General Info

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Course Coordinators: 

 

Semester 1:  Dr. Lawrence Marceau, Senior Lecturer in Japanese

Telephone:  (09) 373-7599, ext. 86317

E-mail:  l.marceau@auckland.ac.nz

Office:  58 Symonds Street, Room 625

Office Hours:  Mondays, 10:00—12:00, and by appointment

 

Semester 2:  Dr. Rumi Sakamoto, Senior Lecturer in Japanese

Telephone:  (09) 373-7599, ext. 84600

E-mail:  r.sakamoto@auckland.ac.nz

Office:  58 Symonds Street, Room 623

Office Hours:  Mondays, 12:00—14:00, and by appointment

 

School of Asian Studies General Office:  58 Symonds Street, Room 523

School Website: http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/departments/index.cfm?S=D_ASIAN

General Office Telephone:  (09) 373-7599, ext. 85889 or 87588

 

Course Meeting Location and Times (Semester I):

58 Symonds St., Level 5, Room 519

Wednesdays, 2:00pm—4:00pm

 

Course Description:  This course will provide students with interdisciplinary knowledge and critical analytical skills in aspects of Asian Studies, with particular reference to Eastern Asia (centred on China, Japan, and Korea, but also including Southeast Asian cultures such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia). 

 

Students will gain an understanding of:

 

1) the diversity of peoples and cultures within the region;

 

2) the dynamic and complex interconnections among Eastern Asian nations in political, economic, social, and cultural spheres; and

 

3) the historical developments and changes within the region.  

 

By the end of the course, students should have gained sufficient theoretical and empirical knowledge and skills to challenge the stereotypical image of East Asia as a monolithic and ahistorical entity.  They should be able to think comparatively on China, Japan, Korea and other places within the region, and to see the region as an autonomous and yet internally diverse unit. They should also become able to discuss and to write intelligently about aspects of historical development of intra-Asian connections and how they operate, not just independently but in conjunction with one other.

 

Course Structure:  This course is arranged in several modules, each based on a particular theme, relevant both to the course, and to the areas of expertise and interest held by the lecturer of that module.  The modules commence in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, and run over two sessions each, with the first session consisting of a presentation by the lecturer with discussion and the second session focusing on presentations by the students.  Each student will make one presentation for a module, and a second short presentation at the end of the semester.

 

Sessions for both semesters tentatively run Wednesdays between 14:00 and 16:00.

 

	Semester One		Semester Two
01 05 March	Introduction:  Theory & Methodology in Asian Studies Disciplines (What is "Asian Studies?"  What are "Area Studies?"  Questioning the [Western] Notion of Academic Disciplines, etc.)	01	Introduction:  Research Applications in Asian Studies Disciplines (How do we do what we do in Asian Studies disciplines?, etc.)
02 12 March	History & Historiography:  Theories (Ellen Nakamura, Richard Phillips)	02	History & Historiography:  Lecturer Applications
03 19 March	History & Historiography: Methodologies	03	History & Historiography:  Student Applications
04 26 March	Anthropology & Sociology:  Theories (Rumi Sakamoto, Matthew Allen)	04	Anthropology & Sociology:  Lecturer Applications
05 02 April	Anthropology & Sociology:  Methodologies	05	Anthropology & Sociology:  Student Applications
06 09 April	Comparing & Contrasting Theories & Methodologies in the Humanities & the Social Sciences:  Student Discussion	06	Comparing & Contrasting Applications in the Humanities & the Social Sciences:  Student Discussion
	BREAK
07 23 April	Language Analysis:  Theories (Edward McDonald, Harumi Minagawa, Robert Sanders)	07	Language Analysis:  Lecturer Applications
08 30 April	Language Analysis:  Methodologies	08	Language Analysis:  Student Applications
09 07 May	Literature, Theatre, Media:  Theories (Megumi Inoue, Lawrence Marceau)	09	Literature, Theatre, Media:  Lecturer Applications
10 14 May	Literature, Theatre, Media:  Methodologies	10	Literature, Theatre, Media:  Student Applications **Course Projects Due in Week 10**
11 21 May	Student Presentation Proposals	11	Student Presentations
12 28 May	Student Presentation Proposals	12	Student Presentations

Written Proposals due on Wednesday 4 June, 2008.

 

For the second week of each discipline's "applications," students will discuss a text and come up with their own approach and methodology for analysing it.  Guest Lecturers should provide a series of specific focus questions for this section.

 

Guest lecturers will provide readings for the Course Reader; one set for Semester One, and one set for Semester Two.

 

Assessment should count as 35% in Semester One, and 65% in Semester Two, based on Oral and Written Proposals in Sem. One, and Oral Presentations and Written Essays in Sem. Two.

 

Semester One

Attendance & Active Participation in Discussion:     05%

Proposal Presentation:                                                 10%     (20 minutes + Q&A)

Written Proposal:                                                        20%     (1500 words)

Semester Two

Attendance & Active Participation in Discussion:     05%

Oral Presentation:                                                       20%     (20 minutes + Q&A)

Research Paper:                                                           40%     (3500 words)

Total:                                                                           100%

 

Tips for Succeeding in this Course:

1.  Read as much as you can, and take the initiative to read beyond the assignments

2.  Read critically, always questioning the assumptions and arguments you encounter in your readings

3.  Come to class with questions already written down—even if you don't ask them, they may help you in your understanding of the issues raised in a particular module

4.  Avoid assuming that the lecturers are correct in their statements.  Listen critically, and don't be afraid to ask questions that challenge positions held by the lecturer.  Scholarly inquiry is a fuzzy endeavour, and the best way for us to polish our positions is to engage in critical discussion!

5.  If you have a problem that will affect your participation or attendance, please let your instructor know about it in advance.  I am here to help you, but if I don't know what's going on, it is difficult to determine the nature of your problem

 

Final Remarks:

 

            Congratulations!  You are now part of this core course offering in Asian Studies begun in 2006.  This course (together with ASN 700:  Research Methods) serves as the core introduction to the fields of Asian Studies for postgraduate students, and both courses have been revised in 2008.  With your active input we can continue to improve this course over the years and make it an even more valuable conduit for you as you determine your specific interests and concerns.  Let's work together to maximise this experience!

Kume, the Immortal (J., Kume-sennin????) losing his ability to fly when his concentration is broken by the sight of a young woman exposing her calf while doing the laundry.  Courtesy Kano Bunko, Tôhoku University:  http://www2.library.tohoku.ac.jp/kano/05-001082/05-001082.html