For students enrolled in or after 2015 For students enrolled in or before 2014

K1203 K0103
Manga and Anime Studies Introduction to Japanese Culture
【MANGA ANIME STUDIES】 【INTRO JPN CULTURE】
2 credits 2 credits
Fall 2016 Fall 2016

INSTRUCTOR: Omar Yusef BAKER

Course Description
In this course we will explore and compare the closely related histories of Japanese
comics and animation. At the beginning of the semester we will discuss some of the
popular forms of visual and performance art that preceded comics and animation in
Japan, focusing specifically on works that share formal and thematic similarities with
modern works of manga and anime. Starting with Japan’s earliest examples of
cartooning and animation and proceeding chronologically, we will consider the
entertainment value, artistic merit, and historical significance of both widely
recognized and lesser-known works. We will consider the roles of both creators and
consumers in the production of these media, as well as the social, economic, and
political concerns that frame them. We will discuss the relationship between manga
and anime, and their interrelationships with other media. While identifying the
qualities that make manga and anime uniquely Japanese, we will also consider the
international and cross-cultural influences that have contributed to both media in Japan
and abroad. We will deepen our understanding of each topic through weekly readings,
lectures, and in-class discussions. We will have many opportunities to examine manga
and anime in class. Although some of the works we discuss may not be available in
English translation, all readings will be in English and no Japanese language ability is
required for this class.

Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are to:
 gain a deeper understanding of Japanese society by both enjoying and
critically examining its popular culture
 learn about the historical and social contexts in which Japanese comics and
animation were invented, and how they evolved into the manga and anime of
today
 gain a greater familiarity with manga and anime by reading about, examining,
and discussing works from different time periods and genres
 improve critical reading and thinking skills through diligent practice and active
participation in discussion
Course Requirements and Assignments
a) Attendance, Readings and Participation:
You will be expected to attend all classes, and to receive credit you must attend
a minimum of 12 out of our 15 class meetings (excluding excuses absences for serious
illness, family emergencies, etc.). You will be responsible for completing homework
(reading articles and essays either online or provided in class, watching videos, etc.) by
the date specified, and expected to come to class prepared for discussion. You will be
expected to ask and to answer questions during lectures, and to actively participate in
group discussions. In addition, you will also be asked to submit a short writing
assignment at the end of each class.

b) Midterm Essay & Discussion:

You will write a 3 - 5 page essay on your personal experience of Japanese
popular culture, related but not limited to manga and anime (for example, you might
discuss cosplay) In this paper you will discuss your cultural background, and any
works of manga or anime that you were particularly aware of or interested in during
different stages of your life. Drawing upon our discussions in class on concepts such as
“cultural proximity” and “cultural odor,” you will describe your reactions to those
works in detail. At midterm you will be asked to briefly discuss the contents of your
essay in class. (A more detailed explanation of this assignment will be given at the
beginning of the semester)

c) End of Term Report & Presentation:

You will write a 4 - 6 page report on two works of manga and/or anime that
you discover during the semester. Your report should discuss manga and/or anime, but
could also include related products or works in other media (for example, character
merchandise, video game or live-action film adaptations, etc.) You are encouraged to
make new discoveries by visiting libraries, bookstores, movie theaters, museums, etc.,
and by sharing information with your classmates. You will choose one specific theme
to examine (for example, portrayals of women, or depictions of violence), then
compare and contrast the ways in which that theme is expressed in both works. At the
end of the semester you will be asked to present the contents of your report to your
classmates. (A more detailed explanation of this assignment will be given at the
beginning of the semester)

Evaluation Criteria & Grading

Grading for the course will be determined as follows:

1. Class Participation (attendance & discussion) 30%
2. In-class Writing Assignments & Homework 10%
3. Midterm Essay & Presentation 30%
4. End of Term Report & Presentation 30%
5. Examinations 0%

Additional Information: CLASSROOM POLICIES

Course Materials
All class materials will be available online or provided in-class.
Course Schedule

Week 1
Topic: Introductions: Why and How We Study Manga and Anime
Assignment: 1. Reading: Globalizing Manga: From Japan to Hong Kong and beyond
by Wendy Siuyi Wong

Week 2
Topic: Roots of Manga & Anime: Storytelling Techniques of the Heian Period
Assignment: 1. Reading: Yamato-e by Anna Willmann

Week 3
Topic: Roots of Manga & Anime: Printmaking & Performance in the Edo Period
Assignment: 1. Reading: Woodblock Prints in the Ukiyo-e Style by Department of
Asian Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Week 4
Topic: East Meets West I: Satirical Magazines & Political Cartoons of the Meiji Period
Assignment: 1. Reading: Barbed Organ of Delights by Burritt Sabin

Week 5
Topic: East Meets West: Children’s Magazines, Illustrated Stories, Comics and Early
Animation in the Taisho Period
Assignment: 1. Reading: The Evolution of the Japanese Animation Industry by
Yamaguchi Yasuo

Week 6
Topic: Prewar Manga & Anime: Manga and Moving Pictures in the Showa Period
Assignment: 1. Reading: The Trend Toward Affirmation of War: ‘Norakuro’ by Katō
Hidetoshi

Week 7
Topic: Postwar Manga & Anime: Story Manga and Motion Pictures in the Showa
Period
Assignment: 1. Reading: Tezuka Osamu Outwits the Phantom Blot: The Case of New
Treasure Island by Ryan Holmberg

Week 8
Submission of Midterm Essay & Discussion
Assignment: 1: In-class Discussions & Midterm Paper due (details regarding the
presentation and paper will be given in class at the beginning of the semester).

Week 9
Topic: For Mature Readers: Rental Libraries & Alternative Manga
Assignment: 1. Reading: Gekiga as a site of Intercultural Exchange: Tatsumi
Yoshihiro’s A Drifting Life by Roman Rosenbaum
Week 10
Topic: Media Mix: Manga, Anime, Television, and Merchandising
Assignment: 1. Reading: Media Mix is Anime’s Life Support System: A Conversation
with Ian Condry and Marc Steinberg (Parts 1 – 4) by Henry Jenkins

Week 11
Topic: Manga Booms: Little Boys and Magical Girls
Assignment: 1. Reading: “Naruto” as a Typical Weekly Magazine Manga by Omote
Tomoyuki, 2. Reading: Children of Sailor Moon: The Evolution of Magical Girls in
Japanese Anime by Sugawa Akiko

Week 12
Topic: Fans & Creators: Self-Published Manga and Amateur Anime
Assignment: 1. Reading: Japanese Subculture in the 1990s: Otaku and the Amateur
Manga Movement by Sharon Kinsella

Week 13
Topic: Moral Panic: Perversion, Violence, Stereotypes, and Censorship
Assignment: 1. Reading In Defense of Moe: An Interview with Patrick W. Galbraith
(Parts 1 - 6) by Henry Jenkins

Week 14
Topic: Soft Power, Local and Global: Social, Environmental, and Political Issues in
Manga and Anime
Assignments: 1. Reading: Japan’s Gross National Cool by Douglas McGray, 2.
Reading: Naruto’s Limits: What Soft Power Can Actually Achieve by David Leheny

Week 15
Presentations & Submission of End of Term Paper
Assignment: 1: In-class Presentation & Term Paper due (details regarding the
presentation and paper will be given in class at midterm).

Notes: Readings are to be completed before each class (for example, the reading for
Week 1 should be completed before the first class). Course schedule and reading
assignments subject to change; any changes will be announced in class.