Schedule of Discussion Topics, Readings and Events

January 10:  Course introduction Our first session of this class introduces the course assignments and readings. In preparation for next week's speaker, we consider the geisha and how her profession has been treated in Japanese and American film. January 17: Japanese Women in the Western Imagination Tonight we have the privilege of meeting and speaking with artist Iona Rozeal Brown, who combines Japanese woodblock ukiyo-e (floating world pictures) with images of contemporary African American women. For discussion tonight, read the article by Narrelle Morris, "Innocence to Deviance: The Fetishisation of Japanese Women in Western Fiction,1890s-1990s"  [online] January 24:  The Modern Murasaki: Women Writing in Meiji (1868-1912) Japan Read all chapters in The Modern Murasaki from the Introduction through the chapter on Miyake Kaho, pps. 1-126. January 31:  The Modern Murasaki: Women Writing in Meiji (1868-1912) Japan Read all chapters in The Modern Murasaki from the chapter on Higuchi Ichiyō through the chapter on Shimizu Shikin, pps.127 - 266. Essay One DUE February 7:  The Modern Murasaki: Women Writing in Meiji (1868-1912) Japan Read all chapters in The Modern Murasaki from the chapter on Hasegawa Shigure through the chapter on Tamura Toshiko,  pps. 267-358. February 14: Restless Wave: My Life in Two Worlds by ISHIGAKI Ayako Tonight we discuss Japanese women's writing in English, which was especially popular in the U.S. in the 1920s and 30s. February 21:  Designing Your Research Paper Tonight we meet in Davis Library 247 to learn about library sources available for your term paper topics.  Everyone will have a chance to consult about their topics, to give advice to others, and to look into sources in the library.  February 28: Modern Girl Short stories:  "The Flower Pageant" by Okamoto Kanoko; "The Genius of Imitation" by Uno Chiy, and "The Bell Cricket" in To Live and To Write, on reserve. Essay Two DUE:  See the paper topic on Blackboard under "Assignments" March 7: The Doctors Wife by ARIYOSHI Sawako For tonight's discussion, read this novel and the recommended article "Ariyoshi Sawako: Creative Social Critic" by Yoko McClain.  The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese, Vol. 12, No. 2/3 (May 1977), pp. 211-228 (on JSTOR and BBsite). MIDTERM EXAMINATION will be a take-home five-page essay on The Doctor's Wife due at 6pm in class. See assignment on Blackboard Site Discussion Questions for the The Doctor's Wife March 14: Spring Break Week March 21:  "Japanese Traditional Folk Paintings," a lecture by Professor Yoko Haruhara.  visits Professor Haruhara is visiting from Tokyo where she teaches at  Temple University Japan in Tokyo. Tonight's talk will take place in New West Room 219, 6:00-7:30pm. March 28:  Masks by ENCHI Fumiko For tonight's discussion, read this novel and the article (Course Documents; BlackBoard site)  by Professor Nina Cornyetz, "Bound by Blood: Female Pollution, Divinity, and Community in Enchi Fumiko's Masks." Turn in an outline of your term paper this week and a bibliography; send them to Jan Bardsley's BBsite drop box. April 4:  Grotesque by KIRINO Natsuo We're very lucky to have the translator of this Kirino Natsuo novel who is also the author and editor of several important books on Japanese women writers here tonight! Our speaker  Rebecca Copeland, Professor of Japanese Language and Literature, Washington University, will lead tonight's discussion of Grotesque.  Also, read the chapter in Bodies of Evidence about Kirino's work. April 11: Bodies of Evidence: Women, Society, and Detective Fiction in 1990s Japan. We will read Chapters 1-3 of  Professor Seaman's excellent study, Bodies of Evidence: Women, Society, and Detective Fiction in 1990s Japan. Essay Three DUE April 18: Finish reading Bodies of Evidence: Women, Society, and Detective Fiction in 1990s Japan. Tonight we talk about some young writers such as Wataya Risa making headlines in Japan today. No reading due tonight so that you can finish your research paper. April 25:  All She Was Worth by MIYABE Miyuki For tonight's discussion read Miyabe's novel and the chapter in Bodies of Evidence about her work.  We conclude our discussion of Japanese women's detective fiction. Research papers due this Friday April 27 at 5:00pm at the Asian Studies office April 30: Final Examination, 6:00pm in regular classroom Tonight, come to the classroom with your final paper in hand.  Grades will be posted by May 3rd.