Course Descriptions - Undergraduate Calendar 2023-2024

An introductory survey of East Asia. This course examines common grounds and differences in the historical, cultural, economic, and political foundations of East Asian societies and states.

This course introduces learners to three East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) and provides language learning strategies to help students learn any language. Students will use their full linguistic repertoires to learn the languages, develop intercultural understanding, and enhance language awareness. By moving between and amongst languages, and drawing on their linguistic, cultural, and communicative resources, students will develop skills to express themselves in multiple languages. All proficiency levels are welcome.

This is an introductory survey course on China as a modern nation-state. The course provides a broad overview of the country by looking at major aspects of modern China, including the trajectory of China's rise since the 1980s.

An examination of the roles played by monsters, magic, and supernatural creatures in Japanese popular culture, with attention to their treatment in Buddhism, Shinto, Daoism, and folk practices. Topics include modern-day creations such as Godzilla and Pokemon and traditional beings such as deities, ghosts, angry spirits, goblins, and shapeshifters.

The course explores the interface of tradition and modernity in Chinese life. Topics include traditional and modern Chinese culture, language, education, art, technology, and business.

The course explores the interface of tradition and modernity in Japanese life. Topics include traditional and modern Japanese culture, language, education, art, technology, and business.

The course explores the interface of tradition and modernity in Korean life. Topics include traditional and modern Korean culture, language, education, art, technology, and business.

An examination of the leading religious and philosophical ideas that have shaped the cultures and histories of East Asia: China, Korea, and Japan. Folk, Shamanic, Confucian, Daoist, Shinto, and Buddhist traditions are examined.

An examination of religious phenomena in the history of Japan, including their impact on art, literature, philosophy, and politics. Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism, folk beliefs, new religious movements, and other traditions are explored.

This course examines the evolution of the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean communities in Canada as well as their significance for Canadian economic, social, and political life in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Exploring the history of Islamic and East Asian calligraphic arts and the study of Eastern and Western artists, this course examines multiple ways in which writing and other forms of visible language are incorporated into visual arts. Through studio projects, students explore conceptual approaches to text-based image making.

From elaborate geometric patterns to sinuous dragon motifs, ornamentation is one of the most essential artistic modes in Islamic and East Asian cultures. This course examines the aesthetic, visual, and cultural importance of design elements in decorative works of the past and of contemporary artists.

This course investigates the notion of living between cultures brought about by the act of migration. Applying theories of cultural translation to the realm of visual arts, it focuses on Muslim and East Asian contemporary artists in diaspora.

An intensive study of the culture and language of an East Asian country. With the guidance of a course director, students complete readings, attend lectures, and visit cultural sites for six weeks or more on location.

Manga is graphic narrative from Japan that draws on complex historical contexts, global influences, and stylistic conventions in order to create a unique storytelling medium. By studying manga texts such as Dororo, Akira, and Deathnote, students in this course will be encouraged to think critically about visual narrative, cultural values in a global marketplace, and literature as a concept.

The course examines how religious beliefs and values in Japan are explored in the medium of film.

This course offers students an in-depth understanding of the socio-cultural and historical contexts of China though analysis of Chinese films. Students will explore Chinese regional, national, and global themes such as migration, identity, and peace and conflict. Students will strengthen their analytical and communication skills through discussion and multi-modal work encouraging a comparative lens.

This course explores key topics in the international relations of East Asia after World War 2. Classes examine literature on major developments of East Asian relations, including the Cold War, East Asian regionalism, and the foreign policies of China, Japan, and Korea.

This course deals with selected topics in East Asian studies.

This course surveys several key topics in the politics and diplomacy of contemporary Japan, particularly in its relations with its Asia-Pacific neighbours. Topics may include the Pacific War and its legacies, the Japan-US security alliance, the Okinawa problem, and Japan-Canada relations.

This course explores the rise of the East Asian economy since the end of World War II. The subject is pursued through examining some of the most important aspects of the so-called Asian miracle/model, including the historical background of the Asian miracle, the role of the state in the region's economic development, the relationship between Asian culture and economic development, social development, and East Asia's business system and practice.

This course examines the major elements and evolution of Chinese foreign policy since 1949 and China's external relations in the context of rising Chinese power.

The course introduces students to the cultural, social, economic, political, and legal environment for business in East Asia. It covers major economies, such as China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The course helps students acquire comprehensive understanding of the business environment of this dynamic region.

This course examines the legal system, legal culture, and socio-cultural traditions of the Republic of Korea from a comparative legal perspective.

This course explores elements of popular culture such as film, music, television, and video games in relation to social, cultural, and political developments in contemporary South Korea. Students critically analyze readings and non-print media to consider South Korean popular culture in national, regional, and global contexts.

This course explores social, cultural, and political developments in contemporary Japan in relation to such elements of popular culture as films, music, television programs, and video games. Students critically analyze readings and non-print media and consider Japanese popular culture in national, regional, and global contexts.

This course explores the literature and culture from one or more global Asian diasporas, with particular emphasis on cultures of East Asian origin. Topics may include identity, transnationalism, imperialism, war, labour, migration, and popular culture.

This course is an introductory survey of the main genres of classical and pre-modern Chinese literature. Individual works are related to the evolution of the literary tradition and its interaction with history, philosophy, and politics. Classical and historical writing, poetry, drama, and novels are introduced.

This survey course explores modern Chinese literature beginning from 1917 and the New Culture movement. Selected works and relevant critiques are used to prompt discussion of cultural and literary topics, particularly of changes in Chinese culture and literature from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.

Students study a selection of works of early Japanese literature from its beginnings to the 17th century and examine a wide variety of genres, including poetry, diaries, military tales, and philosophical tracts composed during that time period.

A study of a selection of works of Japanese literature from the 17th century to the early 20th century, examining a wide variety of genres in early modern Japan.

This course examines the origins, developments, and contemporary implications of the Cold War in East Asia.

Through an examination of anthropological research on cultural and social change in contemporary East Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, students will develop their capacities in analyzing anthropological theory. Written and oral projects on specific topics and areas will vary by instructor and year, providing opportunities to strengthen communication skills. Students will also learn how to assess different research approaches through in depth and comparative readings on topics such as migration, mobility, gender, politics, popular culture, science and medicine, environment, post-colonialism, and transnationalism.

This course deals with selected topics in East Asian studies.