JAP122 Introduction to the culture of Japan

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc.
Japanese Studies Centre – Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 17:30–19:05 zruseno D51
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 60 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/60, only registered: 0/60, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/60
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce basic concepts of japanese culture and society. With respect to various methodologies of cultural studies, a comprehensive approach of sociology, cultural anthropology and functional structural philology is chosen. Students of this course learn about key concepts and keywords related to the study of Japanese culture theoretically, and are also introduced to manifestations of these concepts in japanese society, in everyday life of the Japanese and in japanese art. The course focuses on the diachronic point of view, on both continuity and differences of Japanese cultural identity’s manifestation in the past and present.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, structure of the course, introduction of basic literature
  • 2. Culture and society, methods of thein study, basic sources of japanese identity
  • 3. Key concepts of japanese culture I („uchi“ and „soto“, „shudan ishiki“, „amae“, „nemawashi“ etc.)
  • 4. Key concepts of japanese culture II („ganbari“, „bushido“, „do“, „kata“, „danjo kankei“ etc.)
  • 5. Japanese traditions within the year
  • 6. Traditional concepts of japanese aesthetics („mono no aware“, „wabi“, „sabi“ etc.)
  • 7. Traditional japanese disciplines and arts („sado“, „shodo“, ikebana, „budo“, theatre etc.)
  • 8. Transitions of the japanese society; external views on Japan (fiction, Hollywood etc.)
  • 9. Forms of modern japanese culture and pop-culture
  • 10. Humour in japanese culture
  • 11. Summary
  • 12. Final exam
Literature
    required literature
  • In Praise of Shadows. Tanizaki Jun'ichiro. Leete's Island. 1977
  • Bušidó. Nitobe, Inazó. (elektronická verze) 2004
    recommended literature
  • An Introduction to Japanese Society. Sugimoto, Yoshio. Cambridge University Press. 2002
  • The New Japan. Matsumoto, David. Intercultural Press. 2002
  • Behind the Japanese Bow. De Mente, Boye L. Passport Books. 1993
  • Japanese Frames of Mind. Shimizu, Hidetada (ed.). Cambridge University Press. 2001
  • Interpreting Japanese Society. Hendry, Joy. Routlege. 1998
  • Přehled antropologických teorií kultury. Soukup, Václav. Portál. 2000
  • Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture. Buckley, Sandra (ed.). Routlege. 2002
  • Japanese Society. Nakane, Chie. University of California Press, 1972
  • The Japanese Mind. Davies, Roger J.; Ikeno, Osamu. Tuttle Publishing. 2002
    not specified
  • Wagojomi to šiki no kuraši. Šintani, Takanori. Nihon bungeiša. 2006
Teaching methods
Lecture, work with primary and secondary literature, audiovisual materials.
Assessment methods
Written test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo japanistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2011/JAP122