97207 Japanese Films and Popular Culture

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

Description

This subject is taught in Japanese, and is designed for students, who have completed Japanese 6 at UTS or its equivalent and have intermediate to advanced level reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. Students are guided to understand, interpret and discuss, in written and oral form, a series of literary texts, on the topics of Japanese films and pop culture such as anime, manga or fashion in mainly post-WW II society, and to relate them to broad socio-cultural contexts. Students take active part in collaborative learning activities to practice and consolidate their language skills.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (INT = International Studies CILOs):

• Understand and employ effective strategies to operate within professional and everyday settings across diverse cultures in Australia and/or internationally. (INT.1.1)
• Evaluate critically theoretical and specialised knowledge of contemporary societies, cultures and workplaces. (INT.2.1)
• Analyse, generate and communicate creative solutions to work-related problems within professional and everyday settings across diverse cultures in Australia and internationally. (INT.2.2)
• Understand and engage with cultural diversities in Australia and/or internationally. (INT.3.1)
• Communicate effectively and appropriately in an additional language for everyday and professional purposes. (INT.3.2)
• Engage critically with current issues to act in socially responsible ways in Australian and international settings. (INT.5.1)
• Communicate clearly and effectively in written and spoken language using diverse digital technologies. (INT.6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject proposes a blended, practice-based and research-inspired learning experience. Japanese pop culture and films are analysed through a communicative and reflective approach to stimulate progressive and continuous learning of the target language. A series of authetic materials (books, articles and videos) are used to promote the use of real-life scenarios and situations such as interviews and discussion.

Students are encouraged to customise their learning experience as per the Global Japanese approach to promote their engagement with Japanese peoples and societies. This entails keeping in mind their goals for the use of Japanese (for instance studying abroad or travel in a particular country or region) and tailoring their practice and learning to maximize exposure to local variants of the language, relevant cultural norms and authentic materials from the area.

In addition to the in-class work, students are expected to complete a series of online activities, which strengthen their independent learning skills and facilitate a customised learning experience. The approximate time commitment expected from students is 12 hours per week, including class time.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Learning Portfolio

Assessment task 2: Speaking Assessment

Assessment task 3: Essay

Minimum requirements

Attendance at tutorials is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential work-shopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor. A roll will be taken at each class. If you are late to class and not present when the roll is taken, it is your responsibility to tell your tutor at the end of that class so that your attendance can be recorded. Please note that if you are more than 30 minutes late, you will be noted as absent. Students must attend at least 85% of their classes. Students who fail to do so will be refused the opportunity to take or submit their final assessment (see Rule 3.8). In order to pass this subject, students must earn an overall total of 50 marks or more.

Required texts

The prescribed language textbook for Japanese 7 is a collection from both published and original materials, which are designed for upper intermediate to advanced level students. Students are encouraged to refer to a number of recommended texts, books, dictionaries and web pages on Japanese language and culture. Students will also receive appropriate learning materials throughout the unit.

Recommended texts

• Hasegawa, Y. (Ed.). (2018). The Cambridge handbook of Japanese linguistics. Cambridge University Press.
• Makino, S., & Tsutsui, M. (1999). A dictionary of basic Japanese grammar = Nihongo kihon bunpo? jiten (1st pbk. ed.). Japan Times.
• Makino, S., & Tsutsui, M. (1998). A dictionary of intermediate Japanese grammar = Nihongo bunpo? jiten?: chu?kyu?hen (First ed.). Japan Times.
• Makino, S., & Tsutsui, M. (2008). A dictionary of advanced Japanese grammar = Nihongo bunpo? jiten. Jo?kyu? hen. Japan Times.
• Oka, M., Tsutsui, M., Kond?, J., Emori, S., Hanai, Y., & Ishikawa, S. (2009). J?ky? e no tobira: kontentsu to maruchimedia de manabu nihongo?: Tobira gateway to advanced Japanese learning through content and multimedia: Vol. [1], 1st Edition (1st edition). Kuroshio Shuppan.
• Oka, M. (2010). Kitaeyo? kanjiryoku?: jo?kyu? e tsunageru kiso kanji 800?: jo?kyu? e no tobira?: kontentsu to maruchi media de manabu Nihongo = Power up your kanji?: 800 basic kanji as a gateway to advanced Japanese. Kurosio.
• Patrick Heinrich, Y. O. / P. H. (2019). Routledge Handbook of Japanese Sociolinguistics (1st edition., Vol. 1). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315213378
• Yasui, A., Sakamoto, T., Ide, Y., Doi, M., & Hamada, H. (2020). Yongin? de hirogaru ch?ky? nihongo karutetto?: 2 = Quartet?: intermediate Japanese across the four language skills 2 (First edition.). Japan Times Publishing.

Other resources

Culture and Society

• Moeran, B. (1991) Japanese Language and People, About Japan, BBC Books, London (video also available)
• NHK International Inc (1994) The Way of Life In Japan, Bonjinsha, Tokyo.
• Kodansha International (1993) Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, Kodansha International, Tokyo.
• Neustupny J. V. (1987) Communicating with the Japanese, The Japan Times, Tokyo.
• De Mente, B. L. (1993 & 1987) How to do business with the Japanese, NTC Publishing Group.
• Nakayama, K. (1993) Pictorial Encyclopedia of Japanese Culture, Gakushuu Kenkyuusha.
• Gakushuu Kenkyuusha (1993), Pictorial Encyclopedia of Modern Japanese, Gakushuu Kenkyuusha.
• Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (1990), Japanese History: An Introductory Text, Yamakawa Shuppansha.

JAPAN FOUNDATION

Students are strongly encouraged to visit the Japan Foundation library. The libary holds a wide range of resources and boasts a largest collection of Japanese langauge learning materials.The Japan Foundation is in the Central Park just across from Tower Buidling.

Level 4, Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008
Please take a lift to acess to level 4, No escalators available to level 4.
Tel: (02) 8239-0011