JAPA435-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

Independent Course of Study: Readings in Contemporary Japanese Literature

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

Independent Course of Study: Readings in Contemporary Japanese Literature

The course introduces students to Japanese literary texts from the 1980s to the present. A selection of short stories and poetry by a range of contemporary authors, including Okinawan-Japanese novelists, are read and studied in the original Japanese. Students are introduced to various major literary and other theoretical discourses and these are then applied to analyze the texts from both literary and sociological points of view. Training is also provided in the translation of Japanese literary texts.

Expectations:
Students in this course are expected to study and research around the set class topics independently,and to make use of relevant UC library physical and online resources. It is expected that students will come well prepared for class, having read the text beforehand and carried out any necessary research on unfamiliar content, and will be able to verbally present their ideas in class discussions.

Learning Outcomes

  • As a student in this course you will acquire a range of knowledge and skills, including:

  • skills in reading Japanese literature in the original;
  • skills in translating Japanese literary works;
  • familiarity with a number of representative contemporary Japanese writers;
  • familiarity with, and skills in ‘reading’ and analysing, a selection of contemporary Japanese short stories;
  • an understanding of the relationships between the selected works and their social, cultural and historical contexts;
  • a familiarity with issues faced by indigenous cultures in Japan, and their cultural expressions of those issues, which will in turn heighten awareness and understanding of the cultural landscape and biculturalism in Aotearoa NZ;
  • skills in research, analysis, essay writing and oral presentation – key critical and communicative skills that are sought by employers and can be used in a range of applications.
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval by the Head of Department

Course Coordinator

Susan Bouterey

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Translation assignments (2) 32%
Participation & Engagement 10%
Short essay 20%
Research Project - written essay 28%
Research Project - oral presentation 10%

Textbooks / Resources

There is no required textbook for the course. Students will be provided with handouts for class readings.

Other material, which may be helpful, can be found in the Library Subject Guide for Japanese:
https://canterbury.libguides.com/japa.

Course links

AKO|LEARN

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $2,169.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All JAPA435 Occurrences

  • JAPA435-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025