Visualizing Japan in the Modern World is an intensive, interdisciplinary course that explores Japan’s emergence as a modern nation through visual culture. Using materials from the Harvard-MIT edX MOOC Visualizing Japan (1850s–1930s) and the Visualizing Cultures digital archive, students analyze prints, photographs, advertisements, and other visual media to gain a deeper understanding of key historical moments from the arrival of Commodore Perry in the 1850s to the rise of consumer culture in the early 20th century. Topics include the opening of Yokohama, the Russo-Japanese War, popular protest movements such as the Hibiya Riot, and the development of modern consumer culture, with a focus on Shiseido’s advertising history.
Course activities include video-based learning, class discussions, group projects, and a field trip in Tokyo. Students will complete the course by delivering a group presentation based on the field trip. Through this multi-modal approach, students develop historical thinking, visual literacy, and cross-cultural analysis skills.