| Part II | Option | Convenor: Dr Victoria Young |
Course Description 2024-25
This advanced seminar presents an opportunity to read a fascinating range of lesser-studied works of Japanese literature that aim to broaden students’ awareness of the kinds of texts produced in Japanese, train skills in close reading and literary analysis, and engage key questions at the cutting edge of contemporary Japanese literary studies.
J15 meets once each week for one, two-hour seminar. The detailed syllabus is subject to change each year, however each seminar will usually centre upon a work of narrative fiction. Students will be called upon in rotation to lead these discussions. While most readings will be assigned in English, students should also be prepared to read and discuss texts available only in Japanese, and/or compare Japanese texts against their English translations. Students may also be asked to produce their own translations of selected excerpts. Each week, our discussions will be guided by relevant secondary materials from a range of academic disciplines including literary studies and history, and critical theories related (but not limited to) to urgent questions of decolonisation, deconstruction, and translation. Seminars may close with discussions of "provocations" - short pieces of writing from a range of disciplines and fora outside of academia that challenge us to consider the roles of literature and literary studies today.
In 2024-2025, we will focus on works of narrative fiction by writers from Japan and Okinawa that engage war as a central theme. Our point of departure will be to interrogate the notion of the "postwar", which has tended to divide history (and literary history) into two eras: before and after 1945. By examining texts written against the backdrop of empire, military occupation, and other wars (especially the 'Vietnam War'), we will consider how literature and history connect, and the possible roles of literature in retelling, revealing, and revising the past.
Form and Conduct
The coursework that constitutes this paper’s assessment consists of one research essay of between 6,000 and 7,500 words, including footnotes and excluding bibliography. Each student will develop the topic of the essay in consultation with the instructor. A one-page topic and paper outline plus a bibliography will be due in Week 8 of Michaelmas Term. One electronic copy (pdf) of the research essay shall be submitted to the Programmes Administrator in the Faculty Office so as to arrive not later than the division of Full Easter Term.
This description is subject to change, for the latest information, students should consult the Undergraduate Handbook available on the Faculty Intranet.