East Asian Cultures

(4 Credits)

This course introduces East Asian cultures, focusing to a greater or lesser extent on China, Japan, and Korea. Aspects of East Asia?s traditional and modern culture are presented by study of some of the area?s Great Books, as well as other literary, political, philosophical, religious and/or artistic works from the traditional, modern, or contemporary periods. Issues raised may include national or cultural This course introduces East Asian cultures, focusing to a greater or lesser extent on China, Japan, and Korea. Aspects of East Asia?s traditional and modern culture are presented by study of some of the area?s Great Books, as well as other literary, political, philosophical, religious and/or artistic works from the traditional, modern, or contemporary periods. Issues raised may include national or cultural identity in relation to colonialism/imperialism, East-West tensions, modernism?s clash with tradition, the persistence of tradition with the modern, the East Asian Diaspora, and the question of East Asian modernities.