Advanced Topics in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Literature and Culture (322-0-20)
Topic
Modern Japanese Lit (1912-1945): From Erotic-Grot
Instructors
Patrick James Noonan
847/467-0283
Kresge Hall - Office 4-550
Office Hours: Varies quarter to quarter, please check with instructor.
Meeting Info
Kresge 4438 Asian LC Sem Rm: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
AY 23-24 The period from 1912 to 1945, spanning the Taisho and Early Showa Periods, was one of the most tumultuous in modern Japanese history. It witnessed the brief flowering of democracy, the rise of women's suffrage, robust left-wing movements, colonial expansion, and fifteen years of war driven by fascist ideology. This course focuses on the literature of this period. It examines how writers experimented with the formal resources of the literary medium while responding to the economic, political, and social transformations that characterized these pivotal years. We will consider, among other topics, the rejection of naturalist modes of writing and the rise of "modernist" experimentation, the relationship between the political and artistic avant-gardes, the literary construction of a timeless national identity, and the role that writers and their work played in Japanese imperialism. Our exploration of Taisho and Early Showa literature not only sheds light on the contradictions of the past but also highlights the legacy these contradictions have left on Japan's contemporary cultural and historical landscape.
Teaching Method
Lecture, Seminar Discussion
Evaluation Method
Attendance and Participation In-class Presentations Writing Assignments
Class Materials (Required)
Course Reader on Canvas as PDFs Books for Purchase (possibly available for download on Canvas)
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area