Course Description: This course examines how Japanese culture imagines the monstrous, ghostly, and divine from early modern to modern period. Whether being a representation of the Other, an embodiment of resistance to environmental changes, or an educational tool,the supernatural adapted to historical and cultural contexts. We will explore a sampling of readings ranging from early modern graphic narratives (manga predecessors) to contemporary dystopian novels while keeping in mind such interdisciplinary questions as:

What is “modernity” and how was it theorized in the field? 

What historical and social changes influenced the way monsters and monstrosity was imagined? 

What role have deities and folklore characters play in social commentary and even political resistance? 

How does dystopian literature comment on such anxieties as climate change, nuclear power, political oppression, and AI?
 

Prerequisite: Japanese 2231, 2451, 2452, 5401, or another Japanese literature or culture course 2000 or above; or permission of instructor.

Language requirement: All readings and visual materials will be available in English; primary source will be provided in Japanese as well.

Undergraduate section: #38816; 

Graduate section: #38815; 3 credits