Whittier College
Anthro 211: People and Cultures of Asia
Spring Term 2013
Instructor: Jenny Banh, PhD
Dates: 01/30/2014-05/06/2014 Email: jenbanh@yahoo.com
Loc: SC 405
CLASS MW 09:30-10:50am OH: Mon 10:50-11:50 Loc: SC
Final Exam: 05/12/2014 M 10:30-1230pm SC 405
The Orient is not only adjacent to Europe; it is also the place of Europe's greatest and richest and oldest colonies, the source of its civilizations and languages, its cultural contestant, and one of its deepest and most recurring images of the Other.
Orientalism (1978) Edward Said
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course offers students a comparative study of the diverse cultures of Asia with an emphasis on East and South Asia. The course implements anthropological concepts to examine the internal and cross-cultural mechanisms shaping and reshaping the region. The impact of social and cultural change resulting from shifting local, national, and global dynamics will be examined through detailed ethnographic studies of specific cultures and societies within East, South, and Southeast Asia. 3 credits
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
- Analyze and become familiar with some anthropological ethnographies and themes of East Asia with an emphasis on gender, popular culture, and sweatshop labor.
- Be knowledge of the basic vocabulary of Anthropology of Asia (i.e., hallyu, Kawaii, Bollywood, East Asian Popular culture, ethnocentrism, cultural relativity, homogeneity, cultural) by reading required texts.
- Engage and develop your critical thinking and writing abilities on emerging anthropological ethical issues in Asia
- Apply and extend course theories onto practical endeavors via a class Debate.
Learning Outcome 1: To know and understand ethnographies & books required in class
- Read and discuss the principles of those readings
- Define the core issues and Key Terms that the ethnographies bring to the table.
Learning Outcome 2: Writing Improvement
Students will improve their writing skills by writing TEN 4 paragraph single spaced Summaries on the readings in MOODLE due every class except on exam days. (The first three paragraphs are summary and the last is your opinion. Please include a 2 T/F and 2 MC with answers. ). They can be on any topic pertaining to the class reading and must all be turned in before the final. These papers will not be graded and counts for participation. *If you orally PRESENT in class, it counts for 3 Summaries.
Take detailed notes of all the speakers, films, and activities. All responses should be turned in the due date.
Students are required to write a 5-page paper on any food topic of Asia. (Suggested topic: Kobe Beef) All late graded papers will have a 10% reduction for every class late no matter the reason.
The second paper will be on Panda Express.
Learning Outcome 3: Oral Skills Improvement
Every Student must sign up to present a reading for the class. It should be 1-2 paragraphs long and include two questions to ask the audience (3 min). If two or more students are assigned the same reading then they would combine their talks on one (5 min).
Learning Outcome 4: Real World Application via Fieldtrip to either Panda Express headquarters or fieldtrip to the Japanese American Museum. Tours have been highly rated event by many former students.
QUESTIONS? In the Moodle Discussion Board will be a special “questions” discussion thread. It is suggested to try to ask the professor one question a week concerning anything in the class. You can also ask questions about grad school, anthropology, and publishing etc. (Optional)
Plagiarism: Any more than two words taken from any source should be cited or will be considered plagiarism. [In order to cite you must take the “quoted phrase” followed by (Last name, pg) or (last name, Year of Publication).] Please use the web search engines/pages Anthrosource, ERIC, JSTOR and Google scholar for any further anthropological knowledge. [See Librarian for additional information.]
ATTENDANCE: Punctual attendance of every class meeting is essential (and mandatory) for systematic progress of the course. If illness or personal situation requires you to miss a class, it is your responsibility to keep up with the assignments. Make a friend to get printouts you miss get passed out. Because there are only a few classes you cannot miss over 3 classes or you will be dropped from the course and will not be given any credit. Even if there is a documented reason you will be get a 0% in participation.
The college policy states that it is the student responsibility to drop a class no longer attended. Your failure to drop the class in a timely manner may result in a “W” or “F” on your academic record. Please discuss any changes in class attendance with the instructor.
EXTRA CREDIT 3%: You must start this paper immediately–DUE last teaching day of Class by Beginning of class (no email submissions and nothing accepted after 4:50pm) You can write 15-20 page paper on History of Chinese American Food. You must answer the questions: Come up with a original thesis (argument) and prove it with academic citations 1) What is Chinese American Food? How is this identity not/is exactly Asian or American? What is “authentic” Chinese food Vs. Chinese American? How does Panda Express fit into this? You must also write about the different consumption patterns of American people and Chinese food. You must cite at least 10 articles/books- (not the internet-no Wikipedia-Use JSTOR). You can write this paper with a partner (cite 20 articles instead of 10) but you must start this paper now. Due last day of class. This paper will not help a student improve a grade from an F to an A but instead if you are borderline your grade goes up 3% only. For example a 67% goes to a 70% but a 80% to 83% makes no difference)
STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT: Student conduct at Whittier College must conform to the College rules and regulations. Violations of such rules and regulations may result in disciplinary actions. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for regulations and rules.
STATEMENT OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
In support of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Disabled Student Services and requests accommodation. Reasonable accommodation many involve allowing a student to use an interpreter, note taker, or reader; accommodation may be needed during class sessions and for administration of examinations. Please inform instructor immediately if this is necessary.
Grading:
10% Participation + Attendance (Missing over 3 days of class will result in 0% Partcipation)
20% Paper 1# (2.5-3 single spaced: Any food item or Asian topic)
30% Midterm
10% Debate
30% Final
100-95%= A 76-72%=C
94-90% = A- 71-70%=C-
89-87% = B+ 69-67%=D+
86-82% = B 66-62%=D
81-80%= B- 61-60%=D-
79-77%= C+
The Whittier University catalogue recommends two hours of study for every one hour of instruction. (ie 2 hour class="4" hours of studying)
REQUIRED BOOKS:
*Golden Arches East: McDonalds In East Asia edited by James Watson Stanford University Press; Second edition (March 14, 2006)
*The Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Reader Edited by Kuan-Hsing Chen & Chua Beng Huat
Routledge; 1 edition (July 27, 2007)
Riding the Black Ship: Japan and Tokyo Disneyland (Harvard East Asian Monographs) by Aviad E. Raz (May 1, 1999)
OPTIONAL:
- Serena Nanda, Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India.
- Millennium Monsters by Anne Allision (U. of Ca Press, 2006)
Course Schedule:
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Date |
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Readings/Blog DUE:
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WEEK 1#: Feb 3: Mon
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1. Welcome & Intro course 2. Syllabus Review 3. Assign Vocabulary Groups
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***Come having read the reading on that day
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Feb 5 Wed
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1. What does “Asia” Mean? 2_Applied Anthropology 3. Vocab. Group
Documentary Clip Made In China |
Sucheng Chan “And Your Short Besides [Moodle]
1 What does Asia Mean? Sun Ge [InterAsia Cultural Reader] pg 9
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Week 2# Feb 10: Mon
Feb 12: Wed
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Paper Outline Due Interactive HoKou Activity in class Foxconn Video
Paper Rough Draft Film Clip: Sushi: Global Catch
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Mc Donalds In Beijing pg39 [Golden Arches East]
Intercultural Reader: The Politics of Imagining Asia pg66
Disneyfication and Localisation: The Cultural Globalisation Process of Hong Kong Disneyland Kimburley Choi [ MOODLE]
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Week 3# Feb 17: Mon
Feb 19 Wed
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Paper 1# DUE On a food item or any aspect of Asia
Pop Quiz Possible
Decide Debate topic
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2.5 single spaced page PAPER 1# DUE: Asian Food item or any paper on Asia *There is a 10% late fee for each day late no matter the reason] You Defiled my Body But not my Spirit [MOODLE]
Riding the Black Ship: Japan Disneyland By. Raz & Chap1 McDonalds In Hong Kong J. Watson [Golden Arches East] pg77
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Week 4# Feb 24 Mon
Feb 26: Wed
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Korean Modernity
Korean McDonalds
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10 Embodiment of American Modernity in Korea Y. Sun- Young [InterAsia Cultural Reader]
McDonalds In Seoul [Golden Arches East
11 ‘America’ as desire & violence S. Yoshimi pg 246
[InterAsia Cultural Reader]
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Week 5# March 3: Mon
March 5: Wed
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Korean Modernity
Korean McDonalds
MIDTERM *No makeup’s but if you have a documented excuse you can write a 15-20 page paper on History of Chinese American Restaurants due in 1 Week time
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10 Embodiment of American Modernity in Korea Y. Sun- Young [InterAsia Cultural Reader] pg 225 McDonalds In Seoul [Golden Arches East
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Week 6# March 10: Mon
March 12: Wed
Week 7# March 17: Mon
March 19: Wed
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Debate Practice
University Diversity
Gender Diversity
Gender Film: Clip: David Reimer Watch after class: Clip
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Japan Disneyland By. Avid Raz Chap 4
Japan Disneyland By. Avid Raz Chap 5
And read them & Print out Moodle and bring to class
Japan Disneyland By. Avid Raz Chap 6
Diverse In Name Only by Halani [Moodle]
Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijas of Inida chap 1 S. Nanda [Moodle]
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Week 8# March 24: Mon
March 26: Wed
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Korean women
Gender Diversity Debate Practice
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Intercultural Reader[ Feminization of 2002 World Cup and women fandom pg 529
Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijas of India chap 2 S. Nanda [Moodle]
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Week 9# March 31: Mon
April 2: Wed
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DEBATE Practice Film Clip: Vote for me if time permits
DEBATE Practice
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Debate Practice The InterAsia reader: Emotional Energy and sub-band politics (LMF) by Ma pg 523
Sailor Moon [Moode]
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Week 10# April 7: Mon
April 9: Wed
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DEBATE
DEBATE
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[NO MAKEUP for Debate- automatic 0% in debate if you do not come]
The InterAsia reader: The Bollywoodization of Indian Cinema Ashish pg 449 Rajadhyakishaa
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Week 11# April 14: Mon
April 16: Wed
Week 12# April 21: Mon
April 23: Wed
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Hallyu
Hallyu Film Clip: Boys over Flowers
Kawaii
Kawaii |
Hallyu [Moodle]
Hallyu [Moodle]
Pokémon [Moodle] Power Rangers [Moodle]
Sailor Moon [Moode] |
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Week 13#
April 28
April 30
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Sexualities in Asia Indian Popular Culture
No class
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My other Political Anthro class is at the Mexican American Museum 12pm, which is across the street. Go to that event and get another 2% extra Credit] Loc: Oliveria Street Time subject to change |
The InterAsia reader: Reciticent poetics, queer politics by Jean Peng and Ding Naifeif pg 395
The InterAsia reader: The Bollywoodization of Indian Cinema Ashish pg 449 Rajadhyakishaa *Recommended for you to read The Chinatown War: Chinese Los Angeles and the Massacre of 1871
Saturday 11am Take a 50 min Tour of at Chinese American Museum [Receive 2% extra credit on Final for coming!] Loc: Oliveria Street Time subject to change |
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Week 14# May 5, 2914
May 12, 2014 |
Study for Final **Last Day to turn in all materials at the beginning of class. Nothing accepted afterward.
Final |
Final Review but if we have time Documentary
FINAL: 10:30-12:30pm Loc: SC 405 |
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- Teacher: Jenny Banh