The teaching modality of this class will be determined as we learn more about the omicron variant of Covid-19. The class will be held online through January 31 at https://washington.zoom.us/j/99049878129; from Monday, February 7, we will meet in person; our classroom is FSH 107. You are welcome to use this classroom as a place to join virtual meetings. Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:20, except on University holidays. The midterm exam will be held online; the final exam will be held in person if that is possible.
All University-mandated Covid policies must be adhered to by all students.
This course surveys short fiction written in Japan during the modern period (roughly 1868-present). Reading a wide selection of short stories (and excerpts from novels), we will discuss the works as literary art, the historical context of the works' production, and relevant theoretical and literary discourses, some contemporary to the works and some from today.
The course has one required text: The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Literature Abridged Edition. Because of the size of the book, using an electronic edition is encouraged. It is available through the university library here.
Although this course cannot be taken as a "W" (writing) course, it can be used to fulfill VLPA or I&S requirements. It is a required course for the literature track of the Japanese major, and can be applied toward the linguistic track as well.
No background in the Japanese language, Japanese history, or literary studies is required for this course.
Your grade will be made up of four components, each worth 25% of your final grade. The first component will be discussion posts about the reading; the second will be participation in the class discussion; the third will be a take-home midterm and peer feedback exercise; and the fourth will be the final exam.