ENG 3080 Japanese Film and Literature in Translation

This course examines Japanese literature and film as world literature and global cinema. Through the study of major works we will seek to understand why Japan’s aesthetics, literary themes, and popular expressions have become integral to global culture today. We will trace the multiple cultural influences flowing to and from Japan, asking what has changed and what has continued over the centuries. Drawing upon novels, drama, poetry, and movies- ranging from classics like The Tale of Genji, Nobel-winning authors, and manga superstars to the “new classics” on celluloid and animé-the course traces the movement of Japanese literature from isolation on the edge of Asia to a position of cultural centrality in today’s world, while we examine the works on their merits. This is a writing intensive course.
Credits: 3.0