MLO 2: Culture
2.1 Students develop a comprehensive understanding, appreciation and knowledge of Japanese culture: perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), practices (patterns of social interactions) and products (both tangible and intangible, for example, art, history, literature, music).
2.2 Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
2.2 Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
2.1
Courses that I took that completed my MLO 2.1 were Japn 306, Japn 313, and Japn 402.
Taking Japn 306: The Japanese Mind, I studied aspects such as Soto-Uchi, Wabisabi, and Seishun. Seishun is a concept that gives a look in the Japanese Culture through their appreciation of the time of youth. Even though the culture is based on respect and reverence for those who are older, there is a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the time before they became an adult. In a commercial that used Seishun as the theme, Seishun was portrayed as exciting, new, and during school days. During the class, we were provided scholarly articles to read and write feedback on our opinions on the matter and thinking about how it relates to our own culture.
In Japn 313 Manga, Anime, and Modern Japan, we looked at the cultural phenomenon that has spread out through the world. I explored Manga's role in Japanese culture not only as a medium of entertainment for kids, but also for adults. The genres of Manga include and are not limited to mystery, sports, drama, science fiction , history, and so on. Manga is a huge medium for not only creativity, but also artistic expression. The final project assigned was to make our own Manga: while it was a creative project, it also showed how much time it takes to produce the product. Professional Manga artists in Japan are expected to create high quality work with in a week, and compared to what I made, I discovered appreciation for what they do for what minimal fees.
Japn 402 Japanese Literature, looked at major writer of the 19th Century and read their works, including Mori Ougai, Natsumei Souseki, and Shimazawa Touson. During the semester, we were required to read several articles, of which, three were assigned to be written as book reports. Within the book reports, not only did we give a summary of the book, our opinions, and questions about the reading, but we were to also do research and provide information about the author of the book. The class also looked at traditional Haiku-making and experienced trying to make them ourselves. One of the key components of Haiku making is
2.2
The classes that I took to complete MLO 2.2 were Japanese Cinema, Introductions to Law, and Select Reading on Law.
Japanese Cinema showed us films that spanned Japanese culture through from 17th Century Japan through 21st century Japan. The cultural information that we learned from the films included that of Japanese time periods that we're on the Samurai Era, WW2, post-WW2, and modern Japan. While the topics covered were of high cultural relevance, the professor had pointed out that Japanese cinema compared to American cinema didn't have the same artistic style. Japanese Cinema hasn't been highly prevalent, and instead taking ideas and making them into movies, the popular thing to do is make it into a Manga instead.
Introduction to Law was taken while abroad in Japan and was a class that focused on global laws and culture in comparison to Japanese laws and culture. Not only is the judicial system different, but the relative legal issues are different in Japan. Japan instituted a new judicial system known as the 'saibai in' system in 2009. Unlike the American judicial system, the Saibai in uses 3 judges and 5 random citizens. Criminal activity is rather rare in Japan as the crime rate is the lowest of any developed nation. Comparing again to the US, immigration is a similar issue. However, Japan's case is more about its harsh selectivity and ability to choose those who would rather benefit the country than live off of it.
Select Readings on Law was directly focused on the internal issues of Japan, giving better insight as to what legal and social issues are most relevant today. For one of my research topics, I chose Japan's increasing aging society and decreasing birth rate. It was interesting to do some research and gain insight into the social aspects of this matter. For one, having kids takes away a person's free time. A typical Japanese person usually wakes up, goes to work, does overtime, socializes with their coworkers, and goes home to sleep. Any type of free time, being after work or weekends is give to the kids. Not only that, but in Tokyo itself, there is a lack of day cares for kids.
Courses that I took that completed my MLO 2.1 were Japn 306, Japn 313, and Japn 402.
Taking Japn 306: The Japanese Mind, I studied aspects such as Soto-Uchi, Wabisabi, and Seishun. Seishun is a concept that gives a look in the Japanese Culture through their appreciation of the time of youth. Even though the culture is based on respect and reverence for those who are older, there is a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the time before they became an adult. In a commercial that used Seishun as the theme, Seishun was portrayed as exciting, new, and during school days. During the class, we were provided scholarly articles to read and write feedback on our opinions on the matter and thinking about how it relates to our own culture.
In Japn 313 Manga, Anime, and Modern Japan, we looked at the cultural phenomenon that has spread out through the world. I explored Manga's role in Japanese culture not only as a medium of entertainment for kids, but also for adults. The genres of Manga include and are not limited to mystery, sports, drama, science fiction , history, and so on. Manga is a huge medium for not only creativity, but also artistic expression. The final project assigned was to make our own Manga: while it was a creative project, it also showed how much time it takes to produce the product. Professional Manga artists in Japan are expected to create high quality work with in a week, and compared to what I made, I discovered appreciation for what they do for what minimal fees.
Japn 402 Japanese Literature, looked at major writer of the 19th Century and read their works, including Mori Ougai, Natsumei Souseki, and Shimazawa Touson. During the semester, we were required to read several articles, of which, three were assigned to be written as book reports. Within the book reports, not only did we give a summary of the book, our opinions, and questions about the reading, but we were to also do research and provide information about the author of the book. The class also looked at traditional Haiku-making and experienced trying to make them ourselves. One of the key components of Haiku making is
2.2
The classes that I took to complete MLO 2.2 were Japanese Cinema, Introductions to Law, and Select Reading on Law.
Japanese Cinema showed us films that spanned Japanese culture through from 17th Century Japan through 21st century Japan. The cultural information that we learned from the films included that of Japanese time periods that we're on the Samurai Era, WW2, post-WW2, and modern Japan. While the topics covered were of high cultural relevance, the professor had pointed out that Japanese cinema compared to American cinema didn't have the same artistic style. Japanese Cinema hasn't been highly prevalent, and instead taking ideas and making them into movies, the popular thing to do is make it into a Manga instead.
Introduction to Law was taken while abroad in Japan and was a class that focused on global laws and culture in comparison to Japanese laws and culture. Not only is the judicial system different, but the relative legal issues are different in Japan. Japan instituted a new judicial system known as the 'saibai in' system in 2009. Unlike the American judicial system, the Saibai in uses 3 judges and 5 random citizens. Criminal activity is rather rare in Japan as the crime rate is the lowest of any developed nation. Comparing again to the US, immigration is a similar issue. However, Japan's case is more about its harsh selectivity and ability to choose those who would rather benefit the country than live off of it.
Select Readings on Law was directly focused on the internal issues of Japan, giving better insight as to what legal and social issues are most relevant today. For one of my research topics, I chose Japan's increasing aging society and decreasing birth rate. It was interesting to do some research and gain insight into the social aspects of this matter. For one, having kids takes away a person's free time. A typical Japanese person usually wakes up, goes to work, does overtime, socializes with their coworkers, and goes home to sleep. Any type of free time, being after work or weekends is give to the kids. Not only that, but in Tokyo itself, there is a lack of day cares for kids.
feedback_3_japanese_mind.pdf | |
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japanese_pop_culture_feedback_4.pdf | |
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declining_birth_rate_japan.pdf | |
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immigration_in_japan.pdf | |
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JAPN 306 - The Japanese Mind
JAPN 310 - Japanese Cinema
JAPN 313 - Manga, Anime, and Modern Japan
JAPN 402 - Japanese Literature
Study Abroad: Introduction to Foundations of Law
Study Abroad: Selected Readings on Law 1
JAPN 310 - Japanese Cinema
JAPN 313 - Manga, Anime, and Modern Japan
JAPN 402 - Japanese Literature
Study Abroad: Introduction to Foundations of Law
Study Abroad: Selected Readings on Law 1