JAPA 224 - Japanese Popular Culture and Literature

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as ASIA 224 and MEDS 224) This course examines Japanese popular culture as seen through popular fiction. Works by such writers as Murakami Haruki, Yoshimoto Banana, Murakami Ryu, Yamada Eimi, etc. who emerged in the late 1980s to the early 1990s, are discussed. Literary works are compared with various popular media such as film, music, manga, and animation to see how popular youth culture is constructed and reflects young people’s views on social conditions. Theoretical readings are assigned. This course emphasizes discussion and requires research presentations. Hiromi Dollase.

Prerequisite(s): One course in Japanese language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS