mlo 2: Japanese culture
2.1 Students develop a comprehensive understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of Japanese culture: perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), practices (patterns of social interactions) and products (both tangible and intangible, for example, art, history, literature, music).
2.2 Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
Courses completed towards this MLO:
- JAPN215: Cool Japan Today
- JAPN305: Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization
- JAPN313: Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
- Law A (Study Abroad)
- International Law A (Study Abroad)
2.1 I have always had an appreciation for Japanese culture every since I was very young. My first experiences with anime and manga came when I was around the age of 12 with Great Teacher Onizuka, and my first culture class at CSUMB (JAPN215) was the class that actually made me decide to change my major. The three upper division culture courses I took at CSUMB focused on integral parts of Japanese culture and let me analyze how cultural products and perspectives have changed over time. In JAPN313, manga and anime are not only looked at as a form of entertainment but as unique Japanese cultural items. When we think of the word Anime we don't just think about them as animation, or manga as comic books; they are each uniquely in their own category. Manga and Anime have been influenced by other parts of Japanese culture for years, whether it be food culture, work culture, or social issues. In my essay for 313, I examine how robot culture and yokai (Japanese spirits) have influenced many of the creative works that come out of Japan. To be more specific, we watched Natsume Book of Friends which examines the yokai and human relationship, and we also watched Astro Boy and analyzed how that defined Japanese mecha culture as a whole.
2.2 Japan's cultural background influences many facets of it's everyday life in more ways then people would think. In JAPN305 we analyzed how religion isn't necessarily a huge part of Japanese every day life, but Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines are lined around the country. In my final paper for the class, I analyzed how American culture influenced Japanese cuisine but at the same time allowed the Japanese people to put a spin on foreign dishes and make them uniquely their own. JAPN380 allowed me to critically think about the issues present in the Japanese community, whether it be issues regarding the aging population, territory disputes, the declining birth rate, or how the country deals with natural disasters. These courses have shaped what I believe to be Japanese culture today, and I talked about many of the issues that were presented to me in these classes in Japan as well.
Each part of this MLO helped develop my view of Japan in the global world today. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced and quickest developing countries in the world, and I hope to one day change peoples views and perspectives on the country and it's wonders.
JAPN305 - Final Essay (Word Document)
JAPN313 - Final Essay (Word Document)
2.2 Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
Courses completed towards this MLO:
- JAPN215: Cool Japan Today
- JAPN305: Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization
- JAPN313: Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
- Law A (Study Abroad)
- International Law A (Study Abroad)
2.1 I have always had an appreciation for Japanese culture every since I was very young. My first experiences with anime and manga came when I was around the age of 12 with Great Teacher Onizuka, and my first culture class at CSUMB (JAPN215) was the class that actually made me decide to change my major. The three upper division culture courses I took at CSUMB focused on integral parts of Japanese culture and let me analyze how cultural products and perspectives have changed over time. In JAPN313, manga and anime are not only looked at as a form of entertainment but as unique Japanese cultural items. When we think of the word Anime we don't just think about them as animation, or manga as comic books; they are each uniquely in their own category. Manga and Anime have been influenced by other parts of Japanese culture for years, whether it be food culture, work culture, or social issues. In my essay for 313, I examine how robot culture and yokai (Japanese spirits) have influenced many of the creative works that come out of Japan. To be more specific, we watched Natsume Book of Friends which examines the yokai and human relationship, and we also watched Astro Boy and analyzed how that defined Japanese mecha culture as a whole.
2.2 Japan's cultural background influences many facets of it's everyday life in more ways then people would think. In JAPN305 we analyzed how religion isn't necessarily a huge part of Japanese every day life, but Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines are lined around the country. In my final paper for the class, I analyzed how American culture influenced Japanese cuisine but at the same time allowed the Japanese people to put a spin on foreign dishes and make them uniquely their own. JAPN380 allowed me to critically think about the issues present in the Japanese community, whether it be issues regarding the aging population, territory disputes, the declining birth rate, or how the country deals with natural disasters. These courses have shaped what I believe to be Japanese culture today, and I talked about many of the issues that were presented to me in these classes in Japan as well.
Each part of this MLO helped develop my view of Japan in the global world today. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced and quickest developing countries in the world, and I hope to one day change peoples views and perspectives on the country and it's wonders.
JAPN305 - Final Essay (Word Document)
JAPN313 - Final Essay (Word Document)