JAP2506 ¨C Anthropological Perspectives on Japan

Course content

This course provides an introduction to anthropological perspectives on Japan. Through reading and discussing recent ethnographic works, we will explore key themes for understanding contemporary Japan. Topics include (among others) changing family life, a hyper-aging society, new technologies, indigenous activism, environmental issues, social inequality, wartime memory, rural depopulation, popular culture, and social isolation.

This course heavily emphasizes in-class discussion of assigned readings and other course materials.

Learning outcome

• Familiarity with scholarly analyses and debates concerning socio-cultural phenomena in contemporary Japan.
• Ability to frame issues in contemporary Japan in the relevant social, historical, and/or political context(s).
• Ability to critique essentialist and/or ahistorical claims concerning Japanese culture and society.
• Competence in utilizing conceptual and theoretical frameworks to develop an analytical argument.
• Awareness of anthropological research methods¡ªtheir strengths, shortcomings, and ethical implications.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

The course will be taught in English and the readings will all be in English, so proficiency in the English language (with a good working knowledge of academic English) is required.

Recommended previous knowledge

The course JAP1501 - Present-Day Japan provides helpful background information.

Teaching

We will meet for two hours per week over 12 weeks. Each class session will consist of a mixture of lecture and seminar discussion. Active participation in class discussions is strongly emphasized.?Students are expected to come to class having read all of the assigned readings, and prepared with thoughts or questions concerning the material. Preparation for discussion includes identifying puzzling aspects of a text, highlighting passages for further analysis, raising questions for debate, and tying ideas or frameworks to other course material.

Compulsory Activities:

• Attendance?at 10 out of 12 seminars/lectures.

• A passing grade on at least 5 out of 7 in-class quizzes.

Students will be given seven in-class quizzes over the course of the term. On days when quizzes are given, they will be completed through Canvas at the start of the seminar. Each quiz will consist of 5 multiple-choice questions and cover the readings assigned for that day. A passing grade consists of at least 3 correct answers. No make-up quizzes will be provided in the case of student absences.

All compulsory activities must be approved in order for you to sit for the exam. It is the student's responsibility to check whether or not the compulsory activities are approved. All approved compulsory activities are valid for one semester.?

Valid Absence:

If you have a valid absence from the compulsory activities, you must submit an application and hand in documentation.

This is how you apply for valid absence from compulsory activities/compulsory attendance:?/english/studies/examinations/compulsory-activities/hf-oblig.html

Examination

The examination consists of a take-home exam to be completed over the course of 72 hours. The exam will be based on lectures, readings, and in-class discussions.

You will submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera.

Use of sources and citations: You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations /english/studies/examinations/sources-citations/?

If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.?/english/studies/examinations/cheating/

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.