ASPA 397 Popular Culture in East Asia

3 semester hours

This course will explore the role of popular culture in the social produc-tion of meaning and creation of identity. The site of study will be popular culture in East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea) and “East Asian” popular culture abroad. It aims to impart to students the theoretical and analytical tools necessary to conduct in-depth interdisciplinary research on the mechanisms, implications, and functions of popular culture. By exploring myriad forms of popular culture - popular literature, film, manga, television, music, posters, fashion, material culture, etc. - that span modern Asian history from the early 20th century to today, students will gain a critical understanding of culture, politics, and history of the East Asian region.

University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.