ANTH 330Peoples and Cultures of East Asia
Spring 2014
Thursdays: 12:30 – 3:10 pm
Professor: David Haines
Office hours: Mondays: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm;
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (but contact by email)
Office: Room 4045; Phone: 32-626-1828
Email:
Web:
OverviewThis course provides an introduction to the peoples and cultures of East Asia, with an emphasis on the core societies of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Major themes throughout the course will be: (1) the basic relations of age and sex; gender and generation; (2) the structuring of social relations through kinship and territory; (3) the forging of strong and coherent nations; and (4) the development of particularly rich and distinctive cultural traditions. Although the readings are set up on a country-by-country basis, the overall intent of the course is comparative both across the countries and across the very different kinds of material used to look at those countries.
Course prerequisites: ANTH 114; 60 credits; or instructor permission
Course requirements
1.Two examinations. The examinations will be a mix of essays and objective questions. (Make-up tests must be by prior arrangement.)
2.Four papers (each roughly five pages, double-spaced, typed).
One paper on each country discussed
One paper each on a:
- Cultural performance or exhibit
- Film (no martial arts or animé!)
- Novel or book of short stories
- An autobiography or your own interview(s)
Note that film, fiction, and autobiography must be translated or subtitled (i.e., no American film, fiction, or autobiography). Also, unless you are sure of a performance or exhibit on Japan or Vietnam, you would be well-advised to use the Seoul museums for their exhibits on Korea (and probably China or Japan).Papers must show cumulative comparative analysis.
3.There willbe a regular “in the news” segment for each of the four countries. Requires a one-page legible hand-in.Also you will be the “lead” on the analysis of at least two of the readings.
Grading20% for each of two tests
10% for each of the four papers
20% for class participation, quizzes, and “in the news” segments
Grade conversion60-69 = D
70-72 = C- / 73-76 = C / 77-79 = C+
80-82 = B- / 83-86 = B / 87-89 = B+
90-92 = A- / 93-96 = A / 97+ = A+
Texts
Joseph Tobin, Yeh Hsueh, and Mayumi Karasawa, Preschool in Three Cultures Revisited: China, Japan, and the United States. University of Chicago Press. 2009. ISBN 978-0226-80504-7 Pbk.
Available in Kindle edition.
Ann Anagnost, Andrea Arai, and Hai Ren, Global Futures in East Asia: Youth, Nation, and the New Economy in Uncertain Times. Stanford University Press. 2013. ISBN 978-0-8047-7618-9 Pbk.
Available in Kindle edition.
Noriko O. Tsuya, and Larry L. Bumpass, Marriage, Work & Family Life in Comparative Perspective: Japan, South Korea, and the United States. University of Hawai'i Press. 2004. ISBN 0-8248-2775-9 Pbk.
Available on Google Books.
DRC NoteIf you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodation, you should see me and also contact Mason-Korea administration. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the administration.
Remember:Last day to drop with no penalty is March 10
Elective withdrawal is from April 7 to April 30
Schedule: Note that“Read” means read by the time of class that week.
1. March 6Course preview and introduction to the geography and ecology of East Asia
2.March 13More East Asian basics: history and language
Read:Preschool: Intro & China
Film:To Live (start)
3.March 20China: the basics (ecology, history, and language)
Read:AAR: Chapters 1 and 3
Film:To Live (probably finish)
4.March 28China: contemporary issues
Read:AAR: Chapter 6; Browse Chapters 2 & 6
March 28China paper due
5.April 3Vietnam: the basics (ecology, history, and language)
Read: TBA
Film: Three Seasons (start)
6. April 10Vietnam compared: family, community, and state
Read: TBA
Film:Three Seasons (finish)
7.April 17Vietnam: contemporary issues
April 17Vietnam paper due
8. April 24First examination (region, China, Vietnam)
9.May 1Regional interlude: China and Vietnam vs. Japan and Korea
`Japan: the basics (ecology, history, and language)
Read:Preschool: Japan
10.May 8Japan compared: family, community, and state
Read:AAR: Chapters 7 & 8
Film:Grave of the Fireflies (start)
11. May 15Japan: contemporary issues
Read:AAR: Chapter 9
Film:Grave of the Fireflies (finish)
May 15Japan paper due
12.May 22Korea: the basics (ecology, history, and language)
Read:AAR: Chapters 4 & 10; Preschool: U.S.
Film:Chunhyang (start)
13.May 29Korea:colonialism, communism, and capitalism
Read:Read Tsuya & Bumpass: Chapters 1 to 4
Film:Chunhyang (finish)
14.June 5Korea: contemporary issues
Read:Read Tsuya and Bumpass: Chapters 5 - 8
June5Korea paper due
At official exam periodSecond examination (region, Japan, Korea)
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