MODERN ASIA (ASN5315)

Spring 2015, Dr. Steven Heine, , 305-348-1788

FOR COURSE COMMUNICATIONS PLEASE USE THIS ACCOUNT:

AIMS

  • This course is designed to serve as a “gateway” for graduate Asian Studies graduate students, but is also open to other students with a background or interest in studies of Asia.
  • Its emphasis is on Asian society in the modern period, as studied from the standpoint of learning research methods and pedagogical techniques as well as gaining resources about specific topics.
  • To utilize critical analysis skills to gain a better understanding of modern Asia; including social and political as well as cultural and historical aspects.
  • Successful completion of a comprehensive research project showing the students’ knowledge of course material and proficiency in written, oral, and technical skills.

SCHEDULE

1/13Introduction – readings distributed by pdf

1/20Urbanization: Pre-Modern China – Daily Life in China (entire book) plus Confucius Comes Home (pdf)

1/27Travels and “Orientalism” – Honorable Visitors plus Vermillion Bird (pdf)

2/03Modernization in Asia –Ideals of the East, Frank Lloyd Wright (pdf) and Maritime Asia (pdf)

Plus Research Topics Due

2/10Economic Miracle of East Asia – The Four Little Dragons (entire book)plus Keiretsu (pdf)

2/17Communist Leadership in Asia – Ho (entire book)

2/24Indian Culture, Class, and Society – Samskara (entire book)plus Resource List Due

3/03Japan Crisis – Hiroshima (entire book)

3/10NO CLASS Spring Break

3/17EXAM

3/24Discussion – Chushingura (pdf) plus Bailin Temple (pdf)

3/31Class discussion of research methods

4/07Final Presentations of Research Projects

4/14Continued

4/21Continued

READINGS

1)DAILY LIFE IN CHINA ON THE EVE OF THE MONGAL INVASION, Jacques Garnet

ISBN-10: 0804707200

2)IDEALS OF THE EAST, Kakuzo Okakura

ISBN-10: 0486440249

3)THE FOUR LITTLE DRAGONS, THE SPREAD OF INDUSTRIALIZATION IN EAST ASIA, Ezra F. Vogel ISBN-10: 067431526X

4)HO, David Halberstam

ISBN-10: 0742559939

5)SAMSKARA, U.R. Anantha Murthy

ISBN-10: 0195610792

6)HIROSHIMA, John Hershey

ISBN-10: 0679721037

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY STRICTLY ENFORCED

A constructive classroom atmosphere, where there is a genuine give-and-take between a teacher and students, is one of the most valued aspects of the educational process. This takes place 95% of the time, but to ensure that it takes place 100% of the time, the following policies are in effect:

1) In a class that meets once a week, all students are expected to attend every class for the full class period.

2) Coming more than a few minutes late or leaving early will be counted as an absence.

3) Any absence that is not a documented medical or legal item is “unexcused.”

4) More than one unexcused absence will directly affect the final course grade.No exceptions!

5) Leaving class early without a proper excuse will automatically be counted as a double absence (this includes leaving at break).

6) Any behavior that is distracting, disruptive, or disrespectful will also have a double deduction.

7) Assignments not completed on time will be accepted only by permission of the instructor.

8) No laptop or cell phone usage without explicit permission of the instructor.

REQUIREMENTS

1. There will be a one-page assignment most weeksbased on readings (10 percent).

a. This assignment will be graded check plus, check, check minus, or zero.

+ /  / - / 0

b. More than one zero or two check minuses will affect final course grade.

2. Each week, two to three students will give presentations on the readings.

3. ORAL PARTICIPATION IS AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT (15 percent).

4. 1 in-class exam(25 percent).

5. Final research paper: (14 pages plus notes/bibliography/appendices) including apresentation of the project (25 percent). The topic will be on a particular aspect of modernization and traditional Asian society as affected by modernity. This can deal with changes in either culture or political economy. The term paper will highlight the role of literature review as will be explained further in class.

Grade Scale

92-100 A, 90-91 A-

88-89 B+, 82-87 B, 80-81 B-

78-79 C+, 72-77 C, 70-71 C-

60-69 D

GUIDELINES FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1) BE SURE TO Use a “critical” methodology—

a) Do NOT merely summarize!

b) Highlight main issues only in a critical, constructive fashion.

c) Must consult outside source(s) that are SUBSTANTIAL (not just internet).

d) Pose questions for discussion (though do not necessarily try to lead this).

e) TIME LIMITS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED

research Paper Topic Proposal Guidelines – Due: 2/03/2015

  1. Must include a tentative title for each of two proposals.
  2. Single Spaced,1-page explaining the topic, its significance and how you expect to approach it.
  3. List of 5 sources – 3 sources must be non-internet sources (Books, journals, etc).

This Bibliography must be done using MLA or APA style citation. Must be a complete citation. Textbooks from other courses maybe cited but do not count toward minimum required sources.

  1. Topics will be on a particular aspect of a case study of some dimension or element of Asia that has significantly been changed due to modernization. This can deal with changes in either culture or political economy.
  2. Your topic proposal should make it clear how modernization effects or has affected your example or case study.
  3. IMPORTANT NOTE: The paper will be based on a PROBLEM–SOLUTION approach to modernization in Asia; examples might include (but are NOT limited to) –
  • how an artistic or cultural tradition is fading or being lost
  • shifting tides in political economy
  • relations between regions and sub-regions
  • the way the modern society might lead to discrimination against minorities
  • how comparisons between East and West are affected by Orientalist tendencies

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China Timeline

Qing: 1644–1912

China Republic: 1912–1949

People’s Republic of China: 1949–

Japan Timeline

Edo (Tokugawa): 1600–1868

Meiji: 1868–1912

Taisho: 1912–1926

Showa: 1926–1989

Heisei: 1989–

Korea Timeline

Joseon: 1392–1910

Japan colonizes Korea: 1910–1945

Korean War: 1950–1953

North–South Split: 1953–

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