STS 380 - Techno-Orientalism: The Asian Connection to Science and Technology

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This class analyzes the ways Asians have been tied to science and technology, an association that may seem obvious but poorly understood. Throughout the course, the overarching theme of techno-Orientalism helps frame discussions of manufacturing industry, globalization, STEM, and the information digital economy. Students understand how and why Orientalism–or the Western sense of people from the East as dangerous enemies/exotic foreigners–gets transformed and warped in the high-tech age. Our seminar explores how U.S.-Asian relations shaped the rise of superpowers like Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, and China, as well as emergent powerhouses like Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. The class focuses on the contemporary period, centering on the 20th century to early 21st century.

One 3-hour period.