Japanese Language and Culture Through Art and Pop Culture
Course Description
Summary
In this introductory-level Japanese course, students will explore Japan’s artistic treasures and diverse art forms to examine Japanese visual culture, history, and society while developing and practicing basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Japanese. This course offers a fun and dynamic way to begin your journey to study the Japanese language and culture. Through engaging lessons that delve into traditional art forms such as ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and sumi-e (ink painting), as well as modern artistic phenomena like anime (animation), manga (Japanese comic books), and J-pop (Japanese popular music), students will learn fundamental vocabulary, grammar, and written characters to foster a practical understanding of the Japanese language in real-life contexts.
Through engaging and collaborative coursework, students will enhance their language proficiency, gain insight into the global influence of Japanese art and pop culture, and develop a deeper appreciation for the language and culture of one of the world's most unique and influential societies. By the end of the term, students will be able to engage in simple conversations and read and write basic texts using Hiragana and Katakana, as well as approximately 20 Kanji characters. Students will also apply essential vocabulary, grammar, and writing systems to discuss Japanese art and answer questions such as: What does the oldest pottery in Japan look like? What animals are depicted in the famous twelfth-century emakimono (scroll) titled Chōjū Jinbutsu Giga, which inspired manga (Japanese comic books)? What is the recurring theme in Ghibli films? What do the characters' names in “Pokémon” mean? How do you write the names of the characters from the famous manga “One Piece” by Eiichiro Oda in Japanese?
This course is mandatory for those who plan to attend Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, as a direct exchange student.
The key topics of the course are:
• An introduction to both traditional and modern Japanese art and popular culture, including ukiyo-e, manga, and J-pop.
• The global impact of Japanese popular culture
• Basic Japanese sentence structure and basic reading and writing skills enable one to read and write about manga characters and objects depicted in Japanese art.
• Fundamental Japanese pronunciation, listening, and speaking skills to discuss Japan’s artistic treasures.
Learning Outcomes
- 1. Engage in conversations by asking and responding to simple questions.
- 2. Utilize a set of Hiragana and Katakana, as well as approximately 20 Kanji characters.
- 3. Raise valid questions based on what they’ve observed and learned.
- 4. Describe art objects studied using simple sentences.
- 5. Examine the linguistic and cultural similarities and differences, reflecting on them both subjectively and objectively.
- 6. Engage with classmates and communicate respectfully and collaboratively.
- 7. Deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and engage in culturally appropriate manners.
- 8. Embrace and appreciate cultural differences.
Corequisites
CSL Series