Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Perspectives on Japanese Culture
Module Code	JA421
School	SALIS
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Ryoko Sasamoto Semester 2: Ryoko Sasamoto Autumn: Ryoko Sasamoto
Module Teacher	Ryoko Sasamoto
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The purpose of this module is to enable students critically to examine images and stereotypes of Japan appearing foreign media and foreign literature. By enhancing their critical capabilities, the module will equip students to interrogate literary and non-literary texts to achieve a deeper understanding both of Japan and of foreign stereotypes of Japan. Students will express their findings in spoken and written Japanese, in classroom presentations and in essays. The module will provide a foundation for students to develop their interests more fully in subsequent work.

Learning Outcomes

1. Investigate and analyse topical issues in contemporary Japanese Society.
2. Describe how these issues are portrayed in Japanese and Western media.
3. Lead an advanced discussion on the topic in the target language.
4. Demonstrate research capabilities in the topic in the target language.
5. Evaluate critically and trace the development of the main themes in the representation of Japan in western literature.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent learning	101	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Lectures.
Tracing the development of stereotyped images of Japan in the West.Images of Women based on the historical relationship between the West and Japan.Western images of Japanese men.Wartime images of Japan.Western attitudes to and understanding of Japanese aesthetics and beauty.Western attitudes to and images of Japanese religionWestern images of Japanese nature.The use by Western writers and artists of images drawn from the range of stereotyped images of Japan, and deployed in commercial work, in popular art, in high art and in literature..

Audio visual supplementing lectures.
Sample of films and television programmes showing stereotypes of images of Japan and how that persisted.Western Advertisements availing of conventional images of Japan: Japanese traditional sports, Japanese traditional theatre forms; Japanese ‘high modern’ cyber art; Japan as a futuristic metropolis..

Literature.
Extracts from Japanese literary novels, as interpreted in Western media..

Classroom presentations.
Students choose a stereotyped image and give a presentation on the theme..

Essay.
Students write a terminal essay on the theme of their presentation..

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Essay	n/a	100%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Yoshio Sugimoto: 1997, An Introduction to Japanese Society, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England,
R. Mouer and Y. Sugimoto: 1980, Images of Japanese Society, Kegan Paul,
P.Dale: 1988, The Myth of Japanese Uniqueness,
Buruma Ian: 1984, A Japanese Mirror: Heroes and Villains of Japanese Culture, Jonathan Cape, London,

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

ALIS

BA in Applied Language and Intercultural

ALISI

BA in Applied Languages & Intercultural

ALIST

BA in Applied Language and Intercultural

IBLJ

BA in Inter. Business & Lang. (Japanese)