- Individual and Society: American and Japanese Society, Literature and Cinema

Institution:

The Evergreen State College

Subject:

Description:

Faculty: Harumi Moruzzi (cultural studies, literature, film studies) Major areas of study include cultural studies, Japanese literature, American literature, film studies and expository writing. Class Standing: This all-level program accepts up to 25 percent freshmen. In this program, we will examine the concepts of individual, society and the interaction between the two through the critical exploration of American and Japanese literature, cinema and media. When the 18th-century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard chose "that individual" as his own epitaph, he was proclaiming himself as an individual, the only concrete mode of human existence, though at the same time he was keenly aware of the consequence of such a stance: an unidentifiable feeling of dread and anxiety derived from being an individual as the sole responsible agent for what he was. However, in America, the conception of individuals as autonomous and free agents with an inalienable right to pursue happiness seems to have been accepted quite cheerfully, and indeed without much anguish, as a self-evident truism throughout much of its history, manifested variously in the self-acquisitiveness of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard, to Thoreau's "rugged" self-reliance, to the Great Gatsby's misguided self-creation. True, at times such as the 1950s, some books like William Whyte's The Organization Man and David Riesman's The Lonely Crowd revealed the conformist tendencies of individuals belonging to some American communities; however, these books were written precisely to criticize the group orientation of certain segments of society, while reclaiming the value of individualism in America. Meanwhile, in Japan, which often appears to emphasize the opposite human values from the American ethos, the importance of group cohesion and harmony rather than, to the horror of most Americans, individual rights or happiness, has been stressed throughout much of its history. In fact, Japanese often seemed to consider themselves as the embodiment of concepts such as nationality, gender or family, rather than individuals. Certainly, the reality is not as simple as these stereotypical representations of two societies indicate; nevertheless, this dichotomized comparative frame presents an interesting context in which we can explore the concepts of individual, community/society and the dynamic relationship between these two concepts. Program activities will include lectures, workshops, book and film seminars as well as expository writing. Total: 16 credits. Enrollment: 24 Special Expenses: Up to $30 for a field trip. Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in cultural studies, literature, film studies and international relations. This program is also listed under Culture, Text and Language. top

Credits:

16.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.evergreen.edu

Phone Number:

(360) 867-6170

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Quarter

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