This course has finished

This is the class homepage for Philip Seaton’s course Representations of the Past in Popular Culture. We study Japanese history from around 1850 to 1950 using a cultural studies approach and with a focus on empire and war, entertainment and tourism.

The course is bilingual. Lectures, discussions and the reports are in English, but most examples of popular culture works are in Japanese.

The course combines on-demand/online materials and discussions during class time. In principle, discussions in class time are all online, although some might happen on campus if circumstances permit.

Syllabus: 312114-多言語・多文化社会論概論B

Grading Rubric: Representations of the Past in Popular Culture Rubric 2020

Text (optional purchase): 小学館の学習漫画、「日本の歴史」、第１６〜２０巻。

Text (optional purchase): If you have access to NHK On Demand (990 yen per month, 見放題プラン), you can access more of the materials that will be discussed during the course. There are also various resources available open access on NHK for School.

Week 1 (1 October): Course Introduction. Perry’s Black Ships.

12:40~ Course Introduction

13:00~ The Historical Context

13:30~ On-Demand Materials (Complete for homework)

14:00~ Q&A about the course.

Week 2 (8 October): Bakumatsu Period & the Boshin War

12:40~ Course Introduction (recap). Q&A about the course.

13:00~ The Historical Context

13:20~ On-Demand Materials (Complete for homework)

14:00~ Class Discussion

Week 3 (15 October): The Early Meiji period