(scroll down for online syllabus and links)

Asian 12: Introduction to the Literature of East Asia
a.k.a. "From Seoul Food to Sushi"

Course meets: Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:50 in Webster 101

Course description: A survey of works representative of East Asian civilization and culture from the classical to the contemporary. Readings include fiction written in English and English language translations of historical, religious, and fictional texts originally composed in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. The function of food and drink as they appear in religious, philosophical, cinematic, and literary works of East Asia serves as a unifying theme of the course.

Requirements: Assigned readings are to be completed before class. Students are expected to lead at least one class discussion during the semester. Three short essays, approximately 1,000 words (4 pages) in length, and a final paper, approximately 2,000 words (8 pages) in length, are to be submitted during the course of the semester. One-half letter grade will be deducted for each day written assignments are submitted beyond the due date. Regular attendance, contribution to class discussion, viewing of screened films, and completion of assignments will factor into final grade. Film screenings are usually scheduled for Tuesday or Thursday evenings at 7:30 in Fayerweather 115. See syllabus for additional information on film screenings.

The following books can be purchased at the Jeffery Amherst College Store:

Monkey, Wu Chengen
Some Prefer Nettles, Tanizaki Jun’ichirô
My Year of Meats, Ruth L. Ozeki
The Naked Tree, Pak Wan-so
Waiting, Ha Jin

Additional readings will be distributed during the semester. A fee will be charged to your account to cover duplication costs.

SCHEDULED FILM SCREENINGS

Unless otherwise noted film screenings will be held on Tuesday or Thursday evenings at 7:30 in Fayerweather 115. If you are unable to attend a scheduled film screening make arrangements to view the film in the media center before the class meeting in which the film will be discussed. The call number for the film, when available, follows the title, director, year released, and length of film. Films will normally be available at the reserve desk for the course, but please note that films without call numbers are personal copies, subject to limited availability.

2/13 TH Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou, 1991, 125m; PL2904.T86 A2491)
2/27 TH Tampopo (Juzo Itami, 1986, 114 m; PN1997 .J951 DVD)
3/6 TH Ring (Hideo Nakata 1998, 98m; Japan VHS)
3/27 TH Ring (Dong-bin Kim, 1999, 108m, Korea VHS)
4/1 TU Peppermint Candy (Chang-dong Lee, 2000, 130m, DVD)* subject to change
4/17 TH The Ring (Gore Verbinski, 2002, 115m; US DVD to be released 3/4/ 2003)
4/8 TU 301/302 (Chul-soo Park, 1995, 100m; PN1997 .T468 1996 VHS)
4/22 TU Eat Drink Man Woman (Ang Lee, 1999, 123m; PN1997 .E2421 DVD)

--Syllabus--

• Week 1 Introduction/Overview
  
  • 1/27 Thickening the Plot: Themes of Food and Family
    
  • view: What time is it there? (Ni na bian ji dian; Tsai Ming-Liang) in class
    
  • 1/29 read: Murakami Haruki, “The Second Bakery Attack” pp. 36-49
    
  • read: Margaret Visser, “What Shall We Have for Dinner?” pp. 11-21
    
    
• CHINA
  
• Week 2 Filial Piety and Impermanence
  
  • 2/3 read: Wu Chengen, Monkey; Confucianism lecture and handout
    
  • 2/5 read: Monkey--Buddhism: A. Waley, “Did Buddha Die of Eating Pork?”
    
    
    
• Week 3 Table Manners Good and Bad
  
  • 2/10 read: Monkey ---Taoism lecture and handout
    
  • 2/12 read: Lu Xun, “Diary of a Madman” pp. 29-41
    
  • 2/13 film: Raise the Red Lantern (Da hong deng long gao gao gua; Zhang Yimou, 1991, 125m)
    
    
• Week 4
  
  • 2/17 read: Lu Wenfu, “The Gourmet” pp. 97-181
    
  • 2/19 read: K. C. Chang, Food in Chinese Culture pp. 3-21
    
  • 2/21 SHORT ESSAY I DUE
    
    
• JAPAN
  
• Week 5
  
  • 2/24 read: Tanizaki Jun’ichirô, Some Prefer Nettles
    
  • 2/26 read: Tanizaki Jun’ichirô, Some Prefer Nettles
    
  • 2/27 film: Tampopo (Juzo Itami, 1986, 114 m)
    
    
• Week 6
  
  • 3/3 read: Enchi Fumiko, “The Flower Eating Crone” pp. 172-181 and Kôno Taeko, "Toddler-Hunting" pp. 45-68
    
  • additional reading: " Enchi Fumiko and the Hidden Energy of the Supernatural." Wayne Pounds in The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese, Vol. 24, No. 2. (Nov., 1990), pp. 167-183.
    
  • 3/5 Zhongwei Shen calligraphy demonstration and lecture
    
  • **Webster 217 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm**
    
  • 3/6 film: Ring (Ringu; Hideo Nakata 1998, 98m)
    
    
• Week 7 A feast for the eyes
  
  • 3/10 Tonda Troupe bunraku demonstration
    
  • **Studio 3, Webster Hall**
    
  • 3/12 read: article on food in Japan: "Culture and Cuisine." Discuss bunraku demonstration and film.
    
  • 3/14 SHORT ESSAY II DUE
    
    
• March 15-23 Spring Recess!
• N.B., student-led discussion assignments begin the week we return from spring recess.
  Please refer to the in-class sign-up list and come prepared to lead discussion for the relevant class meeting.
  
  
• KOREA
  
• Week 8
  
  • 3/24 read: Pak Wan-so, The Naked Tree
    
  • 3/26 read: Pak Wan-so, The Naked Tree
    
  • 3/27 film : Ring (Ring virus; 1999, Korea)
    
    
• Week 9
  
  • 3/31 read: Hyun-jae Yee Sallee, ed., "Introduction," "Translator's Preface," and "The Snowy Road" in The Snowy Road and Other Stories (AL&C copies distribued in class; additional copy on reserve in Frost: PL984.E8 S66 1993)
    
  • 4/1 film: Peppermint Candy (Bakha satang; Chang-dong Lee, 2000, 130m) *
    
  • 4/2 lunch at Kohyang, discuss film
    
    
• Week 10
  
  • 4/7 read: Kim Sungok, “Seoul: Winter 1964” pp. 216-32
    
  • 4/8 film: 301/302 (Chul-soo Park, 1995, 100m; PN1997 .T468 1996 VHS)
    
  • 4/9 read: Pak Wan-so, "Winter Outing" pp. 143-64 in The Snowy Road cont. (AL&C copy)
    
  • 4/11 SHORT ESSAY III DUE **due to schedule change this week, papers may be submitted until 4:00 pm on 4/15 with no grade penalty**
    
• Week 11
  
  • 4/14 read: Ha Jin, Waiting (upto page 70, Chapter 7)
    **in class: discuss material assigned 4/8 and 4/9 first, then Waiting**
    
  • 4/16 read: Ha Jin, Waiting (Chapters 8 to end)
    
  • 4/17 film: The Ring (Gore Verbinski, 2002, 115m)
    
    
• Week 12
  
  • 4/21 read: Banana Yoshimoto, “Kitchen”pp. 3-105 (copies on reserve in Frost: PL865.O7138 K5813 1993)
    
  • 4/22 film: Eat Drink Man Woman (Yin shi nan nu; Ang Lee, 1999, 123m)
    
  • 4/23 read: Ruth L. Ozeki, My Year of Meats
    
    
• Week 13
  
  • 4/28 read: Ruth L. Ozeki, My Year of Meats
    
  • 4/30 view: Picnic (Shunji Iwai, 1986, 68 m) in class; discuss
    
    
• Week 14
  
  • 5/5 lunch at Amherst Chinese
    
  • 5/7 Prewriting assignment/presentation of final paper topics
    
    
    
• Final Paper due Tuesday 13 May

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