LLEA 40605 - Nation and Culture in Modern Japan

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

East Asian Lang & Lit

Description:

From Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, The Mikado, to the cherry blossom poems of kamikaze suicide pilots in World War II, the nation of Japan has been presented as obsessed with the arts. But is this aesthetic image simply ornamental? What are the political ramifications of a national identity intimately intertwined with ideas of traditional high culture? When was this association between nation and art made and why? This course traces the intersection between high art and national identity in Japan from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century (with a brief post-war postscript.) During this century, Japanese government officials and intellectuals carefully crafted a national image that went through at least three stages in relation to high culture. In the early Meiji period (1868-90), the Japanese leadership had little use for Japan's traditional arts and fervently pursued a policy of Westernization in culture as well as politics and economics. After 1890, Japanese arts were revived as a basis for Japanese nationalism, partly because of interest from Europeans and Americans who were intrigued by Japanese handicrafts, painting, sculpture, and ceremonies. During the Taisho (1912-26) and early Showa (1926-60) eras, culture was developed as a bulwark of ultranationalism. The main focus of this course will be the ideological and political uses of high culture. Readings for this course will include primary documents (in translation) as well as secondary works. No background knowledge of Japanese history is required.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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