This survey class is a journey through the social, cultural, political, economic and religious developments in Japan since 1800. We’ll go from the late 18th-century kabuki stage and the samurai castle to the military barracks and factory floor behind Japanese imperialism to the crowded trains and hip-hop-filled streets of Harajuku in 21st-century Tokyo. We will examine how much Japan has changed, but also much about the lines of continuity that run from the past to the present through a textbook and a few short scholarly pieces. The course also aims to humanize the history of the Japanese people through first-hand accounts ranging from diary, letter, newspaper, play, and novel excerpts to government documents, comic books, paintings, photos, and other sources. You will leave this course equipped with the information and tools needed to acknowledge and understand the vividness and complexity of Japan, its position in East Asia and the world, and its special relationship with the United States. Beyond studying our topic, however, you will also develop important critical thinking and analytical writing skills that will help you to reflect and communicate more effectively in general.
- Teacher: Garrett Washington