This course examines contemporary Japanese popular culture and its influence not only on its Asian neighbours, especially China and Korea, but also on the West. Not only are genres such as film, television, and popular literature examined, but also particularly Japanese phenomenon such as otaku, moe, shoshoku danshi ("herbivore men") and the Japanese penchant for […]
This course introduces students to contemporary Korean culture, identity, and society. It seeks to help students develop a dynamic understanding of contemporary Korea by taking an interdisciplinary approach to cultural and socio-political issues of Korean society. Course credit exclusions: None.
This course examines manga and anime, two of the most popular and influential genres of popular Japanese culture not only in Japan, but also in Asia and the West. These popular mediums are studied in a historical context with respect to their origins and development as commercial industries and cultural commodities. Prerequisites: AP/JP 2700 6.00 […]
This course is a seminar. It deals with the creative work of Lu Xun, China's leading 20th-century literary writer. While the focus of the course is on the textual analysis of Lu Xun's short stories, prose poems and selected satirical essays, we pay attention to secondary sources as supplementary material to help students understand how […]
The course studies the political and economic changes in the region of Asia and the Pacific and their implications for the global capitalist system. Interactions between the state, capital, classes, and gender are discussed.Themes: Global Politics; Development and Inequality in the Global South; Political Economy and Political Power.Prerequisites: AS/POLS 2930 6.0 (previously 2920 6.0)Course Credit […]
Examines policy issues arising from development planning. Topics include agriculture versus industry, international trade, monetary and fiscal policies, foreign investment, foreign aid and self-reliance, and global issues.Prerequisites: AP/ECON 1000 3.00 and AP/ECON 1010 3.00 or equivalents.
Studies the economic problems of poor countries and poor communities. Explores the meaning of development by considering the characteristics of economic underdevelopment, poverty, income and wealth distribution, rural versus urban development, population growth, and unemployment and migration. Additional topics include theories of development, growth and technological change, strategies for environmentally sustainable development, education, and health.Prerequisites: […]
China's relationship with the outside world has been one of the dominant themes in its development. How is China moving from its position of isolation to become a 21st century superpower? We focus on the post-1949 period, in particular, the China-Soviet relationship; American-China relations; China and Japan; China and India; Canadian-China policy; China's relations with […]
This course examines the origins and development of the modern Chinese political system. Emphasis is on the role of Mao Zedong, the post-1949 period and the reform of Chinese socialism.Themes: Development and Inequality in the Global South; Global Politics; Political Organizing and Communication.Course Credit Exclusion: Prior to Fall 2009: AS/POLS 3510 3.0, AS/POLS 3510 6.0
The purpose of this course is to introduce basic texts in order to explore the interactions of religion and gender from the traditional to the modern period in Korea and to relate this material to the general process of cultural development. Korea's native shamantistic traditions were early supplanted by religions imported through China such as […]