NEW
Tutor: Michael Harrington
This course explores Japanese culture and society through the lens of television and film. Each week, we will view and discuss clips from recent Japanese TV shows and movies, all provided with English subtitles. Our discussions will be structured around themes central to understanding Japan and its people, including food as a social bond, the private vs. public self, navigating social hierarchies, work culture, gender roles, and (non)conformity. While these themes are universal, the way they are expressed is often distinctively Japanese.
Venue: 288 Edward St
Friday 11.00am - 12.30pm. Classes started 17 July, finish 18 September.
Cost: $50 (prepaid), 10 weeks
Current Enrolments: 16 (capacity 55)
No prior knowledge of Japan is assumed; all that is required is a curiosity about the country and its people. Themes introduced in the first week will be developed throughout the term, both individually and in relation to one another. While weekly clips are selected to highlight a specific theme, participants will notice that these themes frequently intersect.
Here are the tentative weekly topics. A more complete description of the weekly sessions and the clips to be viewed will be distributed to students upon enrolment.
Week 1: Introduction to the main themes of the course.
Weeks 2 & 3: Food and Drink as Social Bond
Week 4: Navigating the Social Hierarchy
Week 5: The Salaryman and Corporate Culture
Week 6: The Role of Women: Between Tradition and Change
Week 7: The Private vs. Public Self
Week 8: (Non)conformity
Week 9: Urban Life, Modernity, and the City
Week 10: The Samurai Legacy
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About the Tutor:
I am an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland, where I worked in Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition until retiring in 2021. I have studied, taught, and researched in Japan for over 45 years, and enjoy sharing my passion and experience with others. My interests and current acitivities can be found at my website, commonbones.org.If you are a U3A Brisbane member you may enrol in this class online using the Enrol button below. You will be asked to provide your membership number and name for identification.
If you wish to obtain further information about this class before enrolling, you may send a message to the tutor using the Send Enquiry Message button below.