JAPA 223 - The Gothic and the Supernatural in Japanese Literature

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as ASIA 223 and GNCS 223) This course introduces students to Japanese supernatural stories. We interpret the hidden psyche of the Japanese people and culture that create such bizarre tales. We see not only to what extent the supernatural creatures - demons, vampires, and mountain witches - in these stories represent the “hysteria” of Japanese commoners resulting from social and cultural oppression, but also to what extent these supernatural motifs have been adopted and modified by writers of various literary periods. This course consists of four parts; female ghosts, master authors of ghost stories, Gothic fantasy and dark urban psyche. Hiromi Dollase.

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

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS