EAST ASIAN SOCIETIES AND CULTURES
Myron L. Cohen Department of Anthropology Columbia University Introduction:
This course is a survey of social and cultural patterns in the East Asian societies of China , Japan , Korea and Vietnam . Emphasis is on the shared traditions that define East Asia as a culture area, on the growing involvement of East Asia and its component societies with the forces associated with cultural, social and political “globalization” historically and during recent decades, and on the particular characteristics of each society. Among the topics we consider with reference to these societies are local-level social organization and social change, the relationship between local communities and the nation as a whole, and globalization's impact at the local level. Course Requirements :
There will be an in-class midterm and a take-home final examination. Both will cover classroom lectures and the assigned readings. Required Readings:
Lecture Topics and Reading Assignments:
September 6, 8: Introduction: The Societies of East Asia September 13, 15: China : Overview Reading : Cohen, chs. 1-3 September 20, 22: China : Family and kinship Reading : Cohen, chs. 4-7; Ikels, chs 1-4 September 27, 29: China : Rural Society Reading : Cohen, chs. 8-9; Huang October 4: China : Urban Society Reading : Zhang; Ikels, chs. 5-6 October 6, 11: China : Religion and Ideology October 13: The “Other Chinas”: Taiwan and Hong Kong Reading : Adrian October 18: MIDTERM EXAMINATION October 20, 25: Japan : Overview Reading : Hendry October 27: Japan: Family and Kinship Reading : Ikels, chs. 9-11. November 1: Japan: Rural Society Reading : Bernstein November 3: Japan: Urban Society Reading : Bestor November 10: Japan: Religion November 15: Korea : Overview November 17: Korea : Family, Kinship, Religion Reading : Janelli & Janelli; Ikels, ch. 7. November 22: Korea : Rural Society November 29: Korea : Urban Society Reading : Kendall; Ikels, ch. 8. December 1, 6: Vietnam : Culture, Society and State Reading : Malarney December 8: East Asian Societies: Unity and Diversity in Traditional Cultures and in Modern Social Change . Reading : Watson |