JAPN 142 - Introduction to Japanese Life and Culture

Credits: 5
An introduction to traditional and modern Japanese culture. Works of fine/performance art, literature, and architecture throughout history as well as traditional cultural activities such as the tea ceremony will be introduced. Japan’s history of marginalization (e.g. native Ainu, Christians, outcastes), and imperialism and colonialism culminating in the Pacific War will be analyzed. Issues in contemporary Japanese society, namely the gender gap, an aging population, bullying, and social withdrawal will be examined. Modern popular media including film, manga, and anime will be explored. In English.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL 99 or instructor consent. Recommended: College-level reading.

Satisfies Requirement: Humanities/Fine Arts/English
Course Fee: $4.00

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of elements of traditional Japanese culture such as history, art, and religion.
Demonstrate understanding of elements of Japanese society such as family, education, and accompanying contemporary problems.
Demonstrate understanding of elements of popular Japanese culture such as manga, anime, and film.
Demonstrate intercultural competence for the understanding of a different culture necessary for travel or work.
Demonstrate critical competencies such as interpersonal, critical thinking, problem solving, and oral and written communication skills acquired by working with peers from diverse backgrounds.

Program Outcomes
Analyze cultural perspectives and values of a multicultural world.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Diversity and Equity - In order to advance equity and social justice, students will be able to examine their own and others’ identities, behaviors, and/or cultural perspectives as they connect to power, privilege, and/or resistance.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.