1.00 - 4.00 Credits
A study and critique of anime (animation) and manga (comic books) in Japan. Anime and manga constitute the perfect medium to visually and narratively capture what is perhaps the overriding issue in present-day Japan: the shifting nature of identity in a rapidly changing society. The course will investigate the ways in which anime and manga present complex issues in an in-depth and sophisticated manner, uncovering identity conflicts, fears over rapid technological advancement and environmental pollution, and other key themes present in contemporary Japanese imaginary. Aesthetics, production, and reception of anime and manga will be explored against the backdrop of Japan's political, social, and cultural history. Students can choose between a creative project such as a digital video pilot for an anime or a manga storyboard, and a major research paper about the historical contexts of these genres