. Students read about and discuss the impact of Christian missionaries,
the economic role of trade, and the political and military challenge
of Western expansionism beginning with the Opium War. Prerequisite:
Asian Studies 111 or permission of the instructor. GE: HWC.
211 Asian Conversations: Rice and Society in East Asia
Using rice (and agriculture more generally) as a means of access,
this course will introduce students to an examination of the societies,
politics and economies of East Asian countries. Drawing on social
science methods, it looks at traditional East Asian societies
as well as the drive for modernization and the consequences that
modernization has had on these societies. Prerequisite: Asian
Studies 112 or permission of the instructor. Counts toward the
Asian Studies major. GE: HBS.
212 Asian Conversations: National Identity in China and
Japan
In this Interim course students who have completed the "Asian
Conversations" sequence will travel to sites in China and
Japan in order to experience those cultures firsthand and to study
Chinese and Japanese constructions of national identity. Through
readings, site visits, interactions with peers in the target languages,
homestays, and journal writing in both English and their target
language, students will learn about how Asians in these two countries
perceive themselves and their role in the region and in the world,
both in the past and in the present. They will travel to Shanghai,
Nanjing, Beijing, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Prerequisite: Asian Studies
211 or permission of the instructor. GE: MCS-G.
OTHER ASIAN STUDIES COURSES
121 Asian Cultures in Comparative Perspectives
This course examines major cultures of South, Southeast, and East
Asia from interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives with
attention to theories of human behavior. Themes vary from year
to year but may include Asian cities, heroic ideals, village and
family life, population growth, gender roles, and medicine and
healing traditions. No prerequisites. GE: MCS-G.
124 Introduction to Japanese Film (in English
translation)
This course studies eight to 10 Japanese films by well-known directors
such as Ozu, Kurosawa, and Itami. Consideration is taken of the
way in which their angle of vision affects the development of
themes, such as the conflict between duty and feeling, the sense
of family, or satire of the family. Includes both historical samurai
films and contemporary social problem films. Offered during Interim.
GE: MCS-G, ALS-A.
151 Chinese Women Writers (in English translation)
This course is an overview of women's experience in modern and
contemporary China through the eyes of Chinese women writers.
Special emphasis is given on women's changing status in the family,
on society's attitude towards women, and on women's self-awareness.
Offered during Interim. GE: MCS-G, ALS-L.
156 Contemporary China Through Film (in English
translation)
Students study basic concepts and approaches of film analysis,
while examining aesthetics, themes, and techniques of masterworks
directed by Chinese Fifth Generation directors. Through readings
of cinema theory and criticism and class discussions, students
explore artistic merits in these films and aspects of Chinese
society and culture in contemporary China, particularly the changes
which occurred since 1978 with China's Four Modernizations. All
readings are in English. GE: MCS-G, ALS-A.
235 Modern Japanese Literature (in English translation)
This survey of Japanese novels and short stories from the middle
of the 19th century to the present includes works by Soseki, Tanizaki,
and two recent Nobel recipients, Kawabata and Oe. Women writers
such as Ichiyo, Ariyoshi and Enchi are considered. Students will
also view four or five films to supplement their readings. The
course focuses on the cultural context of the writings. GE: MCS-G,
ALS-L.
236 Chinese Literature (in English translation)
Students explore the major genres of Chinese literature: poetry,
short story, novel and drama in English translation. A small number
of major works are singled out for close attention. GE: MCS-G,
ALS-L.
240 Talking in Japan and the US: Language, Identity, and
Beyond
This course looks at language as it creates and responds
to its cultural and social environments. Students compare and
contrast major aspects of language use in Japan and the United
States. Students explore the general underlying elements of talk
(e.g., standard vs. regional dialects, language attitude and ideologies,
politeness, gendered speech patterns, communication styles) and
learn to understand how speakers convey subtle meanings, sometimes
unconsciously. Knowledge of Japanese is helpful but not necessary.
Taught in English. GE: MCS-G, ORC, HBS.
245 International Politics of Northeast Asia
Why do the international affairs of Northeast Asia (China, Japan,
the Koreas, Taiwan) play such a critical role in world politics?
Beginning with the contemporary events that integrate and divide
this region, this course moves backwards through the twentieth
century and covers important events and themes in the security,
economic, and cultural relations of Northeast Asia. Students learn
how regional dynamics and great power politics have combined to
keep these states on the world's center stage.
Counts toward major: Asian Studies, Political Science
Counts toward concentration: Asian Studies. GE: HBS
254 Japanese Politics and Society
270 Visual Culture of Modern China
This course highlights major visual arts movements within China
over the last century, from the end of the imperial era to current
times. We look at a variety of issues: class and gender; China
in the world art market; Chinese art past and present; and a variety
of "isms" now seen as defining Chinese art. A major
theme is to define "visual culture" in all its nuances.
GE: MCS-G, ALS-A.
298 Independent Study
310 Buddhism Through Text and Image
This course examines Buddhist images and their relationship to
textual sources. Beginning with a close reading of Buddhist texts
in translation, students study how Buddhist images and architecture
derive from textual sources, and often move behond them. The course
considers the interrelatedness of text and image in Buddhist practice.
Attention is also paid to Western notions of Buddhism and the
development of Buddhist art studies in the West. GE: ALS-A, MCS-G.
397 Human Rights in Asian Contexts
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that "the
inherent dignity and...the equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family [are] the foundation of freedom, justice
and peace in the world." Who speaks of human rights in East
Asia? What ethical perspectives are voiced? Case studies presented
through memoirs, films, reports, and multidisciplinary analyses
provide the material for exploring diverse normative claims about
individual rights in East Asia. Prerequisites: ASST 275 or permission
of instructor. GE: EIN.
398 Independent Research
399 Seminar
The seminar intensively studies topics in Asian Studies. Prerequisite:
senior Asian Studies major or concentrator, or permission of the
instructor. GE: EIN
CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSES
Chinese 111, 112 Beginning Chinese I, II
These courses offer an introduction to speaking, reading and writing
Chinese, as well as mastery of basic grammar and command of 500
characters for reading and writing. Class meets four times weekly.
Individual language laboratory visits are also required. Chinese
111 or equivalent is prerequisite to 112.
Chinese 231, 232 Intermediate Chinese I, II
Students continue to develop listening and reading comprehension
and use of basic structures through speaking and writing. The
vocabulary for reading and writing increases to 1,000 characters.
Class meets four times weekly. Individual language laboratory
visits are also required. Chinese 231 or equivalent is prerequisite
to 232. GE: FOL-C for 231 or 232.
Chinese 251, 252 Advanced Chinese I, II
This course provides continued practice in speaking, reading and
writing at the third-year level. Our text introduces students
to Chinese geography and history and modern written style. Conducted
entirely in Chinese. These courses are recommended for students
seeking a concentration in Chinese language. Prerequisite: Chinese
232 or equivalent. GE: FOL-C.
Chinese 298 Independent Study
Chinese 398 Independent Research
Students who have completed Chinese 371 are encouraged to continue
their Chinese language study with faculty through individual and
small group tutorials by registering for Chinese 298 or Chinese
398. Through individual tutorials students may pursue readings
and projects in their area of interest.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSES
Japanese 111, 112 Beginning Japanese
I, II
This course is an introduction to speaking, reading, and writing
Japanese; writing includes the learning of all syllabic letters
(Hiragana and Katakana) and basic Kanji (Chinese characters).
Class meets four times weekly. Individual language laboratory
visits are also required. Japanese 111 or equivalent is prerequisite
to 112.
Japanese 231, 232 Intermediate Japanese I, II
This course offers a continuation of Japanese grammar and orthography
through dialogues, discussions, and readings. Individual language
laboratory visits are also required. Japanese 231 or equivalent
is prerequisite to 232. GE: FOL-J.
Japanese 251, 252 Advanced Japanese I, II
These courses, which comprise speaking, reading, and writing Japanese
at the third-year level, are recommended for students seeking
a concentration in Japanese language. Prerequisite: Japanese 232
or equivalent. GE: FOL-J.
Japanese 298 Independent Study
Japanese 398 Independent Research
Students who have completed Japanese 252 are encouraged to continue
their Japanese language study with faculty through individual
and small group tutorials by registering for Japanese 298 or Japanese
398. Through individual tutorials students may pursue readings
and projects in their area of interest.
COURSES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS
APPROVED FOR ASIAN STUDIES CREDIT
In addition to the following, Interim courses, Carleton courses,
and other courses may be submitted to the chair of Asian Studies
for approval.
Art 265 Art of India and Southeast Asia
Economics 218 Economic Progress in China
Economics 238 Japanese Economics
History 135 Vietnam
History 252 Japanese Civilization
History 250 Chinese Civilization
History 251 Modern China
History 252 Japanese Civilization
History 253 Modern Japan
History 240 Non-Western Seminar (depending on topic)
History 360 East Asian Seminar
Philosophy 251 Asian Philosophy
Political Science 230 East Asia in World Politics
Political Science 263 Chinese Politics
Political Science 388 Chinese Foreign Policy
Psychology 226 Childhood in China
Religion 256 Religions of China and Japan
Religion 257 Buddhism
Religion 289 Buddhism, Peace and Justice (formerly Religion 351)
Sociology/Anthropology 239 Contemporary Issues in Southeast Asia
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