(ASIA 082) Imagined Futures in Japanese Pop Culture: Apocalypse, Disasters, and Humanoids

4 Credits

From cataclysmic destruction to technological evolution, Japanese pop-culture has long envisioned the future through apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic narratives. This course examines how anime, manga, and film depict both large-scale disasters and the rise of robots, cyborgs, and AI. Japan’s historical experiences with disasters—WWII, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and Fukushima nuclear crisis—have profoundly shaped its cultural imagination. Students will gain insight into Japan’s cultural perspectives on the evolving relationship between humanity, nature, and technology. In English. No prerequisite. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W