Japanese 400: Introduction to Modern Japanese Literature and Culture

This course introduces students to selected works of Japanese literature from the 20^th century. The course will cover a wide range of prose fiction including autobiographical fiction, realist and fantastic novels as well as works in popular literature genres, including detective and satirical fiction. We will explore the ambivalent ways in which Japanese writers incorporated Western literary theories and concepts into the domestic literary tradition in their efforts to create a “modern Japanese literature.” In addition to the impact of industrialization on human perception and writers’ narrative modes, we will consider how modern printing technologies changed reading practices. Taught in English. Students electing to take Japanese 400 will complete some reading, writing, and discussion assignments in Japanese. May be elected as Global Literatures 222.