Asian Studies Courses

How have Asia's philosophical and religious traditions shaped its twentieth-century economies, politics, and societies? Class discussion focuses on Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam with illustrative cases from East and Southeast Asia. Students explore Asian conceptions of economic systems, morality, community, the nation, and statecraft. (Credit, full course.) Staff

This course provides an overview of social-cultural experiences of Asian Americans, considering various influences that shape the identity and social position of individuals in this diverse population group. Through readings, films, guest lectures, and field experiences, students explore the heterogeneity of Asian American experiences in the United States while integrating theoretical and methodological concerns including concepts of race, ethnicity, migration, identity, power, class, generation, gender, and community. (Credit, full course.) Staff

This course examines film works of major Chinese directors that have contributed to the rise of “new Chinese Cinema” since the mid-1980s.  Emphasis is given to the discussion of each individual director’s film style and the following topics:  film tradition and innovation;  domestic censorship and market economy;  film as a form of cultural translation of China;  national and transnational cinema;  memory and history;  and issues of gender and sexuality.  Students also learn to develop a film-critical vocabulary.  All films have subtitles, and readings are in English.  This course does not fulfill a general distribution requirement.  (Credit, full course.)  Staff

Throughout the 20th century, modern Chinese literature has been laden with the issues of modernity, nation-building, and cultural identity. In this course students analyze modern Chinese fictional works and contemporary films in light of topics such as the origin of modern Chinese literature, New Women in fiction and society, highbrow literature and lowbrow literature, nationalism and colonialism, traumatic memory and “scar literaturex, é localism and globalism in contemporary Chinese cinema." Course materials are in English translation. No previous knowledge of Chinese language or culture is required. (Credit, full course.) Staff

A study of love as represented in classical and modern Chinese literature. Students read poetry, legendary tales, episodes of drama and fiction to explore the multi-faceted and changing notion of love in Chinese culture and society. The course introduces both the artistry of Chinese literature and a non-western cultural perspective on this subject of universal significance. (Credit, full course.) Staff

A study of the complex role memory plays in contemporary Chinese and Japanese filmmaking and reception. Students compare cinematic techniques used in representing, recreating and problematizing the past in the movies. Students also discuss the participatory role of cinematized memory in preserving and reconstructing cultural memory and national identity in both domestic and global contexts. Readings are in English. All films used for the class have English subtitles. This course does not meet any general distribution requirement. (Credit, full course.) Staff

From errant samurai and women warriors to eccentric monks and femme fatales, the Japanese literary and film traditions offer a lively cast of heroes and heroines.  In what varying ways are these strong and suggestive characters represented, and how do these heroic representations function within the context of a culture often thought to curtail vivid expressions of individual will?  How do these heroics relate to or differ from heroes from other traditions?  The class explores these questions and others through readings of classics such as The Tale of Genji, and through screenings of films including Princess Mononoke.  (Credit, full course.)  Staff

This course brings together examples of modern and contemporary Japanese literature and film to investigate the relationship between humanity and technology.  From Ringu to cyborg fiction to the atomic bomb, technology has inspired fear and desire.  The course explores the significance of technological innovations such as nuclear development, robotics, and bio-engineering for modern Japanese culture.  (Credit, full course.)  Staff

This course takes a critical look at what is meant by “Japanese Aesthetics” and how related traditions challenge people to re-think their own philosophical and aesthetic criteria.  Various media such as ink painting, calligraphy, theater, music, poetry, architecture, dance, pottery, textile arts and design, and manga/anime are studied as a means of exploring some of the most important aesthetic ideas that have developed in Japan from the Classical period to the present day.  (Credit, full course.)  Staff

An introduction to various aspects of “modern China” and modern Chinese literature through an exploration of the rich meanings of “memory,” this course deals with the meaning of memory to individuals and collectivities. Questions discussed include: How is the notion of memory crucial to our understanding of self-identity? What does “remembering the past” particularly mean to China in its “search for the modern” and what does it mean to the overseas Chinese who are ambivalent towards their “cultural past?” Students analyze short stories, novellas, chapters of novels, and poems by writers from the Chinese diaspora as well as films by Chinese directors. Texts and discussion are in English. (Credit, full course.) Staff

This course, conducted in English, examines aspects of Japanese culture by devoting special attention to issues of gender and sexuality.  Students read primary texts from pre-modern and modern literature, drama, and manga (graphic novel) in English translation, together with critical essays in gender theory, history, sociology, and anthropology.  In-class screenings of short films, anime (animated film), and documentaries help to illustrate some concepts and practices introduced in the readings.  (Credit, full course.)  Staff

A reading and research paper on a topic agreed upon by a sponsored faculty member and the student. Restricted to Asian Studies majors. (Credit, full course.) Staff

Anthropology 340. Families in Asia
A seminar on the continuities and changes in the role of the family in everyday life in Thailand, China, and Japan. Students study anthropological approaches to understanding kinship and read and view contextualized accounts of family life from several time periods. These accounts include ethnographies, novels, children's stories, religious and philosophical texts, folktales, films and Internet materials. To the extent possible, Chinese, Japanese, and/or Thai guests visit and share their family stories. (Credit, full course.) Wallace

Anthropology 341. The Culture and History of Southeast Asia
A survey of the peoples and polities of Southeast Asia from prehistory to the present, stressing the cultural and historical continuities that unite this ethnically diverse region. Special consideration is given to urban rule, peasants, popular religion, and indigenous notions of power, gender, space, and time. (Credit, full course.) O'Connor

Chinese 104. Elementary Chinese
A continuation of the intensive introduction to the fundamentals of the language and culture with emphasis on developing skills such as pronunciation. (Credit, full course.) Staff

Economics 309. Women in the Economy
This study of the relative economic status of women and men in the U.S., and how it has changed over time, focuses on sex differentials in earnings, occupational distribution, labor force participation and unemployment rates, levels and types of education and experience. Includes an analysis of the reasons for such differentials (e.g., the motivations for discrimination), their history, and cross-cultural variations in female status (with particular emphasis on Africa and Asia). Analyzes the effect of law and policy in the U.S. on the status of women. (Credit, full course.) Mohiuddin

Economics 310. Economic Development in the Third World
The nature, causes, and possible solutions of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty in the Third World, with focus both on those countries and the role of the United States. (Credit, full course.) Gottfried, Mohiuddin

Economics 345. Policies for Economic Development
A study of the nature of the "development" problem and of policy issues facing the heterogeneous category of developing economies focuses on the contemporary Chinese economy, in transition and undergoing reform. Applies theoretical and fieldwork-based analysis to issues pertaining to agricultural and industrial development, income distribution and poverty alleviation, privatization and development of the market, labor markets and human capital formation, women's empowerment, and international trade. (Credit, full course.) Mohiuddin

History 211, 212. History of China and East Asia
Designed to provide an introduction to Asian history. First semester: the foundations of East Asian civilization: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and the flowering of Chinese culture. Second semester: a study of the European impact on Asia and the resultant rise of nationalism and communism. (Credit, full course.) Goldberg

History 216. History of Japan
A survey of the history of Japan from earliest times to the present. Topics include early Chinese influence, Buddhism, the rise of feudalism, unification in the 15th century, the era of isolation, the intrusion of the west, the Meiji Restoration, the rise of Japan as a military power and World War II, and postwar recovery. (Credit, full course.) Goldberg

History 375. British India
A study of British imperial rule in the wealthiest of England's colonies. It examines the colonial condition to determine the impact of British rule on Hindu and Muslim societies and the adjustments made by subjects to the British overlords. (Credit, full course.) Staff

History 388. The United States and Vietnam since 1945
The focus of this course is the history of Vietnam since World War II, French colonialism, the development of the independence movement, the origins of U.S. involvement, and the escalation of the conflict in the 1960s. Vietnamese goals, American foreign policy, the anti-war movement, and the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon are topics of special interest. (Credit, full course.) Goldberg

Philosophy 215. Chinese Philosophy
An examination of philosophical texts of classical Confucianism and Taoism. Emphasis is given to the cultural context of these texts and to the evaluation of the worldview they articulate. (Credit, full course.) Peterman

Philosophy 226. Philosophical Issues in Daoism
An introduction to the classical texts of philosophical Daoism, Zhuangzi and Daodejing, and to the classical and contemporary philosophical debates and controversies these texts have generated. (Credit, full course.) Peterman

Political Science 249. China and the World
Beginning in the third century B.C.E., China began construction of its Great Wall, an attempt to keep out “barbarian invaders.” Since that time, China has had an uneasy relationship with foreign powers. Students analyze early Chinese conceptions of its proper relations with foreign powers, contemporary relations with Japan and the United States, and attempts by foreigners to change Chinese politics, culture, and economy. Readings emphasize Chinese notions of nationhood and the dynamics of globalization. (Credit, full course.) Wilson

Political Science 250. States and Markets in East Asia
The course surveys the political economy of Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea since the 1930s. Students read and discuss dependency, statist, and cultural theoretical approaches to the political economy of the cases. What explains the dynamic growth of this region of the world during the postwar period? (Credit, full course.) Wilson

Political Science 326. Comparative Asian Politics
A survey of the development of East Asian politics during the twentieth century, from the period of Japanese colonialism through the present. The course examines political developments in Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Particular attention is focused on the formation of centralized states, single-party rule, attempts to liberalize politics, and international integration. (Credit, full course.) Wilson

Political Science 360. Chinese Politics
A survey of Chinese political movements and institutions during three periods: the Republican period (1911-49), the Maoist collective era (1949-78), and the reform period (1978-present). The course focuses on state building, popular participation in politics, and power struggles among the elite. (Credit, full course.) Wilson

Political Science 361.  South Asian Politics
This course addresses South Asian government and politics, primarily during the twentieth century, although historical foundations are also discussed.  Students examine comparative topics such as democratization, development, political conflict, political culture, and political processes and institutions.  Each of the eight countries of the region — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — are considered, but there is particular focus on the region’s major actors, especially India.  Foreign influences and involvements in the region are also considered.  (Credit, full course.)  Staff

Religion 205. Women and Religion
An examination of how women's lives have been affected by religious traditions and how women have shaped religious traditions. Emphasis is placed on Christianity and Buddhism and the use of biographical and autobiographical works. (Credit, full course.) Brown

Religion 262. Buddhism
A philosophical and historical examination of Buddhism from its origins in India to more recent manifestations in the United States. Attention is paid to Buddhism as it has been and is currently being lived. (Credit, full course.) Brown

Religion 263. Chinese Religion
An exploration of the native Chinese religions of Daoism and Confucianism with attention also to gods, ghosts, and ancestors. Emphasizes the examination of texts including Confucius' Analects, The Daodejing, and The Zhuangzi. (Credit, full course.) Brown

Religion 361. New Religions
A comparative study of new religious movements of the twentieth century including Japanese New Religions, selected cult phenomena, "New Age" and spiritual movements, and new religions from South Asia and the Middle East. Some attention to North American quasi-religious movements such as occult spiritualism, religiously inspired political movements, and paramilitary religious movements. (Credit, full course.) Smith

Religion 363. Zen
A philosophical and historical introduction to Zen Buddhism as it arose in China as Ch'an, moved and changed through East Asia, and came to the West. Prerequisite: Introduction to Asian Religions or Buddhism. (Credit, full course.) Brown

Religion 364. Buddhist Ethics
An introduction to the philosophy and practice of ethics in Buddhism beginning with an examination of ahimsa, the inviolability or sanctity of life. Attention is paid to ethical beginnings with the birth of Buddhism (563 B.C.E.) and ending with modern Buddhist contributions to issues such as environmentalism. Prerequisite: Introduction to Asian Religions or Buddhism. (Credit, full course.) Brown

Theatre 226. Asian Theatre
An introductory survey of traditional Asian theatre with particular emphasis on the cultural, sociological, and aesthetic context of theatre and dance form in the Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku of Japan. Chinese Opera, Sanskrit drama, the Indian Kathakali, Malaysian shadow play, and Balinese dance theatre.  (Credit, full course.)  Backlund