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Focus 1+2: Topics in Contemporary Japanese Society: Youth, Family and Intergenerational Relations in Japan

Vak
2009-2010

Description

In this course we focus on the features of, and emerging divisions between Japan’s post-war and contemporary generations. Media, social and political debates have become increasingly dominated by demographic issues related to growing divides in experiences, values and expectations between different generations of Japanese. Topics considered on this course range from youth and adulthood, marriage, divorce, fertility, life courses and ageing. Emphasis is placed on the reproduction of the Japanese family and how this has been achieved in different eras. Another concern is Japanese young people and how they have coped at different times in the post-war period with social changes. Contemporary transformations in families and conflicts between generations are being played out in numerous contexts including employment, welfare, consumption and the home. At the same time the continuity of the ‘Japanese family’ remains central to identities, values and institutional arrangements. As well as introducing and analyzing evident social changes in Japan, the course also aims to relate them to, and develop critical understanding of, contemporary debates in sociology and the social sciences related to risk, neo-liberalization, globalization and welfare regimes. There will also be an emphasis on social science research methods concerning fieldwork practices as well as secondary data collation and analysis in the Japanese context.

Teaching method

Seminar

Admission requirements

No prerequisites

Course objectives

To be announced

Course load

5.0 ECTS/140 hours

Required reading

Course reader, available at Studiepunt (Lipsius-building)

Test method

  • Participation element (attendance and presentation): 30%,

  • Analytical element (mid term report, essay 1,000-1,500 words) 20%

  • Research element (research paper 2,000-2,500 words) 30%

  • Summative element (exam) 20%

Time table

For more information, check time table.

Contact

For more information, please contact Dr. R. Ronald

Registration

Via U-twist, check enrollment

Blackboard

Blackboard plays an important role in this course. All important information about the course, including the syllabus, course requirements, and other information, except for the course readings, will be available on the course website. All students wishing to take the course should enroll in Blackboard.

Remarks

None