h ICS 262 ASIA

 

Dr. Yifen Beus           beusy@byuh.edu       Office Hours:   T, TH 9-10

McKay Faculty Bldg. 207  (O) 293-3618                         M, F 10-11

          

Course Description and Objectives:

In this class, we will explore the classical as well as contemporary philosophy, literature, arts, and history of Asia in a cross-cultural context. Emphasis will be given to China, Japan, Korea and India. Our goal is to develop critical and analytical thinking about these forms of human expression that shape and help define a culture and to gain appreciation of their meanings and diversity.

 

Course Requirements:

* Required Texts & Films: they should be read or viewed before their designated class times

Text:

Black Board Documents (Course Documents or External Links): all readings are located on the Black Board, either under “Course Documents” (CD)or “External Links” (EL). There is also a hard copy on reserve in the library.

 

Films (shown at LTH 9 PM, except for Lagaan, on dates scheduled):

Rashomon (Akira Kurosawa, 1950, 88 mins.)

Devi (Satyajit Ray, 1960, 93 mins.)

Salaam Bombay! (Mira Nair, 1988, 114 mins.)

Lagaan (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2001, 224 mins)

 

* Black Board:

Frequent use of email and the course site (Black Board) is mandatory.  Reading materials and study guides will be posted on the site for downloading before the reading assignments are due. Please read the syllabus carefully for there are usually more than one reading assignments for each class period. The URL for the site is : http://blackboard.byu.edu. To log in, use your NET ID number as username and you password.

 

* Attendance, punctuality, quizzes, and homework:

It is very important to attend the class and be on time since we will have frequent quizzes on reading and viewing assignments during the first 5 minutes of class time and regular writing assignments on the texts we read.  Under usual circumstances, there will be no make-up quizzes.  All writing assignments must be typed and are due on the designated dates; I will not accept late homework or other writing assignments. 

 

* Special Needs

Brigham Young University-Hawai'i is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere, which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities.  If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the students with Special Need Coordinator, Leilani A'una at 293-3518. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities.  If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures.  You should contact the Human Resource Services at 780-8875.

 

* Preventing Sexual Harassment

Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants.  Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment.  If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Human Resource Services at 780-8875 (24 hours).

 

* Final Examination

All students should be aware of the BYUH policy that there are no early final exams. An exception to this policy is the case of a school sponsored activity which takes an individual or a team away from the University at the time an examination is scheduled to take place.  Faculty and Administration who are responsible for scheduling official University activities attempt in every way to avoid scheduling activities in conflict with the scheduled examinations.  Students must plan travel, family visits, etc., in a way that will not interfere with their final exams.  Emergency situations should be presented in writing as soon as possible to the Dean of the college or school of the student’s major. 

 

Less expensive fares, more convenient travel arrangements, and any other non-emergency reasons are not considered justification for early or late final exams.  Students are responsible for making sure that family or friends who may supply tickets or make travel arrangements for a student are aware of the student’s need to complete courses by taking the final examinations as scheduled.

 

Grade Breakdown:

    100  pts     2 Unit Exams (50 each)

    70  pts      Final Exam (comprehensive)

    30 pts Group Presentations—research project/performance

    30 pts  Personal research detailed outline (with introduction section written) on one specific aspect/issue/question of your group project

    40  pts      Quizzes

 

Schedule

1) INTRODUCTION

8/31 (Wed)

Introduction: explain class structure and requirements, etc.

 

2) CHINA

9/2 (Fri)

China’s Gifts to the West

Reading: “China’s Gifts to the West(EL)

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/readings/inventions_gifts.htm

 

9/5 (Mon)

 

Holiday (Labor Day)

9/7(Wed)

 

Confucianism

Reading: “Confucius(CD)

 

9/9 (Fri)

Confucius continued

 

9/12 (Mon)

Taoism: Lao Zi,

Reading:  “Taoism” (CD)

 

9/14 (Wed)

 Zhuang-zi

Reading: “Skepticism and Mysticism in Chuang Tzu” (CD)

 

9/16 (Fri)

Buddhism in China

“Buddhism” (CD)

 

9/19 (Mon)

Woman Warrior in Tradition and Pop Culture: Mulan and Disney

Reading: Ode of Mulan & Story of Mulan (External Links)

 

9/21 (Wed)

Nature and the Poet: Traditional Chinese Poetry and Japanese Haiku

Reading: “Tang and Song Poetry” (CD); “Haiku” (CD)

 

9/23 (Fri)

The Chinese Identity (film)

 

9/26 (Mon)

Traditional Chinese Art

 

9/28 (Wed)

Traditional Performing Art: Peking Opera

Reading: Peking Opera (CD)

 

9/30 (Fri)

Modernity and Traditional Society

 

10/3 (Mon)

The Beginning of Modernity: The May Fourth Movement

Reading: “The New Culture Movement” (CD)

 

10/5 (Wed)

Catch-up and review

Unite Exam I: 10/5-10/7 (Wed. to Friday) @ testing center

 

 

3)   KOREA

10/7 (Fri)

Confucian Influence (Early History)

Reading:Korea in the Chinese Dynastic Histories” (CD)

 

10/10 (Mon)

Encounter with the West

Reading: “The Encounter with the West” (CD)

 

10/12 (Wed)

Cultural Awakening

Reading: “Culture and National Identity” (CD)

 

10/14 (Fri)

Guest Lecture: Dr. Michael Allen

The World Cup and Korean Nationalism

 

10/17 (Mon)

Popular TV Romance:

“Love Story in Harvard”

 

 

4)  JAPAN

10/19 (Wed)

Early period and the borrowing from China (600-900): art, literature, and aesthetics; (in-class viewing: Early Japan I, VTV 1650)

Reading: Keene, 19-30 (CD)

 

10/21 (Fri)

Jubilee Celebration—no class held

 

10/24 (Mon)

Manyoshu and Kojiki

Reading: Keene, 33-60 (CD)

 

10/26(Wed)

Kokinshu & The Tosa Diary

Reading: Keene, pp. 76-96 (CD)

 

10/28 (Fri)

Early Heian (794-1185) period: art, literature, and aesthetics;

(in-class viewing: Early Japan II, VTV 1651)

 

10/31 (Mon)

Sei Shonagon’s The Pillow Book (11th century)

Reading: Keene, pp. 137-144 & “Sei Shonagon” (CD)

 

11/2 (Wed)

Murasaki Shikibu,Tale of Genji

Reading: Keene, pp. 106-136 & “Murasaki” (CD)

 

11/4 (Fri)

Noh drama

Reading: Keene, pp. 258-263 & “Noh Drama 1 & 2” (CD)

11/7 (Mon)

Kabuki theatre

Reading: “Kabuki Theatre” (CD)

 

11/8 (Tue)

Screening: Rashomon (9-11 PM, Little Theatre)

 

11/9 (Wed)

Cinema: Rashomon

Reading:Japan” from A History of Narrative Film (CD)

 

 

Unit Exam II: 11/9-11/11 (Wed. to Friday) @ Testing Center

 

5)  INDIA

11/11 (Fri)

Hinduism

Reading: Hinduism (CD)

 

11/14 (Mon)

Classical Epic: (Song of the Lord, 300 B.C.-A.D. 400), Bhagavad Gita  

Reading: Bhagavad Gita selected sections (CD)

 

11/15 (Tuesday)

Screening: Devi (9-11 PM, Little Theatre)

 

11/16 (Wed)

Buddhism

Reading: First Sermon of Buddha (EL-inside “India” folder)

 

11/18 (Fri)

Classical Dance Theatre

Reading: “Two Dance Theatres of India” (CD)

 

11/21 (Mon)

Indian Cinema: Effects of Modernity on Traditional Society: Devi

Reading:India” from A History of Narrative Film; “Satyajit Ray's Devi” (CD)

 

11/22 (Tuesday)

Screening: Salaam Bombay! (9-11 PM, Little Theatre)

 

11/23 (Wed)

Postcolonial Condition and Identity

Reading: Rushdie, Imaginary Homelands (CD)

 

11/25 (Fri)

Thanksgiving Holiday

 

11/28 (Mon)

Contemporary City Scenes: Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay