MLO 2: Culture2.1) 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 TakenCourses Taken in JapanMedieval Japan
Medieval Japan in the World Contemporary Japanese Culture Modernizing Japan Study Abroad in Japan Sample Evidence
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Reflective Narrative2.1) Through the many courses offered at CSUMB I was able to gain a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for Japanese culture. Through my JAPN 309 class I was able to gain a better understanding of Japanese literature. In this course I was able to learn about famous authors such as Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon. This class went through many eras of Japanese history and into the modern era. Through this I was able to learn a great deal about how Japanese literature changes throughout time. To a similar extent, I was able to do the same in my JAPN 310 class. In this class I watched movies which were directed by famous Japanese directors, as well as pieces directed by less famous persons. Just like the literature class, I was able to examine different aspects of Japanese films and their evolution over time. For both of these classes I was required to write weekly responses which tested my understanding and allowed me to voice my opinions. Both classes also required a final research project where I had to formulate a research thesis and prove it in a 5 page report. Evidence of these assignments can be found on the left. The most effective way I felt I satisfied the MLO 2 requirement was taking Japanese culture courses in Japan and experiencing it firsthand. In Japan I was able to take courses about Japanese history, culture, and experience it at the same time. For example, for one portion of our Medieval Japan course we learned about Hikone castle. Rather than just read about it in class, we also were able to see it in person because it was only a short bicycle ride away. There we were able gain a better understanding of its history and significance. In our contemporary Japanese culture class we were also able to participate in traditional Japanese art such as Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) and Ikebana (flower arrangement).
2.2) These classes also helped me understand how Japan's cultural background influences modern Japanese life. In my Japanese Cinema class specifically, I was required every week to identify aspects of Japanese culture in each film and its relevance. Another part of the classes was inevitably learning about other aspects about Japanese culture in order to gain a better understanding of our desired topic. For example, in my Japanese literature class we were required to learn about Buddhism and Shintoism because they played a large role in literature and the ways authors approached their work. For my final assignment in my literature class I decided to do a comparison of Japanese literature throughout the ages, and how culture plays a role in significant change. In my Modernizing Japan class we discussed products of Japanese culture such as Ikebana and other forms of art, as well as more popular things such as anime and manga. In addition to discussion these topics, we would also discuss their prominence in other countries and how put Japan in a position of globalization. A combination of these classes and assignments is what helped me fulfill this MLO. |