Instructor: Prof. Karen Nakamura Last offered: -
Next offered: Summer 2010 (planned)
Enrollment limit:
Location: Tokyo!
Instructor: Prof. Karen Nakamura
Last offered: -
Next offered: Summer 2010 (planned)
Enrollment limit:
Location: Tokyo!
Japanese animation (Japanimation or anime) and manga comic books are dynamic forms of popular and material culture in Japan. However, despite anime constantly outselling Japanese film at box offices and manga outselling Japanese novels, there has been little academic interest in this field until the past several years. This is rapidly changing as scholars become aware of the richness and diversity of these genres.
Offered in Tokyo over the summer, this course takes advantage of our location in the epicenter of manga and anime production. In order to understand manga and anime more fully, we will study the the cultural and historical background to the production and consumption of manga and anime and trace the one-hundred (and so) year history of modern Japan, exploring the genealogies of these thematic elements. We will visit anime and manga production studios, museums dedicated to anime and manga, travel to Kyoto to talk with faculty at the only Department of Manga Studies in the world, and visit the sites referenced by numerous manga and anime.
Our readings draw from historical and cultural analyses of 20th century Japan designed to provide deeper understanding of the factors underlying the production and consumption of animation and manga. We will also be reading several manga graphic novels.
No knowledge of the Japanese language is necessary.
None.
This is the list of required books for this course. There will also be online articles on the Classes V2 server.
Required Textbooks:
All films will be screened in xxxxxx. Most of the films will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles. Some films are only available (horribly) dubbed in English. A few films will be screened in Japanese only with screening notes attached.
| 1 | Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke) (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1997 | ® |
| 2 | Rurouni Kenshin (VHS; dubbed) | 1996 | ® |
| 3 | Early Showa Anime (VHS: Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1930s | G |
| 4 | Grave of the Fireflies(DVD: Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1988 (1945) | ® |
| 5 | Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy)
(VHS; Japanese with screening notes) Doraemon (VHS; Japanese with screening notes) Janguru Taitei (Kimba the White Lion) (VHS; dubbed in English) | 1963 1965 1979 | G |
| 6 | Uchuu Senkan Yamato (Star Blazers); (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1977 | G |
| 7 | Kaze no Tani no Naushika (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds) (VHS; fan subbed) | 1984 | G |
| 8 | Koukaku Kidoutai (Ghost in the Shell) (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1988 | ® |
| 9 | Akira (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1995 | ® |
| 10 | Roujin-Z (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1991 | PG-13 |
| 11 | Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro) (VHS; dubbed in English) | 1988 | G |
| 12 | Spirited Away (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 2001 | PG-13 |
| 13 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (DVD; Japanese dialogue; English subtitles) | 1995 | PG-13 |
All films are open to the public, however films marked with an ® contain scenes of graphic violence or of a sexual nature and are not suitable for young children.
| Course Participation | xx% |
|---|---|
| Short Papers (5-7 pp): 3 x 10% = 30% |
xx% |
| Final paper (15-20 pages) | xx% |
| Quizzes | xx% |
| Total | 100% |
