Wednesday, April 23, 2014 AIM : What must we consider when approaching cultural studies?

1. Wednesday, April 23, 2014AIM: What must we consider when approaching cultural studies? Do Now Please take out your notebook (and class folder) and head your page with the date and aim; sign-up for a presentation slot on the whiteboard (write your name and your partner’s if you are working in a pair).

2. Presentations • The last 12 minutes of class (11:20 – 11:32) is reserved for your Kantou region presentations. While your classmates present, be sure to take notes that include the following: • Presenter Name • Topic • Major details / concepts • Comments/questions you have about this topic

3. “The Japanese” and Essentialization • Essentialization: The assumption that the group or groups studied are an already constituted, coherent group with identical interests, desires, cognitive properties, etc.; identified prior to analysis as socially or biologically homogenous. **We might attribute ‘coherence’ to a very large category in order to simplify complex information, and reconcile information that seems unusual. While this is easier than the alternative, we must avoid it. Reading: Conclusion of “Concepts…” by Harumi Befu

4. “Concepts of Japan…” by Harumi Befu In your notebooks: • Write the author, title, and year of the text. • Write a brief summary/description • Answer: What is the main point? (What are the main points?) • Jot down a quote or two that stand(s) out to you.

5. Generation Gaps • "We live in a decaying age. Young people no longer respect their parents. They are rude and impatient. They frequently inhabit taverns and have no self control." • -- attributed to an inscription in an Ancient Egyptian tomb, quoted in Buckminster Fuller's I Seem To Be a Verb • The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers. • -- misattributed to Socrates a paraphrase of a quote from Aristophanes' Clouds, a comedic play known for its caricature of Socrates. • I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and impatient of restraint. • -- misattributed to Hesiod

6. Literary Essays / Literary Criticism Literary Criticism: The art or practice of judging and commenting on the qualities and character of literary works. Modern literary critics often situate a literary work within its social or cultural context, determining what the work represents and what it suggests. • READING • Hideo Kobayashi: “Literature of the Lost Home” (1933) • Written during the Interwar years. • What does “the lost home” refer to? • What is Kobayashi suggesting that his readers do? • What is “Japanese” about this piece? What is universal?

7. Homework • In a well-developed paragraph, respond to the following: • What does “Literature of a Lost Home” suggest about an ‘essential’ Japanese cultural or literary identity? • What are your thoughts about Kobayashi’s essay? • What connections can you make with his ideas? (ex: to the world today, to your own life, to ‘another culture’, etc.) *Please write your response in your class notebook. Use at least one direct quote from one of today’s texts to support your thinking.

8. Presentations • Today: • Nick (Michael & Liam : absent) • Calvin, Iris, Stephanie • Francis, Yu Qian *Introduce yourself, state your topic, explain your image, and share several details you found significant.

9. Presentations • Friday & Tuesday • Lissa, Fiona • Siara, Rex • Kam, Amelia • Joseph • Jasmine • Rachel, Armani, Osvaldo • Chet, Farzana, Sam • Manene • Brittany, Elijah