Literature of Japan 2 3600-7-JA1-LJ2

The lecture is a continuation of the previous semester, lecture on Japanese classical literature. The most important developments in prose, poetry and to a little lesser extent, drama, will be introduced, along with mutual relations between genres, evolution and continuity from the classical to modern literature.

Term 2024L:

The lecture includes 15 units consisting of an explanation of the social and cultural conditions of the literary trends discussed and the activities of selected authors.
Half of the class is devoted to lectures gathered around the topics:
1. Principles and purpose of the lecture (topics, method of implementation, reading, rules of passing; what is literature for man?).
2.Introduction to Newer Literature 1 - Meiji Modernity, or Let's Write as the West Does (periodization of traditional and non-traditional literature; what is modernity and modernity?). 4.
Introduction to modern literature 2 - Modernity of Taishō and Shōwa before the end of the World War II, that is, the world seen objectively (learning the subject-object view of the world).
4 Introduction to Newer Literature 3 - Shōwa's post-WWII modernity, or the coming of Godzilla (responsibility, identity, ethics).
5 Introduction to Newer Literature 4 - Shōwa and Heisei Postmodernity, or Japanese Literature as World Literature (What is Postmodernity?; Literature in a Postmodern Society)
Much of the class is taken up with discussion of representative works.

Term 2025L:

The aim of the lecture is to get to know the history of modern Japanese literature and its cultural and social context, from the second part of 19th century (Meiji period) until present day. Topics of the lectures:
• most important new developments in prose, poetry and to a lesser degree, drama; connections between genres, development and continuity from the classical literature to modern
• development of modern poetry, both this inspired by Western poetry (jiyūshi) and tanka, which is the main form of waka (Japanese song) and for many centuries has been one of the most important literary genres in Japan and one of the means of communication of educated people; in modern times it gained new topics and even started to appear in the newspapers
• literature of grotesque, horror and erotics, which for few centuries have been present in Japanese literature and are important inspiration for other forms of culture like film, comics, graphics
• crime and mystery fiction, popular literature, reportage
• changes in literature written by women and in its reception
• cultural and literary relations between Japan and Poland, translations of literature
• Japanese publishing and literary awards
• and others.

Type of course

obligatory courses

Course coordinators

Term 2024L:

Beata Kubiak Ho-Chi

Term 2025L:

Anna Zalewska

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
- can set appropriate goals and ways to achieve them in the context of academic, professional and social activity [K-W04]
- has detailed and organized knowledge of Japanese literature and writings; can name and characterize most important phenomena/trends/literary texts/writings of Japan [K_W05]
-can name and characterize basic cultural phenomena of Japan [K-W10]
has rudimentary knowledge of translation rules from Japanese language into Polish [K-W-15]
- demonstrates basic grasp of contemporary cultural life in Japan [K-W16]
- knows the state of research in chosen aspects pertaining to Japan [K-W17]
-knows and understands basic analysis and interpretation methods of various products of culture characteristic of chosen theories and schools of research within the scope of cultural and literary studies, linguistics, philosophy and religion studies and history [K-W18]
- knows and understands basic analysis and interpretation methods of various products of culture characteristic of local traditions in Japan [K-W19]
Po ukończeniu przedmiotu student ma:

Skills
-can indicate sources of cultural differences between the countries of the Orient [K-U02]
- can read, analyze and interpret literary texts and other works of culture (film, press, social writing) of Japan and appropriately place them in their cultural context [K-U06]
- can compare and perceive interrelations between chosen literary texts and other works of culture (film, press, social writing) of Japan and the issues within the scope of tradition and modern times [K-U07]
- can analyze most important phenomena/trends in art (painting, sculpture, architecture, other fields) of Japan [K-U08]
- can use the knowledge of socio-cultural issues of Japan in typical professional situations [K-U10]
- can translate literary texts and writings from Japanese language into Polish [K-U14]
- can interpret key terms from culture of Japan through linguistic/philological analysis [K-U15]
- can properly function in the linguistic and cultural environment of Japan [K-U17]
- can use electronic and internet tools both in Polish and in Japanese [K-U24]

Social Competences
- understands the need to learn all one’s life [K-K01]
- can set appropriate goals and ways to achieve them in the context of academic, professional and social activity [K-K04]
-has awareness of the cultural distinctness and its religious, philosophical, traditional and historical roots and its significance for understanding modern world [K-K05]
-sees the need of dialogue between cultures [K-K06]
-is aware of significance the culture of Japan has for the culture of the world [K-K07]
-acts in aid of sharing and promoting cultural and linguistic heritage of Japan [K-K08]
- perceives the positive socio-cultural values of Japan and possibility to use them in own personal development and effective intercultural communication [K-K09]

Assessment criteria

Written exam
Attendance control

Bibliography

As indicated by the lecturer during the classes, for example excerpts from:
Keene Donald, Dawn to the West. Japanese Literature of the Modern Era. Fiction, Holt, Rinehart, Winston, New York 1984
Japonia okresu Meiji. Od tradycji ku nowoczesności, red. B. Kubiak Ho-Chi, Nozomi, Warszawa 2006
Japonia w perspektywie transkulturowej, red. I. Kordzińska-Nawrocka, A. Kozyra, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warszawa 2020
Kubiak Ho-Chi Beata, Współczesna literatura japońska 1980-2010. Pisarze, nurty, tendencje, w: Dwa filary japońskiej kultury. Literatura i sztuki performatywne, red. B. Kubiak Ho-Chi, I. Rutkowska, Japonica 2013, s. 117–138
Melanowicz Mikołaj, Literatura japońska. Proza XX wieku, PWN, Warszawa 1994
Oblicza współczesnej japońskości. Literatura-film-spektakl, red. R. Siedliński, M. Merklejn, PJWSTK, Warszawa 2012
and others.

Term 2024L:

1. Keene Donald, Dawn to the West. Japanese Literature of the Modern Era. Fiction, Holt, Rinehart, Winston, New York 19884 (historia literatury)
2. Japonia okresu Meiji. Od tradycji ku nowoczesności, red. B. Kubiak Ho-Chi, Nozomi, Warszawa 2006 (monografia Meiji, w tym mój artykuł o Morim Ōgaiu i literaturze czasów Meiji)
3. Kubiak Ho-Chi Beata, Współczesna literatura japońska 1980-2010. Pisarze, nurty, tendencje, w: Dwa filary japońskiej kultury. Literatura i sztuki performatywne, red. B. Kubiak Ho-Chi, I. Rutkowska, Japonica 2013, s. 117-138 (artykuł nt. najnowszej literatury japońskiej)
4. Melanowicz Mikołaj, Literatura japońska. Proza XX wieku, PWN, Warszawa 1994 (historia literatury)
5. Oblicza współczesnej japońskości. Literatura-film-spektakl, red. R. Siedliński, M. Merklejn, PJWSTK, Warszawa 2012 (m. in. kilka dobrych artykułów o współczesnych pisarzach jap.)
6. Pałasz-Rutkowska Ewa, Starecka Katarzyna, Japonia, Trio, Warszawa 2004 (historia nowsza)

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3600-7-JA1-LJ2 in USOSweb