＜概要/Course Content Summary＞
In this course we will investigate some of the international and intercultural influences of popular culture, focusing mainly upon pop culture and subcultures in the United States, but also raising examples from Japanese and other popular and youth cultures. Together we will examine the ways that art, design, music, literature, and film have crossed national and cultural boundaries to influence one another.
Some of the themes we will consider in this course are representation, adaptation, and cultural appropriation. As we examine specific works, including comics, manga, animation, novels, films, etc., we will consider each in its historical and cultural context, and discuss how important concepts such as gender, sexual orientation, nationality, and race relate to the ways in which each work was created and received.
We will deepen our understanding of each topic through weekly readings, lectures, and in-class discussions. Although some of the works we discuss may not be available in English translation, all readings will be in English and no Japanese language ability is required for this class.
Assignments will be provided online, and discussion sessions will be held using online web conferencing.
＜到達目標/Goals,Aims＞
The objectives of this course are to:
・Learn about the historical and social contexts in which American and Japanese popular culture evolved
・Consider the ways in which those cultures influenced one another
・Consider the ways in which this history continues to influence popular culture today
・Gain a greater familiarity with American and Japanese popular culture by reading about, examining, and discussing works from different time periods and genres
・Improve critical reading and thinking skills through independent research and active participation in discussion
＜授業計画/Schedule＞
（実施回/
Week）
|
（内容/
Contents）
|
（授業時間外の学習/
Assignments）
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 1
|
（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Introductions – What is Popular Culture?
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: Read “Pop Culture: An Overview,” by Tom Delaney
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 2
|
（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Minstrelsy and the Birth of America’s Pop Culture
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: Explore “History of Minstrels: From Jump Jim Crow to The Jazz Singer,” by Andy Huse, Simone Sanders, and Matt Deihl
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 3
|
（内容/ Contents）
Topic: From Konron masks to Little Black Sambo to the “Howaito Family”
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: Read “Historically, Japan Is No Stranger to Blacks, Nor to Blackface,” by John G. Russell
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 4
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Yellow and The Black/White Binary
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: Read “Understanding Our Perceptions of Asian Americans,” by Peter N. Kiang
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 5
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Normativity & “Whitewashing”
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA (To be announced in class)
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 6
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: The Happiest, Most Magical Place on Earth
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: Read “Mickey’s Headed to the Public Domain! But Will He Go Quietly?” by Stephen Carlisle
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|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 7
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Adaptation and The Media Mix
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 8
|
（内容/ Contents）
Semester Review and Class Discussion
|
（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 9
|
（内容/ Contents）
Topic: The Hero vs. The Villian
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 10
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Jazz, Rock n’ Roll, and Hip Hop
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: Read "Introduction to America's Music"
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|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 11
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Blaxploitation, Karate, and the Kung Fu Film
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA
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|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 12
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Perms, Dyes, Tans, Tattoos, and T-shirts
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA
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|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 13
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Nerds, Otaku, Hikikomori, and Moral Panic
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 14
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（内容/ Contents）
Topic: Taboo & The Television
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
Assignment: TBA
|
|
（実施回/ Week）
Week 15
|
（内容/ Contents）
Independent Research Discussions
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（授業時間外の学習/ Assignments）
n/a
|
Course Requirements and Assignments:
a) Attendance, Readings and Participation:
You are expected to attend all classes (excluding excused absences for serious illness, family emergencies, etc.). You will be responsible for completing assignments (reading or viewing selections provided either online or in class) by the date specified, and for coming to class prepared for discussion. You are expected to ask and to answer questions during lectures, and to actively participate in group discussions.
b) Writing Assignments
You will be required to keep an independent research journal, in which you will make weekly entries analyzing self-chosen examples of popular media and culture. You will contribute to group discussion in class each week by making brief, informal presentations based on the contents of your journal entries. You will also be required to submit a research paper at the end of the semester. You are encouraged to utilize research and writing from your journal in your paper, although it is not mandatory.
＜成績評価基準/Evaluation Criteria＞
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Class Participation (attendance, reading assignments, discussion)
|
60%
|
|
|
Independent Research Journal
|
20%
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|
|
Research Paper
|
20%
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＜成績評価結果/Results of assessment＞
成績評価の見方について/Notes for assessment
| 登録者数 |
成績評価（%) |
評点
平均値 |
備考
|
| A |
B |
C |
D |
F |
他 |
| 35 |
45.7 |
31.4 |
8.6 |
0.0 |
14.3 |
0.0 |
2.9 |
* |
＜テキスト/Textbook＞
All readings will be provided by the lecturer.
＜備考/Remarks＞
Lecturer: Omar Yusef BAKER
*Course schedule and reading assignments subject to change; all changes will be announced in class.
Note to students: The ILA will be offering all courses through remote learning over the spring and fall semesters of the 2021 Academic Year. Course lecturers will send DUET messages with details on how to participate in the courses that you have registered for. Be sure to check the DUET system when course registration has been finalized in order to receive further instructions from your course lecturers.
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