Time Schedule:
Andrea G. Arai
JSIS 484
Seattle Campus
Course content varies.
Class description
Media and Popular Culture in Japan: “Manga, Anime, J-Fashion, Superflat, Otaku, 2 Chanaru." Replacing representations of Japan as #1 with Japan (the) Cool, these forms of popular culture and new media have given birth to new movements and industries of worldwide connection. This course will focus on the history, aesthetics and technologies of popular culture in Japan. Some of the questions we will ask are: how is the transnational spread of Japanese popular culture altering our view of Japan and East Asia more generally? How are ideas of gender being affected by popular cultural gender representations? NEW, this year, is a class ethnographic project on Sakuracon-2013! This project will begin a one-day class visit to Sakuracon (courtesy of the convention organizers and for those who are able to join since this year Sakuracon begins prior to the start of classes on 3/29-31). We will spend this day observing, interviewing and for those who wish, participating in cosplay. We will follow up our visit with readings and in-class discussions of this convention, and others similar to it, and its role in popular culture.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
