Information, Technology, and Society in Asia 232

We will be reading academic articles to gain a solid theoretical understanding of cultural representations and also to discuss concrete issues. The class is discussion-based and active participation is required in every class session.

Students are expected to do all the readings and come prepared to engage in discussions every week. (This is not an appropriate class for those whose preference is to listen to lectures.) Students are also asked to decide on a particular theme they wish to focus on during the semester and explore how that theme is represented in museums in Tokyo and other areas of Japan. Therefore, they will be required to make several visits to museums during the semester.

Attendance, participation, a small project and a final paper. Details will be give on the first day of class on October 7 at 1400.

This will be an online class. The first day of class is October 7 at 1400 (NOTE: it does not start at 1300 but at 1400, only on this day). I will provide an overview of the course on that day. Please decide by October 14 whether you will be taking the class--students are not able to be a part of this course after this date. Note that there will be a number of weeks where there will be no classes, and you will be asked to visit museums on your own. To make up for the lack of sessions, there will be in-person sessions held at the end of the semester (the date will be discussed in class). For museum visits, the students are expected to bear the cost of transportation and admission fees. Although the theme of the class overlaps with those of the previous years, the students who wish to repeat the class may do so, provided they will be going to different museums on their own.

There will be a very strong emphasis on group work--students must be willing to work with others, including adjusting their own schedule to visit museums with others.