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Description
In this course, we consider one premiere work from three seminal Japanese authors: Kenji Miyazawa (The Milky Way Railroad), Kobe Abe (The Woman in the Dunes), and Haruki Murakami (The Wind-up Bird Chronicle). Specifically, we explore the surreal landscape particular to these writers, equal shades death and life, night and day. We also search for pieces of the Japanese identity, an identity radically shifting (perhaps) from the 1930's when Miyazawa wrote to Abe in the 1960's and finally to Murakami in the 1990's.

Fieldtrips include visiting the locales inspiring or inspired by these writers, or the actual places these writers wrote. Last, we consider films spawned from these works, varying from neo-realism (The Woman in the Dunes) to anime (Night on the Galactic Railroad), and postmodern film (Tony Takitani).

Requirements

A) A detailed journal: Collected in Japan. For the three novels read in this course as well as three films viewed (and any outside material), record your thoughts, responses, idylls, key quotes, questions, etc. An entry (at least a page or two in length) for every couple of chapters we read in each novel. This is what you bring to class alongside the texts. This is what you look at to remind yourself what you'd like to discuss, what you discerned, which is different likely than what others were drawn to (15% of your grade).
B) Active Participation: Motivation, enthusiasm, and exemplary behavior are key (10% of your grade).
C) Three prompted 3-4 page responses: One response per work. At least three prompts will be provided per work, specific line of inquiries for you to follow and respond to, supporting from the primary text. You may overlap into the films but your primary focus is on the three novels (40% of your grade).
D) A 10-12 minute individual oral presentation: You act as "guardian" of one of the three novels (You may overlap into the films but your primary responsibility is the novel). Guardians will focus on a specific point of entry to said novel, a theme or themes that struck them with supporting quotes, why they chose that particular text (be honest. Doesn't matter. More as observation and curiosity) with reflection on significance to you and the world today. In one sense, you are also pitching this work. Your goal is to persuade your audience this book is a must read. Concomitantly, if you want to take the opposite tack, and show why we should not read this work, or pay heed, that too is acceptable. Criticism is a double-edged sword (20% of your grade).
E) Final Essay Exam: Collected in Japan (15% of your grade).

Required Materials:

Three novels (ISBN numbers will be provided. You must purchase these copies/editions).
Course packet (provided by The Film Academy at Magic Hour)
Journal/Notebook