Admission requirements
This course is only accessible for BA Japanstudies students.
Description
Commuting, shopping, traveling and eating out are only some examples of human interactions mediated by material elements. While it is possible to separate the study of materiality from that of social practices, it is only by connecting things to practices that individuals look for and express meaning. Ultimately, the texture of our everyday life is a product of both tangible and intangible elements of culture.
This course will focus on quotidian scenarios in contemporary Japan from the perspective of the complementarity of objects to the practices they are a part of. We will visit Japan’s shopping malls, karaoke booths, train stations and sport venues, but we will also travel to rural peripheries where the experiences of locals and tourists intermingle. Drawing from a variety of qualitative approaches, such as cultural anthropology, material culture studies, and sensory studies, we will explore 1) what ordinary objects can reveal about contemporary Japanese lifestyles, and 2) how Japanese culture mobilizes the senses in everyday situations.
Course objectives
The main objective of this course is to introduce students to sources and methods for the study of contemporary Japan from a micro-perspective. The course is also intended to help students in developing academic skills, in particular writing academic essays.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
- Participation element (attendance, webposts, in-class activities): 20%
- Mid-term exam: 30%
- Group project: 50%
Weighing
The final grade is established by determining the weighted average of all elements. In order to pass the course, all elements must receive a passing grade (6 or higher).
Resit
There are no ‘resits’ for the participation element.
Resit for the mid-term exam will be scheduled in December.
Two deadlines will be provided for the submission of the paper.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Students who do not submit the paper by the first deadline, relinguish their right for feedback.
Reading list
The required readings are either available on the digital course bookshelf or on Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Vrieshof
Remarks
Not applicable.