JAP515 The traditional and the modern in contemporary Japan

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Melinda Papp (lecturer)
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 5. 10. 15:50–19:05 B2.43, Fri 6. 10. 9:10–14:05 N21, Mon 9. 10. 15:50–19:05 N21, Tue 10. 10. 9:10–14:05 B2.43
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course discusses two main topics: changes in the ritual calendar during the last two centuries in Japan and the link between ritual and consumption in contemporary Japanese society.
The course will address the most important celebrations of the family and the individual in nowadays Japan. The history of the traditional celebrations together with the newly adopted ones will be introduced with a special focus on the family celebration.
At the end of the course students will have knowledge about the traditional and modern ritual culture of the Japanese and about some of the characteristics of the Japanese consumer culture. The course will offer a multidisciplinary approach to the study of contemporary social phenomena and will give instruments to conduct interdisciplinary analyses of selected phenomena.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. Outline of the course, main topics and relevant theories.
  • 2. General theoretical approaches to the study of ritual.
  • 3. The traditional ritual culture and cosmology in Japan.
  • 4. The ritual calendar and its changes in postwar Japan.
  • 5. The Japanese consumer culture. Its history and present.
  • 6. Connections between consumption and ritual practices. Theory and practice.
  • 7. Secular versus sacred I.: Religiosity in the business sector in nowadays Japan.
  • 8. Secular versus sacred II.: Commercialization in the religious sector.
  • 9. Case studies: shichigosan and miyamairi.
  • 10. The modern Japanese family and its problems reflected in the ritual practice.
  • 11. Conclusions: overview of discussed topics, discussions, reflections.
Literature
  • FRANCKS, Penelope. The Japanese consumer : an alternative economic history of modern Japan. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009, xii, 249. ISBN 9780521699327. info
  • TANABE, George Joji. Practically religious : worldly benefits and the common religion of Japan. Edited by Ian Reader. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1998, xii, 303. ISBN 0824820908. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion.
Assessment methods
Final test.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
General note: Předmět je určen i pro studenty mimo mateřské obory.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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