Tu•Th 11:30-12:45
Mackinac A-1-111
Office Hours: Tu•Th 1-2pm

Jeremy Robinson
robinjer@gvsu.edu
Office: D-2-136 Mackinac Hall

The past is a foreign land; they do things differently there
-L.P. Hartley The Go-Betweens

The Edo period, which lasted from the beginning of the 17th century through 1868, was a time of great contradictions. It was a time ruled by the warrior class, but encompassed two and a half centuries of relative peace. It was a time when a strict class system was in effect, but the culture was driven by the supposed "lowest" of the classes. It was a time when the shogunate regularly imposed laws censoring artistic expression, but in which creativity flourished. And it was a time when Japan deliberately cut itself off from the rest of the world, yet was able to develop high levels of literacy, sophisticated industrial and trade networks, the world’s largest urban center, and the foundations of a modern economy which would allow them to stand as a peer to Western nations not long after the country re-opened its borders. In many ways it was a time fascinatingly like our own, with a thriving middle class and an obsession with commerce, politics, and popular culture. In this course we will explore the Edo period through its literary and theatrical traditions, but will embrace a multidiciplinary approach including history, anthropology, art, philosophy, religion, etc. Firmly rooted in the humanistic tradition, the class aims to explore both what we share and how we differ from those we study, in an effort to explore the full range of human experience. All readings will be in English translation and no previous experience with Japanese language or culture is required.

This course fulfills the General Education requirements for "Foundations: Arts" and "Cultures: Global Perspectives." As such, it encompasses the following Knowledge Outcomes:

... as well as the following Skills Outcomes

• describe the basic history of the Edo period and explain both the cultural changes which occurred within it and the way in which it fits into the larger scope of Japanese history.
  
  
• compare the major belief systems of early modern Japan, including Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, Buddhism, Shintô and Nativism, and Western thought; and articulate the way in which they manifested, interacted, and were altered in the Japanese context.
  
  
• identify the major works, creators, and genres of early modern Japanese literature, art, music, and theatre and articulate how they reflect the differing expectations of various times and various audiences.
  
  
• explain the significance of the "early modern" designation and be able to articulate what the period shares with and how it differs from the eras which precede and succeed it. The student will be able to reflect on early modern Japanese culture and civilization in light of modern expectations and ways of thought, and be able to articulate both how they differ and how they reflect a shared human experience.

Attendance and Participation
Reading and Preparation (on Perusall)
Oral Presentation
RTTP Game
Final Exam

Aside from the first "getting started" session and the four RTTP game sessions, there are 22 "regular" class sessions, and for each you will earn two points of credit toward your final grade for preparation prior to class and one point for attendance/participation in class discussion. However, because preparation counts 40 points toward your final grade and attendance 20, there are six additional points built into the system. Of course, if you fully prepare for and attend all classes, any extra you earn counts as extra credit.

There is no textbook for this class. Rather, all readings will be accessed using Perusall, a collaborative reading site, and this is how your Preparation grade is assessed. As you read on Perusall, you are able (and strongly encouraged) to ask questions and make comments on what you read, and other students will see these comments and be able to respond as they read. It is intended to begin the process of active engagement with both the text and with other students' ideas before coming to class, and these discussions will often form the basis for in-class discussion. For that reason, the absolute deadline for completing these online readings is when class begins and late completion will not count toward your grade. There is no required minimum number of questions or comments you must post in order to receive a satisfactory grade for this, but your activity must show active engagement with the readings. All of these readings are listed on the daily schedule on Blackboard, and there will occasionally be additional readings, videos, images, etc. there that also constitute a part of your required preparation.

Once during the semester you will have to give an oral presentation on a topic of your choice. This will involve outside readings and will serve as preview of an upcoming topic for the rest of the class. There are various options for this listed on the syllabus, but if there is a topic you wish to pursue that you don't see listed, feel free to suggest an alternative.

In the weeks leading up to spring break, we will depart from the normal format of the course to play a game using the Reacting to the Past pedagogy, in which students take on the roles of historical personalities to reenact key moments of change or crisis. Our game focuses on the samurai of the Ako Domain in the wake of their lord's attack on another domain lord and subsequent forced ritual suicide, as they decide how to respond. There are four sessions for which the regular preparation/attendance count does not apply, but instead required activities for the game will count toward a separate "RTTP Game" grade.

The final exam will be held in person on Tuesday, April 22nd. It will consist of a combination of short and long essays covering all the material in the class.