Introductory Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture (220-0-20)

Topic

Supernatural in Japan

Instructors

Thomas Gaubatz
847/491-2766
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall, Office 4-345
Office Hours: varies by quarter, please contact instructor

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-410: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

AY26: This course is an introduction to Japan's supernatural menagerie: ghosts, demons, monsters, magical animals, spirit possessions, and more. The has two sides. First, we survey the types of supernatural entities that appear in traditional Japanese literature, theater, and folklore, asking what kind of religious or folk beliefs imbue those representations with meaning. Second, we explore modern representations of the supernatural, tracing how images of traditional spooks have become powerful vehicles of cultural memory and national identity, as well as profitable commodities in a global marketplace of popular culture. Students will be taught to historicize cultural images and interpret the meanings they carry.

Teaching Method

Lecture and discussion

Evaluation Method

Participation, weekly writing assignments, group projects, final paper

Class Materials (Required)

All materials will be provided in PDF format.

Class Attributes

Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area