J314

 

Japanese Literature in Translation

Spring 2009

R. Loftus

Walton Hall 144

email rloftus

x6275

Course Objectives:

To introduce students to some of the major questions and issues in modern Japanese literature. Classical poetry and narrative prose, along with theater will be considered at the outset, but the emphasis will be on shôsetsu, Japan's version of the modern novel. Our aim will be to examine how the acts of reading and writing have occurred in the context of modern Japanese culture. Emphasis will be on in-class discussion and "writing-to-learn exercises." Some examples of such exercises are:

pre-discussion writing on discussion questions either in-class or before class online with Blackboard's "Discussion Board;" these can be written in an informal, expressive style

short responses to readings and specific questions as posted on "Discussion Board." Hopefully, these will aid students in framing the questions and identifying the topics they will address in their formal papers

drafts/interim works will be read by peers in the class and peers/instructors at the Writing Center

"freewrites" may be used as a post-writing exercise to be done immediately after formal papers are collected when appropriate

Course Requirements:

1. Regular attendance--no more than 3 unexcused absences--or grade will be lowered

2. Preparation of reading assignments as indicated on syllabus

3. Participation in online and in-class discussions

4. Participation in at least one Individual Conference with Professor to discuss a Draft of your paper

5. Completion of three fomal papers and various in-class writing assignments designed to develop ideas for these papers as well as submitting to and providing Peer Review.

Due dates for three formal papers: Feb. 21, Mar. 21, May 8

Students may exercise a 24 hour "grace" option one one of their three papers--that is, be allowed an extra 24 hours to turn their paper in without negative consequences. But, you may only do this once during the semester.

 

Remember:

"There is no perfect teacher.. . . The point is to make a sincere effort to become a perfect student of an imperfect teacher."

Fujita Issho, Zen Teacher

Major Texts:

MASKS

by ENCHI Fumiko

KOKORO

by Natsume SOSEKI

by MURAKAMI Haruki

KITCHEN

by YOSHIMOTO Banana

A PERSONAL MATTER

by OE Kenzaburo

Weekly Reading and Discussion Schedule

January 17

Introductions and Course Overview

19

Lecture: On Reading and Interpreting Japanese Literature: Where do we find Meaning?

Handout: Noel Burch, TO THE DISTANT OBSERVER, Ch. 2,3

24

Introduction to Japanese Poetry and Poetics

On the Manyoshu

"Aware" and HeianPolitics Site

Some more on poetry

Handouts:

 

Preface to the Kokinshu, Tosa Nikki by Ki no Tsurayuki

"Discourse on the Art of Fiction" from The Tale of Genji

More on the Tosa Nikki

26

From Poetry to Prose: the Genji monogatari

YUGAO (Evening Faces) &

Another Yugao site

AOI (Heartvine) Chapters

visit another excellent Genji website

See more websites on the Genji

Jan. 31

And back again: Noh: DEFINITIONS, VIDEO, TEXTS, begin MASKS

Aoi no Uye

See websites on Noh and its Masks

See Another site for Noh Masks

Feb. 2

MASKS by ENCHI Fumiko

First part. pp. 3-59

7

MASKS--part Two, pp.61-112

Characters

9

MASKS--Finish

 

See Nonomiya or The Shrine of the Fields

Some Notes on the text Masks

Question for Paper #1 on MasksDue Feb. 21

Student Conferences: Discuss Paper #1 Drafts/ Peer Review

Wednesday February 15

Important Note: How to Cite Internet Sources

14

KOKORO--pp. 1-62

by Natsume Soseki; See another brief Bio

16

KOKORO--pp. 62-124

See notes on Kokoro

21

KOKORO--pp. 125-187

PAPER #1 DUE

23

KOKORO--pp.187-End

See photos of gingko trees

Zoshigaya Cemetary

See Picture of Soseki in Middle-School

Soseki's likeness on the 1,000-yen note:

 

Natsume Soseki's likeness on the 1000-yen note

 

 

 

28

SPUTNIK SWEETHEART, pp. 1-53

by Murakami Haruki

March 2

SPUTNIK SWEETHEART, pp.54-96

 

Links to Postmodernism; see a definition here

and another link here

7

SPUTNIK SWEETHEART, pp. 97-210

 

9

Discuss

 

 

Question for Paper #2, Due March 21

March 16, Student Conferences

Introduction to Oe Kenzaburo

14

A PERSONAL MATTER Chs. 1-4

by OE Kenzaburo

16

A PERSONAL MATTER Chs. 5-7

Brief review

21

 

A PERSONAL MATTER Chs.8-10

 

"Oe and the Sublime"

PAPER #2 DUE

23

A PERSONAL MATTER Chs. 11-13

Oe Notes

MARCH 27-31

 

SPRING BREAK, NO CLASSES

 

See a biopage/Nobel Prize

See 1994 Interview with Oe at Berkeley

 

April 4

Discuss A Personal Matter; begin Film: IKIRU (To Live),

KUROSAWA Akira, Director

6

Film: IKIRU (To Live), Discuss

Film Review article

11

Finish Ikiru, Discuss IKIRU

Some Definitions of Existentialism

 

13

"Moonlight Shadow"

by YOSHIMOTO Banana

18

KITCHEN pp. 3-26

YOSHIMOTO Banana

20

KITCHEN pp. 26-56

YOSHIMOTO Banana

 

 

 

 

YOSHIMOTO Banana

 

 

25

KITCHEN pp. 57-105 (complete)

27

Discuss

 

May 2

Last Class

 

 

Question for Final Paper

May 3-4, Student Conferences on Drafts

 

FINAL PAPER DUE Monday May 8, 3:00 pm

 

J314 Students Writing their Papers!

 

The following are useful sources which can be found in the Reference section of the library. You will be able to find background information on the authors and some analysis of their writings.

Ref. DS 805 .K633

KODANSHA ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JAPAN 8 vols.

Ref. C.52 and C.53

CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS (100+ Volumes)

Ref. PL 717. R55 1

A READER'S GUIDE TO JAPANESE LITERATURE

by Thomas Rimer

Ref PL 747.55. L48

MODERN JAPANESE NOVELISTS: A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY

by John Lewell

Ref. PN 771 .C59

CONTEMPORARY LITERARY CRITICISM

Ref. PN 771 .55

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD LITERATURE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

1981

 

Internet Site: "Trends in Present Day Japanese Literature"

http://www2.accu.or.jp/report/abd/31-4/abd3142.html

See "Japanorama" Commercial site for Japanese Literature

http://www.japanorama.com/fiction.html

For a site with MP3 files of Japanese Literary Texts click here

 

Print by Clifton Karhu 

See also the following books on Reserve:

1. Doris Bargen

A Woman's Weapon:Spirit Possession inthe Tale of Genji

2. Kojin Karatani

The Origins of Modern Japanese Literature

3. Arthur Kimball

Crisis and Identity in Contemporary Japanese Novels

4. Noriko Lippit

Reality and Fiction in Modern Japanese Literature

5. Masao Miyoshi

Accomplices of Silence

6. Irena Powell

Writers and Society in Modern Japan

7. Thomas Rimer

Modern Japanese Fiction and its Traditions

8. Makoto Ueda

Modern Japanese Writers and the Nature of Literature

9. Michiko Wilson

The Marginal World of Oe Kenzaburo

10. H. Yamanouchi

The Search for Authenticity in Modern Japanese Literature

11. Sachiko Schierbeck

Japanese Women Novelists in the 20th Century 104 Biographies 1900-1993

12. Rebecca Copelanad

Lost Leaves: Women Writers of Meiji Japan

13. Chieko Mulhern, ed.

Japanese Women Writers: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENCHI Fumiko (click for brief discussionof the Buddhist parable of Lady Vaidehi). See a photo of Nishi Honganji Temple.