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East Asian Studies

The 21st century has turned to Asia as a center of international trade, culture, and critical inquiry. The Department of East Asian Studies offers Brown students a window onto this vitally important corner of the world, whose civilizations reach back several millennia and whose cultural and economic ties extend throughout the globe. A vibrant community of teachers and undergraduates who work closely together in the spirit of free inquiry, the Department of East Asian Studies embodies Brown’s unique mission “to serve the community, the nation and the world.”

The Department offers several tiers of instruction in ChineseJapanese and Korean, with courses designed to accommodate students ranging from those who have never taken a class in the language before, to those hoping to hone their abilities at the highest levels. East Asian Studies also offers Brown students the opportunity to explore the visual, textual and religious cultures of East Asia through introductory and advanced courses on literature, film,  pilgrimage and translation, among others.

For additional information, please visit the department's website: http://www.brown.edu/academics/east-asian-studies/

Course usage information

CHIN 0100. Basic Chinese.

A year-long introduction to Standard Chinese (Mandarin). Speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. Five classroom meetings weekly. This is the first half of a year-long course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade submitted at the end of course work in CHIN 0200 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters.

Fall CHIN0100 S01 16924 MWF 9:00-9:50(09) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S01 16924 TTh 9:30-10:20(09) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S02 16925 MWF 10:00-10:50(14) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S02 16925 TTh 10:30-11:20(14) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S03 16926 MWF 1:00-1:50(08) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S03 16926 TTh 1:30-2:20(08) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S04 16927 MWF 2:00-2:50(01) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0100 S04 16927 TTh 2:30-3:20(01) (L. Hu)
Course usage information

CHIN 0150. Advanced Beginning Chinese.

A year-long intensive course designed for students with some prior knowledge of Chinese. Designed to enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Five classroom meetings weekly. Placement interview required. This is the first half of a year-long course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade submitted at the end of the course work in CHIN 0250 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters.

Course usage information

CHIN 0200. Basic Chinese.

A year-long introduction to Standard Chinese (Mandarin). Speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. Five classroom meetings weekly. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken CHIN 0100 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for CHIN 0100. If CHIN 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.

Spr CHIN0200 S01 25679 MWF 9:00-9:50(02) (L. Jiao)
Spr CHIN0200 S01 25679 TTh 9:30-10:20(02) (L. Jiao)
Spr CHIN0200 S02 25680 MWF 10:00-10:50(03) (L. Jiao)
Spr CHIN0200 S02 25680 TTh 10:30-11:20(03) (L. Jiao)
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CHIN 0250. Advanced Beginning Chinese.

A year-long intensive course designed for students with some prior knowledge of Chinese. Designed to enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Five classroom meetings weekly. Placement interview required. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken CHIN 0150 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for CHIN 0150. If CHIN 0150 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.

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CHIN 0300. Intermediate Chinese.

An intermediate course in Standard Chinese designed to further communicative competence and to develop reading and writing skills. Five classroom meetings weekly. Prerequisite: CHIN 0200 or permission of instructor.

Fall CHIN0300 S01 16929 MWF 12:00-12:50(15) (W. Chen)
Fall CHIN0300 S01 16929 TTh 12:00-12:50(15) (W. Chen)
Fall CHIN0300 S02 16930 MWF 1:00-1:50(08) (W. Chen)
Fall CHIN0300 S02 16930 TTh 1:00-1:50(08) (W. Chen)
Fall CHIN0300 S03 16931 MWF 2:00-2:50(01) (W. Chen)
Fall CHIN0300 S03 16931 TTh 2:30-3:20(01) (W. Chen)
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CHIN 0350. Elementary to Intermediate Chinese for Advanced Beginners.

This course is designed to enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for Chinese heritage students who have some prior knowledge of Chinese. Five classroom meetings weekly. Placement interview required.

Fall CHIN0350 S01 16937 TTh 12:00-12:50(14) (L. Hu)
Fall CHIN0350 S01 16937 MWF 10:00-10:50(14) (L. Hu)
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CHIN 0400. Intermediate Chinese.

An intermediate course in Standard Chinese designed to further communicative competence and to develop reading and writing skills. Five classroom meetings weekly. Prerequisite: CHIN 0300 or permission of instructor.

Spr CHIN0400 S01 25683 TTh 12:00-12:50(01) (W. Chen)
Spr CHIN0400 S01 25683 MWF 12:00-12:50(01) (W. Chen)
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CHIN 0450. Advanced Chinese for Heritage Learners.

This course is primarily designed for Chinese heritage students who have successfully completed CHIN 0350. If you have not taken CHIN0350, please contact the instructor for a proficiency evaluation. Upon completing this course, you can take CHIN 0700 or equivalent, i.e. courses that have a prerequisite of CHIN 0600. This is an advanced-level course offering comprehensive work on all four language skills, with a focus on developing your ability to use sophisticated grammatical structures, vocabulary, and improving your reading and speaking skills. Materials used in this course will include a textbook, supplementary articles, and video clips.

Spr CHIN0450 S01 25691 TTh 12:00-12:50(03) (L. Hu)
Spr CHIN0450 S01 25691 MWF 10:00-10:50(03) (L. Hu)
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CHIN 0500. Advanced Modern Chinese I.

An advanced course designed to enable students to read authentic materials. Students enhance their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills; improve their narrative and descriptive abilities; and learn to express abstract ideas both orally and in writing. Five classroom meetings weekly. Prerequisite: CHIN 0250 or CHIN 0400 or permission of instructor.

Fall CHIN0500 S01 16932 MWF 9:00-9:50(09) (J. Huang Hsieh)
Fall CHIN0500 S01 16932 TTh 9:00-9:50(09) (J. Huang Hsieh)
Fall CHIN0500 S02 16933 MWF 11:00-11:50(16) (J. Huang Hsieh)
Fall CHIN0500 S02 16933 TTh 11:00-11:50(16) (J. Huang Hsieh)
Fall CHIN0500 S03 16934 MWF 12:00-12:50(15) (J. Huang Hsieh)
Fall CHIN0500 S03 16934 TTh 12:00-12:50(15) (J. Huang Hsieh)
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CHIN 0600. Advanced Modern Chinese I.

An advanced course designed to enable students to read authentic materials. Students enhance their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills; improve their narrative and descriptive abilities; and learn to express abstract ideas both orally and in writing. Five classroom meetings weekly. Prerequisite: CHIN 0500 or permission of instructor.

Spr CHIN0600 S01 25686 MWF 9:00-9:50(02) (L. Su)
Spr CHIN0600 S01 25686 TTh 9:00-9:50(02) (L. Su)
Spr CHIN0600 S02 25687 MWF 11:00-11:50(04) (L. Su)
Spr CHIN0600 S02 25687 TTh 11:00-11:50(04) (L. Su)
Spr CHIN0600 S03 25688 MWF 12:00-12:50(01) (L. Su)
Spr CHIN0600 S03 25688 TTh 12:00-12:50(01) (L. Su)
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CHIN 0700. Advanced Modern Chinese II.

This course is designed to enhance the Chinese proficiency of those who have taken Advanced Modern Chinese I (CHIN 0600) or the equivalent. All four language skills are emphasized through selected authentic materials. At the end of the year, students should be able to express their ideas with sophistication and nuance. Drills on complex sentence patterns will be conducted when necessary. Prerequisite: CHIN 0600 or permission of instructor.

Fall CHIN0700 S01 16935 MWF 10:00-10:50(14) (Y. Wang)
Fall CHIN0700 S02 16936 MWF 11:00-11:50(16) (Y. Wang)
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CHIN 0710. Introduction to Classical Chinese.

This course aims to build on basic knowledge of reading Classical Chinese grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and to catch a glimpse of ancient Chinese wisdom. The class will use modern Chinese (Mandarin) to discuss classical texts. Readings are original works of prose and poetry dating from the 2nd to 12th century. Prerequisite: CHIN 0600. Instructor permission required.

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CHIN 0711. Two Sides of the Coin: Advanced Chinese Conversation.

Many of us know about the trolley scenario- would you kill one to save five? What do you think about organ trade- is it immoral for people to buy organs from the poor in order to save lives? What is your stance on the Affirmative Action? Did you know China has similar laws? The goal of this course is to develop your listening and speaking skills in Chinese by way of exploring morally debatable issues. Class materials will cover a broad range of topics and will not be limited to those unique to China. Prerequisite is CHIN 0600 or equivalent.

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CHIN 0712. Chinese Language in the Big Screen.

This course is designed for advanced Chinese language students who have completed CHIN 0600 or equivalent. You will gain language and culture proficiency through studying different genres of movies that reflect Chinese history, social issues and Chinese people’s values. The primary objective of this course is to further develop your language proficiency in meaningful and entertaining contexts. By conducting research into the films, creating video summary, and sharing your work with your fellow students, you will build up your interpretive and presentational skills. In place of a final written exam, you will be asked to produce a mini-film.

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CHIN 0800. Advanced Modern Chinese II.

See Advanced Modern Chinese II (CHIN 0700) for course description. Prerequisite: CHIN 0700 or permission of instructor.

Spr CHIN0800 S01 25689 MWF 10:00-10:50(03) (Y. Wang)
Spr CHIN0800 S02 25690 MWF 11:00-11:50(04) (Y. Wang)
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CHIN 0910. The Changing Face of China: Advanced Reading in Chinese Media.

This course is designed to help students develop advanced reading proficiency and formal oral and writing communication skills. Students will listen and read up-to-date news, reports and commentaries from various Chinese media sources, such as TV broadcasts, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Through reading and discussion, students will gain a better understanding of a wide range of current issues in a rapidly changing China, including economics, politics, education and popular culture. Class format varies from lecture, discussion, debate, and group and/or individual presentations. Prerequisites: CHIN 0800 or the equivalent.

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CHIN 0911. Business Chinese.

Business Chinese is an advanced Chinese course that aims to further improve students' comprehensive language ability and at the same time help students gain a basic understanding of China's current economic situation, business practices and workplace culture. The learning materials are adapted from authentic documents, business news reports, career reality shows, as well as MBA textbooks. The topics include case studies of Chinese and international companies, Chinese business culture, cross-cultural comparisons and job interview techniques.
It is expected that after completing this course, students will improve their four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in Chinese, be able to use professional terminology to participate in discussions on economic and business issues, and write simple business analysis reports. Students will also learn to search for information and conduct research on Chinese websites.

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CHIN 0912. Chinese Language and Culture.

This course is designed for advanced learners of Chinese to enhance their language proficiency, as well as to grasp essential skills to observe and appreciate Chinese culture from the perspective of language, especially through Chinese radicals, idioms, proverbs, taboos, verses, vernacular language and internet language. The teaching methods in this course include lecture, case studies, and heuristic approach etc. After taking this course, students are expected to have much deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture and be able to use the language in a near native and artistic way.

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CHIN 0913. Life, Trends, and History of Modern China.

This course is designed to continue developing students’ all four language skills through studying authentic materials of different forms (e.g. literature and films) and genres (e.g. stories and argumentative articles). Through the course readings, we will study how daily life in modern day China has been impacted by important past and current trends, traditions, social values and political policies. The course will offer intensive speaking and writing practice. Prerequisite: Chinese 0800 or equivalent.

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CHIN 1010. Stories from the Chinese Empire: Scholars, Demons and Swindlers.

This bilingual course introduces the culture and society of late imperial China by reading short stories, novels, prose essays between 1368 and 1911. To maintain students’ language skills, the lecture is primary in mandarin aided by English explanation. Students can choose to complete the assignments in either English or Chinese. The course explores the interwoven spectacular fantasy and societal reality of the imperial China. A chronological exposure to different cultural practice and social structures is organized under three rubrics, namely, scholar-official as social elite; merchants and courtesans as mobile agents; and criminals and demons as outcast.

Spr CHIN1010 S01 25642 TTh 1:00-2:20(08) (K. Chen)
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CHIN 1040. Modern Chinese Literature.

Introduces students to the most representative writers in 20th century China. Emphasizes textual and historical analyses. Major issues include Westernization, nationalism, revolution, class, gender, and literary innovations. Designated primarily as a literature course, rather than language class, and conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese. Prerequisite: CHIN 0800. Instructor permission required.

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CHIN 2450. Exchange Scholar Program.

Fall CHIN2450 S01 16544 Arranged 'To Be Arranged'
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EAST 0010. Beyond Orientalism: Understanding “East Asia”.

This course explores the cultural and ideological foundations of the region we call “East Asia,” from prehistoric times to the present day. After interrogating the colonial origins of the Euro-American concept of “East Asia,” we will examine the historical distinctions, interactions, and mutual influences that shaped the regions and peoples now associated with the countries of China, Japan, and Korea. In addition exploring systems of status and political power--including class, race/ethnicity, and gender--the course will expose students to the rich religious, literary, and artistic traditions developed within and across the East Asian region.

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EAST 0040. Foundations of Chinese Religions (RELS 0040).

Interested students must register for RELS 0040.

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EAST 0100. Introduction to Buddhism (RELS 0100).

Interested students must register for RELS 0100.

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EAST 0130. Sex, Gender, and Society in Imperial China.

This course examines the changing nature of gender relations across China’s imperial period, from roughly 200 BCE to the early twentieth century. From early cosmological ideas about yin and yang, to the policies of the Qing dynasty in the late 19th century, we will see how gender relations intersected with philosophical ideals, political agendas, religious values, and economic developments. We will examine the kinds of choices that were available to men and women at various points in time, and explore the ways that they navigated those choices to construct meaningful lives.

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EAST 0140. Childhood and Culture in Japan.

This seminar offers students an interdisciplinary look at how children became central to social life in modern Japan. What set of historical and philosophical conditions made childhood newly visible in the late 19th century? How has the relationship between the marketplace and childhood evolved over the past hundred years? How have class, gender, ethnicity and sexuality inflected the ways childhood has been experienced? Students will analyze different cultural texts for and about children (early fairy tales, comic books, propaganda, film) in relation to critical essays drawn from a variety of disciplines.

Fall EAST0140 S01 17232 TTh 9:00-10:20(05) (S. Perry)
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EAST 0141. Catastrophic Japan.

Japan is a place where catastrophic events have occurred more frequently and done more damage over the last century and a half than they have in all but a handful of other locations on the planet. This seminar examines how massive earthquakes, destructive tsunami, the firebombing of Tokyo, the obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by atomic weapons, and large-scale exposures to toxic substances and radiation have shaped Japan’s modern history. We will explore the debates over how best to mitigate the effects of “natural” and technological hazards, and analyze the role played by popular culture in shaping the meanings assigned to catastrophes past, present and future.

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EAST 0150. Language, Culture, and Society: Korea.

This course aims to look into the interaction between language, culture and society. It will specifically examine the role of language in myriads of social contexts with special focus on Korean society. Topics to be covered in this course include language contact (e.g. with Japan and China), language variation (e.g. regional, generational, gender), language and identity, language and social class, language perceptions and attitudes, language education in a social context, and so on. Knowledge of the Korean language is preferred but not required.

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EAST 0160. Buried History, Hidden Wonders: Discovering East Asian Archaeology (ARCH 0160).

Interested students must register for ARCH 0160.

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EAST 0290E. Engaged Buddhism (RELS 0290E).

Interested students must register for RELS 0290E.

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EAST 0303. Literature, Science, and Technology in China.

This course explores relations between Chinese science, technical know-how, and literary writings in early modern and contemporary China. The course encourages students to re-define science and technology in the context of China’s changing Confucian education system, booming market economy, and the multiethnic empire and explores the impact of imperial legacy in scientific imagination in contemporary China. By drawing on materials from local museums as well as latest Chinese science fictions, we will investigate the ways in which knowledge about medicine, handicrafts, and foreign lands transformed the form and content of novels and belle-lettres.

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EAST 0304. Words on Things: Literature and Material Culture in Early Modern China.

This course examines Chinese literary representation of artifacts written between 1000 to 1900 CE. Our discussion will highlight international trade and the transforming science and technology in early modern China. The course aims to guide students to conduct inter-artistic analysis as a means to decipher the political, religious, gendered, and technical significance embedded in literary representation of material objects. To emphasize a comparative perspective, we will also draw on scholarship outside of the field of Chinese literature. We will explore artifacts in the following categories: illustration, painting and calligraphy, seals, ceramics, furniture, and textile.

Spr EAST0304 S01 25641 TTh 10:30-11:50(09) (K. Chen)
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EAST 0305. China Modern: An Introduction to the Literature of Twentieth-Century China.

A general introduction to modern and contemporary Chinese literature from the May Fourth Movement to contemporary Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. Emphasizes reading of literary works in relation to topics such as cultural tradition, modernity, nationalism, revolution, class, gender, region, cultural commodification, and literary innovations. Readings in English. No previous knowledge of Chinese required.

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EAST 0306. Literature and Science in Early Modern China.

This course explores the relations between Chinese literature and the studies of nature and technological know-how from 1368 to 1911. Introducing recent insight in the history of science and technology, the course challenges students to re-define science in the context of the changing Confucian curriculum, the booming market economy, and the multiethnic empire. The course investigates the ways in which the form and content of poetry, novel, and essays transformed because of their appropriation of knowledge about medicine, handicraft, and foreign lands. Topics include: encyclopedia for merchants, carpenters’ spell, autofiction of Confucian engineers, novel medicine, and so on.

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EAST 0307. China Through the Lens: History, Cinema, and Critical Discourse.

This is a critical introduction to the history of mainland Chinese film. It focuses on three dimensions of cinematic practice: the historical context of film productions, the specific context/form of each film, and the critical reception of Chinese films in film studies. Important themes such as nation, visual modernity, cinematic narrative, and commercialism will be studied across the three dimensions.

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EAST 0401. Japan: Nature, Ritual, and the Arts.

This course is an introduction to Japanese culture and aesthetics as represented in pre-modern literature, drama, tea practices, landscape and the fine arts. Recurring themes include Japanese attitudes toward the natural world; traditional conceptions of beauty; and the function of ritual in artistic cultivation. The course is designed for students who have no previous exposure to Japanese studies at the college level; no prerequisites.

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EAST 0402. Japan's Floating World.

An introduction to visual, literary, and dramatic expressions of Japan’s moral and aesthetic values in the early modern period (17th-19th centuries). We will seek to identify recurring intellectual and cultural patterns, as illustrated in woodblock prints, Kabuki, puppet theatre, and popular fiction, with an eye to connections with later popular culture. Course materials are primary readings in translation, secondary scholarship, and audiovisual works. No previous knowledge of Japan or Japanese language is expected.

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EAST 0403. Off the Beaten Path: A Survey of Modern Japanese Literature.

An introduction to major and minor works of Japanese literature produced during the Japanese Empire as well as in post-WWII Japan. Covered writers include canonical novelists such as Tanizaki Junichiro, Kawabata Yasunari, and Oe Kenzaburo, as well as writers lesser known outside of Japan today, including women, queers, revolutionaries and colonial/resident Koreans.

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EAST 0405. From Basho to Banana: Four Centuries of Japanese Literature.

This course explores classic writers of Japanese literature written between 1600 and 2000. We will focus on both the specificity of Japanese genre as well as the historical, social relations that have shaped them--Edo merchant culture, modernism, the avant-garde, mass culture and postmoderism, among others. Writers covered will include Ihara Saikaku, Jippensha Ikku, Higuchi Ichiyo, Natsume Soseki, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Tanizaki Junichiro and Yoshimoto Banana. No prerequisites.

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EAST 0409. Sinners and Seers in Japanese Literature.

Exploration of Japanese Buddhist sensibilities as expressed in poetry, popular tales, drama, and fiction. Recurring themes include wrongdoing and its karmic consequences; renunciation; tension between aesthetic and religious commitments; pilgrimage as creative process; the role of nature in the quest for enlightenment. Reading and discussion in a seminar-style format. A previous course in Buddhism or East Asian culture is helpful but not required. Counts for concentration credit in Religious Studies and East Asian Studies.

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EAST 0410. Introduction to East Asian Civilization: China (HIST 0410).

Interested students must register for HIST 0410.

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EAST 0411. Diplomats, Drunkards, and Anarchists: Competing Visions of the Future in Japan’s Global Past.

This course offers a broad introduction to the global and transnational dimensions of a cornerstone event in modern East Asian history: the ‘Opening’ of Japan. This historical moment connected the country with the wider world in a myriad of contradictory ways. It produced the first non-Western nation state to join the ranks of colonial ‘Great Powers’. It also inspired anti-imperialists and critics of Western modernity throughout the world: from Black internationalists and Muslim intellectuals to environmental activists and anarchist revolutionaries. We will study various sources, methods, and theories to make sense of these and many more cross-border connections. We will also reflect on competing notions of historical progress that inform our interpretations of the past. By the end of the course, students will have acquired foundational knowledge and skills to scour the past for lost imaginations of the future.

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EAST 0412. Off the Beaten Path: The Diversity of Modern Japanese Literature (COLT 0711O).

Interested students must register for COLT 0711O.

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EAST 0501. Korean Youth, Identity, and Nation.

Youth contribute greatly to Korea’s brand and GNP (BTS, Black Pink), yet suffer from the OECD countries’ highest youth unemployment rate. Abroad, Korean youth are a silenced “model minority,” mediating assimilation and parental pressures. Introducing modern history, from Confucianism, education, politics, militarism, immigration, to adoption, this interdisciplinary course will analyze recent media (Kdramas, Minari, Minor Feelings) mirroring identity production today, but through the eyes of Korea’s youth and their complicated relationship to Korean society. We will study compressed modernity, cram schools, gender, the cult of masculinity, the church, the LGBTQ community, eSports, youth mental health, and post-graduation futurities.

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EAST 0531. Complicating Korean History: Topics and Issues.

Korea is known for its musicians, serene palaces, and North Korea. Under these ubiquitous stereotypes, however, it has an even more fascinating culture and history, punctuated by numerous invasions, colonialism, and division. In this inter-disciplinary survey course, we explore various facets of Korea North and South, from foundation myths to contemporary life and address Korean history broadly, examining key debates around origins, colonialism, and division. We move chronologically through major cultural, political, economic moments that inform Korean identity, arriving at the particulars of North and South Korea today, from daily life, gender, the diaspora, to KPop, and consider peninsular futurity.

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EAST 0532. Korean Controversies and Negotiations: Moving Beyond Colonial Origins of National Division.

Covering the broad sweep of Korean modernity and contemporary history, this course will introduce and debate the most fundamental and contested issues in Korea today. In this theme-based course, students will have the opportunity to consider and debate these topics in an informed and balanced context which takes into account several perspectives of debate, through informed lectures and historical insights. These conversations will equip students to negotiate Korean identity and politics within a larger global context, beyond the Korean nation into the boardrooms of global corporate entities, the United Nations conference and other professional environments, outside the ivory tower.

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EAST 0533. Beyond Gangnam Style: Seoul, Dislocation, and the Search for Place.

Seoul has become a celebrated cultural hub both within Asia and globally. However, underneath the glitter of modernity visible in the urban sprawl of Seoul’s “Gangnam Style” are forgotten stories, stratified claims, and a tumultuous history covering 35 years of Japanese rule, a war, and the ongoing presence of 28,500 American troops. This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to Seoul incorporating history, urban culture, literature and visual media, and engage key concepts informing the burgeoning field of Korean studies. Attention will be given to contestations over space, IT infrastructure, architectural spaces, and the emergence of new subjectivities.

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EAST 0534. Patriots, Communists, and Traitors in Modern Korea.

Korean history and politics is polarized by labels of "patriot," "traitor," "right wing," and "communist." Considering global capitalism and its complicity with colonialism, this course will examine Korea following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and 1919 post-Wilsonian moments, and understand how these international events changed domestic politics. Through close readings of key historical documents, we will uncover the colonial origins of Korean Communism and radicalism, which both still hold great influence on the popular imagination and effect contemporary society in the two Koreas in complicated ways.

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EAST 0610A. The Far Side of the Old World: Perspectives on Chinese Culture (COLT 0610A).

Interested students must register for COLT 0610A.

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EAST 0701. Empire and its Aftermath: Modern Culture in Japan and the Koreas.

This course introduces the modern cultures of Japan and Korea through an examination of events, artifacts, and cultural practices. With a broad understanding of culture as a general process of artistic and intellectual development, as a body of material artifacts, and as a social practice of ordinary life, attention will be brought to the relationship of high culture, popular media and political activism to the abiding structures of empire. Topics covered may include: early colonial fiction, the re-creation of tradition, the proletarian arts, myth in the DPRK, ethnic minority experience, the globalization of popular culture, girls' culture, and translational activism.

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EAST 0710U. Leaves of Words: A Survey of Japanese Literature (COLT 0710U).

Interested students must register for COLT 0710U.

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EAST 0910D. Two Virgins in the Attic: Advanced Japanese Readings in Canonical and Popular Literature (JAPN0910D).

Interested students must register for JAPN 0910D.

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EAST 1120K. Skeptical Traditions East and West (CLAS 1120K).

Interested students must register for CLAS 1120K.

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EAST 1202E. Extreme Asian Cinema: Contemporary Genre Cinemas in an East Asian Context (MCM 1202E).

Interested students must register for MCM 1202E.

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EAST 1210. Imagining Modern China.

This course introduces students to the literary and cultural milestones in twentieth-century China, highlighting the capacity of literature as a form of historical engagement and ethical reasoning. Featuring masterpieces by mainland Chinese as well as Sinophone and ethnic minority writers, and translation works and critically acclaimed films, the course unpacks the multivalence of Chinese literary and cultural modernity as well as that of the very term “China.” Issues for discussion include translation and intercultural encounters, nationalism, tradition, gender, the revolutionary legacy, cultural identity, diaspora, and literary citizenship. All readings and discussions are in English.

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EAST 1230. Edo Woodblock Printing.

This course provides an introduction to Japanese art and cultural history through a survey of woodblock print media from its emergence in the mid-17th century to the end of the early modern era. Topics for consideration include East Asian pictorial traditions, the publishing industry, censorship, social identity, and specialist print communities. The course will track the development of Japanese woodblock printing from its origins in printed books and monochrome prints, and the transition to hand-coloring and multi-colored printing that facilitated a highly nuanced media form, via the publishing industry’s shifting relationship with the authorities, and influences from China and the West.

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EAST 1301. Word for Word: Linguistic Principles in Chinese-English Translation.

English has tense, Chinese has aspect; English has inflection and conjugation, and Chinese uses word order and function words to sort out syntactic structures. This course will explore and bridge such great differences between the two languages through linguistic readings and translation exercises.
Prerequisite: two years of Chinese study or the equivalent proficiency.

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EAST 1302. Returnees in China's Modernization.

This course examines the impact on contemporary China of returnees, people who having left China to study abroad have now returned home and become reintegrated into society.  Focusing on a series of in-depth studies of returnees who have carved out professional identities in the commercial world, the state, and civil society. The returnee experience will be examined from 2 angles:  the manner by which contemporary returnees negotiate Chinese tradition and Western learning, and the differences between this cohort's experience and that of previous generations of returnees in China’s now century and a half long period of modernization.

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EAST 1303. Chinese: A History of the Language.

This course traces the historical evolution of modern Chinese, commonly known as Mandarin. We will examine the uniqueness of Chinese characters, and explore their relationship to other features of the language, including word formation, phonology, grammar, and dialects. The goal will be to understand the manner by which the written script has become so central to the development of Chinese civilization.

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EAST 1304. Crafting Early Modern China: Handicraft, Witchcraft and Statecraft.

This course examines how Chinese cultural industry was shaped by socio-political institutions and religious practice between 1400 and 1900 CE. The course highlights the concept of craft, broadly understood as the ways of making artifacts and building social community by using environmental resources and through micro-political negotiations in everyday life. The course aims to equip students in ways to decipher the political, religious and gendered significance embedded in cultural products, including literature and decorative arts. We will explore artifacts from the following categories: literary illustration, painting and calligraphy, seals, ceramics, furniture, and textiles. Prerequisites: None.

Fall EAST1304 S01 17223 M 3:00-5:30(03) (K. Chen)
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EAST 1310. Silk Road Fictions.

The course introduces students to cross-cultural comparative work, and to critical issues in East-West studies in particular. We will base our conversations on a set of texts related to the interconnected histories and hybrid cultures of the ancient Afro-Eurasian Silk Roads. Readings will include ancient travel accounts (e.g., the Chinese novel Journey to the West, Marco Polo); modern fiction and film (e.g., Inoue Yasushi, Wole Soyinka); and modern critical approaches to the study of linguistic and literary-cultural contact (e.g., Lydia Liu, Emily Apter, Mikhail Bakhtin, Edward Said). Topics will include bilingual texts, loanwords, race and heritage, Orientalism. No prior knowledge of the topic is expected and all texts will be available in English.

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EAST 1370. Performances in the Asias (TAPS 1270).

Interested students must register for TAPS 1270.

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EAST 1401. Japanese Linguistics: Communication and Understanding Utterances.

Introduces a linguistic analysis of Japanese language to attain an overview of structure and a foundation for understanding how grammar relates to various modes of communication. Topics include discourse analysis, pragmatics, communicative intention, communication strategies, and intercultural communication gaps. Linguistic data is drawn from films and fiction. Prerequisite: basic knowledge of Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and linguistics. Enrollment limited to 20. Basic knowledge of Japanese language and general linguistics. Consult with the instructor.

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EAST 1403. Buddhist Classics.

An opportunity to read and understand the canonical texts of East Asian Buddhism. Through close reading, written analysis, and discussion, participants will become conversant with the major Mahayana Buddhist teachings in their original scriptural or literary articulations. Selected later interpretations may also be considered. All readings are in English translation. Previous study of Buddhism is recommended, but not required. Enrollment limited to 10 students.

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EAST 1410N. Lost in Translation: The Adaptation of Literature to Film in Japan (COLT 1410N).

Interested students must register for COLT 1410N.

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EAST 1415A. Classical Daoist Thought (RELS 1415A).

Interested students must register for RELS 1415A.

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EAST 1420. The Confucian Mind.

This course explores the Neo-Confucian tradition, a pervasive influence in the intellectual, educational, and political life of China, Korea, and Japan from late medieval through early modern times. Emphasis is on conceptions of the mind and their implications for moral cultivation and social action; the legacy of Confucian values in modern East Asia may also be considered. Readings are primary texts in translation and selected secondary works; the format is primarily discussion. Recommended prerequisite: RELS 0040. Not open to first year students. Enrollment limited to 20.

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EAST 1430. Classics of East Asian Buddhism (RELS 1430).

Interested students must register for RELS 1430.

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EAST 1430C. Classical Japanese Poetry (COLT 1430C).

Interested students must register for COLT 1430C.

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EAST 1430T. Leaves of Words: Japanese Poetry and Poetics (COLT 1430T).

Interested students must register for COLT 1430T.

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EAST 1440. Themes in Japanese Buddhism: Original Enlightenment (RELS 1440).

Interested students must register for RELS 1440.

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EAST 1501. Korean Culture and Film.

This course aims to introduce and explore various aspects of Korean history, culture and society. Students are expected to develop a comprehensive understanding of Korean culture by examining contemporary films that pertain to issues such as national identity, history, international relations, religion, Korean life style, and family life. Enrollment limited to 20.

Spr EAST1501 S01 25631 W 3:00-5:30(10) (H. Wang)
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EAST 1502. The Korea Brand: Understanding KPop, Film, and Culture of the Two Koreas in the Global Context.

The global media has recently showcased two newsworthy events related to Korea: BTS at the 2018 BMAs, and the Inter-Korea Summit. This course examines the arrival of “Korea” globally, from the West’s fascination with the North Korean nuclear crises, to the hype around KPop, KFilm, cosmetics, food, and eSports. We will question the fascination with NK in US media outlets, versus its treatment in SK media. The ways in which the particular, local, and authentic, within Korean cultural production negotiates the global market is of particular interest.

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EAST 1503. Korean Film and Culture: The Appeal of Korean Film.

This introductory course offers an overview of Korean film production from its colonial beginnings to the present, linking film with major historical, political and cultural events or shifts over the past century. Topically organized, the course will explore issues of cultural identity in the ways that the domestic movie industry has interacted with the foreign filmic audience. Focusing on how film narratives can influence (rather than reflect) social reality, we will analyze the imagination and construction of national identity and cultural tradition (and its critique) across these films.

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EAST 1504. Asia Extreme: Beauty and Violence in Korean Media.

Korean films are often identifiable within two distinct tropes – the beautiful, tranquil Orient and a violent, frenetic hyper-modernity. Koreans, however, grapple with identifying themselves and their modern experiences differently beyond how the international community and the “West” sees them – as the exotic “East.” Seeking to understand and complicate this dichotomy, we will explore how Korea has struggled to hone and complicate national identity (their critique, their futurities) through film, and examine how Korea has been struggling since the 1990s to overcome the national in the face of globalization and cosmopolitanism to address the local and the liminal.

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EAST 1505. Two Koreas.

This course aims to look beyond larger regional politics and the security issues to the “invisible” North Korea – its culture, everyday life, films, and literature, within the general parameters of peninsular Korean history. We will begin with a detailed look into the formation of the North and South Korean states, and will continue on, focusing on the cultural and political history of North Korea. Most effort will be given, however, to dismantling conventional media coverage and representations, and to understanding how symbols, propaganda and media have affected the lives of millions of North Koreans in their everyday lived experiences.

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EAST 1510. Chinese: A History of the Language.

This course traces the historical evolution of modern Chinese, commonly known as Mandarin. We will examine the uniqueness of Chinese characters, and explore their relationship to other features of the language, including word formation, phonology, grammar, and dialects. The goal will be to understand the manner by which the written script has become so central to the development of Chinese civilization.

Fall EAST1510 S01 17233 W 3:00-5:30(10) (Z. Li)
Spr EAST1510 S01 25644 T 4:00-6:30(16) (Z. Li)
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EAST 1510A. China's Late Empires (HIST 1510A).

Interested students must register for HIST 1510A.

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EAST 1530. Modern Korea (HIST 1530).

Interested students must register for HIST 1530.

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EAST 1540. Power, Profit, and Pillage: The Rise and Fall of Trading Kingdoms in Asia (ANTH 1540).

Interested students must register for ANTH 1540.

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EAST 1701. Women's Literature in Japan and Korea.

This course focuses on Japanese and Korean women's literature from the modern period, giving particular attention to the historical issues and the narrative strategies that play out in celebrated works of women's fiction. The goal of the class is to deepen our understanding of the universal and particular aspects of women's writing in Japan and Korea and at the same time to learn an idiom with which to talk about literary form. Previous coursework in East Asian Studies or Literary Studies is suggested but not required. Instructor permission required.

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EAST 1702. Pacific Indigeneities: From Māori Mythology to James Cameron’s Avatar.

What is indigeneity? The answer is all but straightforward, especially in the context of the Western Pacific. We will examine a deeply eclectic mix of sources of Pacific indigeneity – from Māori Mythology, the Kuroshio Current, and Okinawan cuisine to Southeast Asian revolutionary thought, Oceanian cosmology, and James Cameron’s Avatar. In doing so, we will lay bare the intricacies of the concept of indigeneity as they relate to one of the world’s hotbeds of bio- and linguistic diversity. Paying close attention to forms of knowledge production both within and beyond the academy, this course explores Pacific manifestations of the global indigenous movement.

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EAST 1704. Anarchisms in Asia and Beyond.

This course examines the transnational legacy of anarchist thought and action as it emerged in various places in Asia from the 19 th century onward. We will explore anarchism as a worldly phenomenon rather than an import from ‘the West’ – paying special attention to how it emerged out of connections between aristocrats, commoners, colonial bureaucrats, plantation workers, first-wave feminists, and ethnographers in Japan, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and elsewhere. Working with primary source materials will give you a taste of what it is like to be a scholar of transnational intellectual history – a detective and storyteller in one.

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EAST 1810X. Mirror for the Romantic: The Tale of the Gengi and The Story of the Stone (COLT 1810X).

Interested students must register for COLT 1810X.

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EAST 1811L. Travel and Tourism through the Ages (COLT 1811L).

Interested students must register for COLT 1811L.

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EAST 1910. Independent Study.

Sections numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

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EAST 1920. Senior Reading and Research: Selected Topics.

Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

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EAST 1931. Market Economy, Popular Culture, and Mass Media in Contemporary China.

Course focuses on mainland Chinese cultural and media production since the mid 1980's, when China began transforming itself culturally and economically into a capitalist society with socialist characteristics. Traditional values, socialist legacy, commercial forces, and globalization have all played significant roles in the ongoing transformation. The goal of the course is to examine the complex interactions among diverse historical forces in a rapidly changing China. Course taught in Mandarin Chinese.

Spr EAST1931 S01 25629 M 3:00-5:30(13) (L. Wang)
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EAST 1932. Chinese Women, Gender and Feminism from Historical and Transnational Perspectives.

This seminar course is designed to critically re-evaluate (re)presentations of Chinese women, gender, and feminism in historical, literary, and academic discourses. It examines a diverse body of texts produced through different historical periods and in different geopolitical locations. It emphasizes gender as both a historical construct(s) among competing discourses and as a material process of individual embodiment and disembodiment. The goal of the course is to help advanced students understand Chinese history from a distinctly gendered perspective, to recognize women's roles in history and writing, and to develop a reflective, cross-cultural approach to gender, politics, and the self.

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EAST 1935. Prose of the World: Understanding Late Imperial China through Fiction and Belles-Lettres.

This course introduces the culture and society of late imperial China through fiction and prose written between 1368 and 1911. The course aims to analyze literary work as the interface of social development and cultural renovation. A chronological exposure to various geographical regions is structured under three conceptual frameworks: cultural belatedness as abundant historical reference; early modernity as commercialization; and pre-modern China encountering the world. The balanced selection of readings in four major literary genres, written by male and female authors, cover topics including: social uprising, the imperial court, civil examination, diplomacy, urban market, travel, religious cult, and courtesan culture. Prerequisites: None.

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EAST 1936. Memory and Justice in East Asia.

How does history affect the present, the political, the social, and the personal around East Asia? What are the social mechanisms and frameworks of affect and knowledge that have shaped historical memories of humiliation, violence, trauma, and culpability? This seminar focuses on several key topics to explore modern modes of remembering and justice seeking including: mapping memory; imperialism and the museum; wartime conduct and war crimes trials; political violence and transitional justice; and grassroots organizing, community justice, ritual actions, and other non-state memory work. Final projects can be web portfolios or podcasts on an event or phenomenon of your choice.

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EAST 1937. From Desktop to Stage: Drama and Performance in Late Imperial China.

This course examines the multiple social and aesthetic functions of late imperial Chinese theatre between 1368 and 1840: theatre as lyrical self-expression, political action,ideological propaganda, and/or religious ritual. Close examination of translated plays and their sociohistoric contexts are combined with multimedial approaches that explore woodblock illustration, stage adaptation, and film related to the selected plays. The course covers topics that range from literati masterpieces, theatrical training, props and costumes, regional theatres, to women’s ballads. Prerequisites: Some knowledge of Chinese history is preferred but not mandated.

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EAST 1941. Translating Japanese: Short Fiction, Poetry, Film and Manga.

This seminar/workshop discusses a broad range of narrative arts produced over the past 100 years in Japan, and practices the art of translating them. Drawing rigor from the field of linguistics and translation theory, we shall make central to our effort of analyzing Japanese cultural productions an attentiveness to the historicity of language and a self-consciousness of our roles as cultural interpreters. While the course will focus on mid-20th century Japanese short fiction, we will also work on poetry, music, manga, animation, and film, depending on the interests of enrolled students. Pre-requisites: JAPN 0600 or equivalent. Instructor permission required.

Fall EAST1941 S01 17224 Th 4:00-6:30(04) (S. Perry)
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EAST 1942. Queer Japan: Culture, History and Sexuality.

This seminar investigates cultural practices enacted by Japanese gays and lesbians, or otherwise related to same-sex attraction. How have sexual identities traditionally been constructed in Japan, and how has the modern period transformed them? How has same-sex sexuality become figured in the Japanese art, literature and popular culture of the 20th century; and how have the forces of a global LGBT culture interacted with the specific experiences of a same-sex community in Japan? This class explores questions about queer history, writing and cultural practice by looking at particular moments in the Japanese past and present.

Spr EAST1942 S01 25640 F 3:00-5:30(15) (S. Perry)
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EAST 1980. Reading and Writing of the Honors Thesis.

Prior admission to honors candidacy required. Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

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EAST 1981. Reading and Writing of the Honors Thesis.

Prior admission to honors candidacy required. Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

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EAST 2450. Exchange Scholar Program.

Fall EAST2450 S01 16556 Arranged 'To Be Arranged'
Spr EAST2450 S01 25220 Arranged 'To Be Arranged'
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EAST XLIST. Courses of Interest to Concentrators.

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JAPN 0100. Basic Japanese.

Introduction to Japanese language. Emphasizes the attainment of good spoken control of Japanese and develops a foundation of literacy. No prerequisites. This is the first half of a year-long course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade submitted at the end of the course work in JAPN 0200 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters. The East Asian Studies department wishes to provide language instruction to all interested students. If you are unable to register for this course due to enrollment limits but are dedicated to learning Japanese, please contact the instructor via email.

Fall JAPN0100 S01 16980 MWF 9:00-9:50(09) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S01 16980 TTh 9:00-10:30(09) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S02 16981 MWF 10:00-10:50(14) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S02 16981 TTh 10:30-12:00(14) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S03 16982 MWF 11:00-11:50(16) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S03 16982 TTh 1:00-2:30(16) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S04 16983 MWF 1:00-1:50(08) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S04 16983 TTh 2:30-4:00(08) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S05 16984 MWF 5:40-6:30(02) (N. McPherson)
Fall JAPN0100 S05 16984 TTh 6:40-8:00PM(02) (N. McPherson)
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JAPN 0150. Advanced Beginning Japanese.

Designed for those who have had high-school Japanese or other Japanese language experience. An opportunity to organize previous knowledge of Japanese and develop a firm basis of spoken and written Japanese. Prerequisite: Reading and writing knowledge of Hiragana, Katakana, and some Kanji. Placement test required. This is the first half of a year-long course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade submitted at the end of the course work in JAPN 0250 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters. The East Asian Studies department wishes to provide language instruction to all interested students. If you are unable to register for this course due to enrollment limits but are dedicated to learning Japanese, please contact the instructor via email.

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JAPN 0200. Basic Japanese.

Introduction to Japanese language. Emphasizes the attainment of good spoken control of Japanese and develops a foundation of literacy. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken JAPN 0100 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for JAPN 0100. If JAPN 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing. The East Asian Studies department wishes to provide language instruction to all interested students. If you are unable to register for this course due to enrollment limits but are dedicated to learning Japanese, please contact the instructor via email.

Spr JAPN0200 S01 25712 MWF 9:00-9:50(02) (A. Borgmann)
Spr JAPN0200 S01 25712 TTh 9:00-10:20(02) (A. Borgmann)
Spr JAPN0200 S02 25713 MWF 10:00-10:50(03) (A. Borgmann)
Spr JAPN0200 S02 25713 TTh 10:30-11:50(03) (A. Borgmann)
Spr JAPN0200 S05 25716 MWF 5:30-6:20(18) (A. Yamakawa)
Spr JAPN0200 S05 25716 TTh 6:40-8:00PM(18) (A. Yamakawa)
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JAPN 0250. Advanced Beginning Japanese.

Designed for those who have had high-school Japanese or other Japanese language experience. An opportunity to organize previous knowledge of Japanese and develop a firm basis of spoken and written Japanese. Prerequisite: Reading and writing knowledge of Hiragana, Katakana and some Kanji. Placement test required. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken JAPN 0150 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for JAPN 0150. If JAPN 0150 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing. The East Asian Studies department wishes to provide language instruction to all interested students. If you are unable to register for this course due to enrollment limits but are dedicated to learning Japanese, please contact the instructor via email.

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JAPN 0300. Intermediate Japanese.

Further practice of patterns and structures of the language. Readings are introduced on aspects of Japanese culture and society to develop reading and writing skills, enhance vocabulary, and provide points of departure for conversation in Japanese. Prerequisite: JAPN 0200 or equivalent. The East Asian Studies department wishes to provide language instruction to all interested students. If you are unable to register for this course due to enrollment limits but are dedicated to learning Japanese, please contact the instructor via email.

Fall JAPN0300 S01 17159 MWF 11:00-11:50(16) (N. Tatsumi)
Fall JAPN0300 S01 17159 TTh 11:00-11:50(16) (N. Tatsumi)
Fall JAPN0300 S02 17160 MWF 12:00-12:50(15) (N. Tatsumi)
Fall JAPN0300 S02 17160 TTh 12:00-12:50(15) (N. Tatsumi)
Fall JAPN0300 S03 17161 MTWThF 3:00-3:50 (N. Tatsumi)
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JAPN 0400. Intermediate Japanese.

See Intermediate Japanese (JAPN 0300) for course description. Prerequisite: JAPN 0300 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 18.

Spr JAPN0400 S01 25717 MWF 11:00-11:50(04) (N. Tatsumi)
Spr JAPN0400 S01 25717 TTh 11:00-11:50(04) (N. Tatsumi)
Spr JAPN0400 S02 25718 MWF 12:00-12:50(01) (N. Tatsumi)
Spr JAPN0400 S02 25718 TTh 12:00-12:50(01) (N. Tatsumi)
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JAPN 0401. Japanese Language Through Popular Culture.

Japanese pop culture has been disseminated worldwide and it is one of the top reasons why people start studying Japanese today. This content-based language course examines various aspects of Japanese pop culture including but not limited to manga, anime, and video games. While students discuss topics related to Japanese pop culture, they will also learn grammar structures that enable them to write formal essays in Japanese. Through the materials of Japanese pop culture, students will also develop the skills needed to succeed in today’s world, such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, digital literacy, and communication. Above all, this course will emphasize creativity and help students learn how to attract people.

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JAPN 0500. Advanced Japanese I.

Continued practice in reading, writing, and speaking. Emphasizes the development of reading proficiency and speaking in cultural contexts. Students read actual articles and selections from Japanese newspapers. Course includes translation, with writing and discussion in Japanese. Films and video tapes are shown as supplementary materials. Prerequisite: JAPN 0400 or equivalent.

Fall JAPN0500 S01 17218 MWF 10:00-10:50(14) (A. Yamakawa)
Fall JAPN0500 S01 17218 TTh 12:00-12:50(14) (A. Yamakawa)
Fall JAPN0500 S02 17219 MWF 1:00-1:50(08) (A. Yamakawa)
Fall JAPN0500 S02 17219 TTh 1:00-1:50(08) (A. Yamakawa)
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JAPN 0600. Advanced Japanese I.

See Advanced Japanese I (JAPN 0500) for course description.

Spr JAPN0600 S01 25720 TTh 12:00-12:50(03) (A. Yamakawa)
Spr JAPN0600 S01 25720 MWF 10:00-10:50(03) (A. Yamakawa)
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JAPN 0700. Advanced Japanese II.

Reading of articles from Japan's press with discussion in Japanese. Focuses on explanations and drills on the fine points in grammar and vocabulary as well as on the practice of writing in various styles. Movies and video tapes are used as supplementary materials. Prerequisite: JAPN 0600 or equivalent.

Fall JAPN0700 S01 17220 MWF 2:00-2:50(01) (S. Hiramatsu)
Fall JAPN0700 C01 17221 W 1:00-1:50 'To Be Arranged'
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JAPN 0710. Japanese Cities: Tokyo and Kyoto.

The goal of this course is to develop the ability to use Japanese source materials for research in social sciences. Course covers lifestyles in two contrasting cities, Tokyo and Kyoto. Topics include topography, environmental issues, houses, urban life-styles, and natural habitation. We will ask questions: why houses are so compact in cities; why crows and boars pick on garbage, etc. Information sources are films, videos, and websites in addition to textbooks. Prerequisite: JAPN 0600 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 20.

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JAPN 0711. Japanese Linguistics.

This course will provide a structural overview of the Japanese language. Students will learn how to develop skills for analyzing the language through looking at sounds, meaning, and grammar. Topics include linguistic analysis of various sentence structures that students often find difficult to use, learning to choose words and sentences in appropriate situations, looking at the relation between language and culture.

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JAPN 0712. Advanced Reading for Research.

This is an advanced reading course. Class activities include reading and translation of scholarly articles in the fields of students’ interests, and of selected writings in humanities and social sciences in general or in broad perspectives. Readings include literary essays, fiction and short stories, articles from major newspapers, weekly and monthly journals/magazines. Prerequisite JAPN 0600 Advanced Japanese II.

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JAPN 0800. Advanced Japanese II.

See Advanced Japanese II (JAPN 0700) for course description.

Spr JAPN0800 S01 25722 MWF 2:00-2:50(07) (S. Hiramatsu)
Spr JAPN0800 C01 25723 W 1:00-1:50 (S. Hiramatsu)
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JAPN 0810. Classical Japanese.

Introduction to classical Japanese language (kobun), a.k.a. literary Japanese (bungo). Based on the Early Middle Japanese of 9th-through-11th-century aristocrats, this language was in use well into the 20th century. It opens the worlds of storytelling noblewomen, poet-monks, love-stricken samurai, and modern Japan’s “founding fathers.” Its grammar reveals new ways to think about time, action, and experience. Its study affords you an enhanced command of the contemporary language. Parsing authentic passages from famous works, we learn to read premodern Japanese texts with the aid of dictionaries, commentaries, and digital resources.
Prerequisites: This course is taught in English with an English-language textbook, although some supplemental resources are available only in modern Japanese. At minimum, completion of (or simultaneous enrolment in) intermediate modern Japanese is recommended. If in doubt, consult with instructor.

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JAPN 0811. Business Japanese.

Designed to teach post-advanced level Japanese language, with the focus on effective oral and written communication in business situations, this course emphasizes vocabulary building in the areas of business and economics, use of formal expressions, business writing, and conversation and presentation skills, as well as familiarizing students with Japanese corporate culture, protocol, and interpersonal relationships. Prerequisite: JAPN 0700 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 20. Instructor permission required.

Fall JAPN0811 S01 17222 TTh 1:00-2:20(06) (A. Borgmann)
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JAPN 0812. Japanese Language and Society through Contemporary Film.

This course aims at further development of your linguistic proficiency and broadening your knowledge of Japanese language, culture, and society by studying contemporary Japanese film through the lens of social justice. Films are selected from a wide range of genres: mainstream blockbusters, documentaries, and anime. Our discussions will focus on the cinematic treatment of diversity and social justice in Japan, including issues related to racial/ethnic and sexual minorities in Japan (Ainu, burakumin, Okinawan, Zainichi, “Half”, LGBTQ), gender discrimination, economic inequality, and mental/physical disability. Prerequisites: JAPN 0700 or equivalent, Japanese heritage language speakers with instructor’s consent.

Spr JAPN0812 S01 25724 TTh 2:30-3:50(11) (N. McPherson)
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JAPN 1010. Readings in Contemporary Japanese Fiction.

Introduces contemporary short stories and novellas by award winning writers published after 2000. Authors include Yoko Ogawa, Natsuo Kirino, Jiro Asada, Bin Konno. We will analyze why the great many readers are drawn into these literary works through socio cultural background of urban communities. Prerequisites: JAPN0700 or instructor permission.

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JAPN 1990. In Their Own Words: Advanced Readings in Japanese Literature and Criticism.

This advanced Japanese literature class offers students the chance to read works of modern Japanese literature in dialogue with important works of criticism as we work our way through each decade of the 20th century. Readings will be in both Japanese and English. We will consider both the formal properties of fiction and the historical pressures of gender, ethnicity, class, imperialism and globalization. Authors vary depending on student interest, but often include writers such as Natsume Soseki, Abe Kobo, Ch’oe Chŏng-hŭi, Kono Taeko, and Kawakami Hiromi as well as celebrated Japanese critics such as Maeda Ai and Komori Yoichi.

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KREA 0100. Korean.

Begins with an introduction to the Korean writing system (Hangul) and focuses on building communicative competence in modern Korean in the four language modalities (listening, speaking, reading, writing). Provides a foundation for later work in spoken and written Korean. Five classroom hours per week. No prerequisite. Enrollment limited to 18. This is the first half of a year-long course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade submitted at the end of the course work in KREA 0200 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters.

Fall KREA0100 S01 16972 MWF 9:00-9:50(09) (K. Moon)
Fall KREA0100 S01 16972 TTh 9:30-10:50(09) (K. Moon)
Fall KREA0100 S02 16973 MWF 11:00-11:50(16) (K. Moon)
Fall KREA0100 S02 16973 TTh 11:00-11:50(16) (K. Moon)
Fall KREA0100 S03 16974 MWF 2:00-2:50(01) (K. Moon)
Fall KREA0100 S03 16974 TTh 2:00-2:50(01) (K. Moon)
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KREA 0200. Korean.

Begins with an introduction to the Korean writing system (Hangul) and focuses on building communicative competence in modern Korean in the four language modalities (listening, speaking, reading, writing). Provides a foundation for later work in spoken and written Korean. Six classroom hours per week. Enrollment limited to 18. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken KREA 0100 to receive credit for this course. The final grade for this course will become the final grade for KREA 0100. If KREA 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.

Spr KREA0200 S01 25636 MWF 9:00-9:50(02) (K. Moon)
Spr KREA0200 S01 25636 TTh 9:00-9:50(02) (K. Moon)
Spr KREA0200 S02 25637 MWF 11:00-11:50(04) (K. Moon)
Spr KREA0200 S02 25637 TTh 11:00-11:50(04) (K. Moon)
Course usage information

KREA 0300. Intermediate Korean.

An intermediate course in Korean designed to further communicative competence in spoken Korean and to provide additional reading practice in stylistically higher level materials that are progressively integrated into the given dialogues. Discussions on various aspects of Korean culture and society. Five classroom hours per week. Prerequisite: KREA 0200 or instructor permission.

Fall KREA0300 S01 16975 MWF 12:00-12:50(15) (H. Jung)
Fall KREA0300 S01 16975 TTh 12:00-12:50(15) (H. Jung)
Fall KREA0300 S02 16976 MWF 1:00-1:50(08) (H. Jung)
Fall KREA0300 S02 16976 TTh 1:00-1:50(08) (H. Jung)
Course usage information

KREA 0400. Intermediate Korean.

See Intermediate Korean (KREA 0300) for course description. Prerequisite: KREA 0300 or equivalent.

Spr KREA0400 S01 25634 TTh 12:00-12:50(01) (H. Jung)
Spr KREA0400 S01 25634 MWF 12:00-12:50(01) (H. Jung)
Course usage information

KREA 0500. Advanced Korean.

Aims to help students develop an advanced level of communicative competence, with special focus on enhancing their reading comprehension, essay writing, and discourse (discussion and presentation) skills. Authentic reading materials from a variety of sources will be used to introduce various topics and issues pertaining to Korean society and culture, thus students' cultural understanding will also be enhanced. Prerequisite: KREA 0400 or equivalent or permission of instructor.

Fall KREA0500 S01 16977 MWF 12:00-12:50(15) (H. Wang)
Course usage information

KREA 0600. Advanced Korean.

See Advanced Korean (KREA 0500) for course description. Prerequisite: KREA 0500 or equivalent or permission of instructor.

Spr KREA0600 S01 25633 MWF 12:00-12:50(01) (H. Wang)
Course usage information

KREA 0910. Media Korean.

Develop linguistic competence and deepen cultural understanding through exposure to a variety of media sources. Built on the Content-based Instruction model and Genre-based Approach. Discuss current Korean affairs and core issues of culture based on assigned materials. Develop reading and listening comprehension skills through pre-class activities, oral proficiency through in-class discussion and presentation, and writing proficiency through assigned essays writings, in addition to various integrative tasks. Tuesday classes will focus on comprehending the text and source materials, Thursday classes will focus on related tasks and activities. Enrollment limited to 20. Conducted entirely in Korean.

Course usage information

KREA 0911. Korean Culture and Society.

Develops oral proficiency in Korean language through a variety of readings on Korean culture and society. By reading about and discussing important aspects and core issues of Korea, students enhance their speaking competence and cultural understanding. Prerequisites: KREA 0300 and 0400 or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to: 15.

Course usage information

KREA 0912. Business Korean.

For students who are interested in Korean culture in general and business culture in particular, and in improving their Korean language skills in a business context. The course not only focuses on business and economy-related words and expressions, but also on developing learners' confidence in business writing, conversation and presentations in Korean. Enrollment limited to 15. Prerequisite: KREA 0600 or instructor's permission.

Course usage information

KREA 0913. The Korean Vision: A Debate.

The contemporary Korean society has undergone significant transformation in the past few decades, not only on the personal level, such as changes in personal life style and family structure, but also on the public level, such as economic development and political affairs. Various issues due to these changes have sparked a much heated debate within Korean society. This course will look into some of these major controversial issues with texts and media materials. Through this content-oriented advanced level language course, students will be able to improve their Korean language proficiency, as well as deepen their understanding of Korean culture and society. Prerequisite: KREA 0600. Enrollment limit to 18.

Course usage information

KREA 1090. Translating Korean: Fiction, Poetry & Film.

This class explores the theory and practice of translation in the context of Korean cultural production. Each week we shall grapple with a particular issue in translation studies in dialogue with a Korean-language text. By the end of this course students should be able to locate the tools necessary to carry out translations from Korean to English, to demonstrate an understanding of translation as a craft with its own standards, responsibilities, and complexities, and to have completed a significant translation project themselves. Learners of the Korean language who have completed Korean 600 as well as native speakers of Korean are welcome.

Course usage information

KREA 1950W. Translating Korean: Fiction, Poetry, Film and K-Pop (EAST 1950W).

Interested students must register for EAST 1950W.

Course usage information

VIET 0100. Beginning Vietnamese.

This course is the first half of a year-long introduction to Vietnamese designed for absolute beginners or students with very little prior of Vietnamese. It aims to build up a solid foundation of pronunciation and grammar for your Vietnamese language studies and allow you to feel confident in communicating about everyday situations. This course will get you speaking, listening, writing, reading, and understanding aspects of Vietnamese culture through authentic conversations, language presentation, and extensive practice and review.

Fall VIET0100 S01 17327 TTh 1:00-1:50(08) (T. Tran)
Fall VIET0100 S01 17327 MWF 1:00-1:50(08) (T. Tran)
Course usage information

VIET 0200. Beginning Vietnamese.

VIET 0200 is the second half of a year-long introduction to Vietnamese designed for absolute beginners or students with very little prior knowledge of Vietnamese. It aims to build up a solid foundation of pronunciation and grammar for your Vietnamese language studies and allow you to feel confident in communicating about everyday situations. This course will get you speaking, listening, writing, reading, and understanding aspects of Vietnamese culture through authentic conversations, language presentation, and extensive practice and review.

Spr VIET0200 S01 25770 TTh 1:00-1:50(06) (T. Tran)
Spr VIET0200 S01 25770 MWF 1:00-1:50(06) (T. Tran)
Course usage information

VIET 0300. Intermediate Vietnamese.

This course is designed for students who have completed the second semester of Vietnamese VIET 0200 or have an equivalent level of proficiency. This course will expand your structures and knowledge of the Vietnamese language and multifaceted culture through idioms, proverbs, dialogues, and stories. Classroom activities and practices will help you communicate effectively and absorb meaning through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Fall VIET0300 S01 17328 TTh 12:00-12:50(16) (T. Tran)
Fall VIET0300 S01 17328 MWF 11:00-11:50(16) (T. Tran)
Course usage information

VIET 0400. Intermediate Vietnamese.

VIET 0400 is designed for students who have completed the third semester of Vietnamese VIET 0300 or have an equivalent level of proficiency. This course will expand your structures and knowledge of the Vietnamese language and multifaceted culture through idioms, proverbs, dialogues, and stories. Classroom activities and practices will help you communicate effectively and absorb meaning through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Spr VIET0400 S01 25771 TTh 12:00-12:50(04) (T. Tran)
Spr VIET0400 S01 25771 MWF 11:00-11:50(04) (T. Tran)

East Asian Studies

East Asian Studies is a multidisciplinary concentration designed for students wishing to attain reasonable fluency in Chinese,  Japanese, or Korean with specialized exposure to selected East Asian subjects. It serves students with two types of interests: those who aim to pursue active professional careers related to the East Asian region; and those who want to pursue graduate study in the humanities or social sciences with particular emphasis on China, Japan or Korea. Students in East Asian Studies will gain language proficiency and familiarity with East Asia through advanced courses in a variety of disciplines. Concentrators are strongly encouraged, but not required, to study in East Asia for one or two semesters. The concentration requires students to demonstrate a basic proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.

The Language Requirement

The concentration requires students to demonstrate a basic proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. For the purposes of the concentration, proficiency is determined to be consistent with successful completion of the Department’s third-year course sequence in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (0500-0600), or its equivalent. Native speakers of these languages may, for example,  demonstrate competency such that language courses may be unnecessary.  Department language instructors may also determine that course work completed at one of the language-intensive  study abroad programs attended by our undergraduates is comparable to courses offered at Brown. Up to three upper level (700-999) language courses may count as electives for the Focus concentration credit. (Lower-level language courses do not count as concentration electives).

Note that we do not equate completion of third-year Chinese, Japanese, or Korean with fluency in these languages. Rather, we believe that students who have demonstrated the skills  associated with third-year Chinese, Japanese, or Korean have acquired a foundational understanding of the languages’ grammar, vocabularies, and conversational patterns, such that they are able to make themselves understood in everyday situations, and to understand both spoken and written communication.

For the purposes of the concentration, language courses through the third-year are treated as an accompanying requirement.

Language Prerequisites (demonstrating proficiency through the third-year or 0600 level in one of the three languages below)
Chinese
Basic Chinese
and Basic Chinese
Intermediate Chinese
and Intermediate Chinese
Elementary to Intermediate Chinese for Advanced Beginners
and Advanced Chinese for Heritage Learners
Advanced Modern Chinese I
and Advanced Modern Chinese I
Japanese
Basic Japanese
and Basic Japanese
Intermediate Japanese
and Intermediate Japanese
Advanced Japanese I
and Advanced Japanese I
Korean
Korean
and Korean
Intermediate Korean
and Intermediate Korean
Advanced Korean
and Advanced Korean
Business Korean
Language Electives (language courses that may be counted for concentration credit)
Chinese
Advanced Modern Chinese II
and Advanced Modern Chinese II (either course may be taken for one semester)
Business Chinese
Modern Chinese Literature
Japanese
Advanced Japanese II
and Advanced Japanese II (either course may be taken for one semester)
Classical Japanese
Japanese Linguistics
Readings in Contemporary Japanese Fiction

Electives

The concentration requires that students complete a total of eight electives tied to their course of study, which may be defined in linguistic, chronological, thematic, or cultural terms. Students
should choose their courses with the following four requirements in mind.

  • Focus Requirement:  In order to ensure intellectual coherence and focus in the concentration, at least three of the eight electives must focus on the geographic region associated with the student’s language study/expertise (including expertise demonstrated in lieu of coursework). For example, a concentrator studying Japanese language, or who has demonstrated competency in Japanese to fulfill the departmental language requirement, should take at least three courses focusing on Japan. Up to three upper level (700-999)
    language courses may count as electives for the focus concentration credit. (Lower-level language courses do not count as concentration electives).
  • EAST Requirement: At least three of the eight electives must be East Asian Studies (EAST) courses at any level; Chinese (CHIN), Japanese (JAPN), or Korean (KREA) courses at the 1000-level and above may also count toward this requirement.
  • Breadth Requirement: At least one of the eight electives must focus on an East Asian country or culture other than those associated with the language the student is using to satisfy the concentration's language requirement. A concentrator studying Chinese, for example, must choose at least one course that focuses on Korea and/or Japan.
  • Senior Seminar Requirement: At least one of the eight elective courses must be an advanced research seminar, taken in the senior year.

As is common in multidisciplinary concentrations, a wide range of courses, including many taught by faculty in other departments, may be counted toward the concentration. These include
courses offered by East Asian Studies faculty, faculty with courtesy appointments in the Department, and courses with a significant focus on East Asia offered in such disciplines such as
American Studies, Art History, Economics, International Relations, and many others.

Sample Electives offered by East Asian Studies
Words on Things: Literature and Material Culture in Early Modern China
China Through the Lens: History, Cinema, and Critical Discourse
Japan's Floating World
Patriots, Communists, and Traitors in Modern Korea 3
Korean Culture and Film
For additional elective choices, visit http://brown.edu/academics/east-asian-studies/courses/more-course-offerings.

Senior Seminars

At least one of the eight elective courses must be an advanced research seminar, usually taken in the senior year. The research seminar will normally provide students with the opportunity to develop a project or paper focusing on one or more of their areas of inquiry within the concentration. Students are strongly encouraged to find ways to incorporate the use of Chinese-, Japanese-, or Korean-language materials in their research and learning in these courses. Courses falling into this category include EAS seminars over the 1000 level, as well as designated seminars offered by affiliated faculty in such departments as History, Religious Studies, and Comparative Literature, among others. The Department will provide a list of pre-approved senior seminars every semester. Students wishing to add courses to that list must submit their requests in writing to the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the start of the  semester.

Sample advanced seminars offered by East Asian Studies
Market Economy, Popular Culture, and Mass Media in Contemporary China
Queer Japan: Culture, History and Sexuality

Honors

East Asian Studies offers qualified students, in their senior year, the opportunity to undertake a sustained research and writing project that, ideally, will result not merely in a long term paper, but in a piece of original scholarship. To enroll in the Honors Program, the student must be a senior East Asian Studies concentrator, and have earned an A or an S with Distinction in  the majority of courses for the concentration. Candidates for Honors are required to have developed a competence in an East Asian language sufficient to allow them to use East Asian  language materials in carrying out their research. Students must also successfully obtain the support of at least two faculty members who will agree to serve as primary and secondary advisors for the thesis. Prospective writers submit a thesis prospectus, brief bibliography, and completed application forms (with signatures), ordinarily late in the student’s six semester, to the  Director of Undergraduate Studies, who provides the final permission to proceed. Synopses of successful thesis proposals will be distributed to Department faculty.

Thesis writers enroll in advisor-specific sections of the thesis-writing course EAST 1980 (Fall) and EAST 1981 (Spring), meet regularly with their advisors over the course of both semesters,
and submit final versions of their theses to the Department in mid-April. Advisors and students are required to provide updates of their progress to the Director of Undergraduate Studies at
regular intervals.

The completed thesis is evaluated for Honors by the thesis director and by the second reader. In case of a difference of judgment between the two readers, a third opinion may be sought.  EAST 1981 counts as one concentration elective credit. The awarding of Honors in East Asian Studies will occur only if the Honors Thesis receives a final grade of A. If an A is not received, the
student will still receive University academic credit for EAST 1980-81. Students are notified in mid-May whether the Department has recommended the awarding of Honors. Copies of  readers’ comments are provided to the student.

Graduating concentrators may have the ability to present the results of their senior theses in the department’s Senior Project Forum. The Forum will usually take place at the end of the spring semester, but may also occur at the end of the fall semester to accommodate mid-year graduates.

Double Concentrations

Students who are interested in developing a double concentration, including East Asian Studies as one of the two concentrations, should bear in mind that normally no more than two courses
may be double-counted toward satisfying the course requirements of either of the two concentration programs involved.

Study Abroad

Concentrators are strongly encouraged, though not required, to study in East Asia for one or two semesters during their undergraduate years. Course credits earned abroad are generally transferable to Brown. However, a maximum of three courses taken abroad, of genuine intellectual substance and significantly related to East Asian Studies, may be considered for
concentration credit.

Summary of requirements:

  • Language study through the level of 0600 or the equivalent of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean
  • Eight elective courses (see details above)
    • Focus Requirement: three courses.
    • EAST Requirement: three courses. 
    • Breadth Requirement: one course.  
    • Senior Seminar: one course.
  • ​Honors candidates only: EAST 1980 - EAST 1981

Please note: EAS does not currently offer a concentration in Vietnamese. Students who take Vietnamese language in EAS may wish to consider completing a Certificate in Intercultural Competence through the Center for Language Studies.