Asian Studies

ASIAN-107 Arts of Asia

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

This multicultural course introduces students to the visual arts of Asia from the earliest times to the present. In a writing- and speaking-intensive environment, students will develop skills in visual analysis and art historical interpretation. Illustrated class lectures, group discussions, museum visits, and a variety of writing exercises will allow students to explore architecture, sculpture, painting, and other artifacts in relation to the history and culture of such diverse countries as India, China, Cambodia, Korea, and Japan.

Crosslisted as: ARTH-105
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
A. Sinha

ASIAN-167 Hinduism: An Introduction

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

A major religious tradition of India, Hinduism is in practice a multiplicity of expressions. This course explores Hinduism's diverse traditions through its history, unifying themes, texts, and popular observances. We will read from the great texts (Ramayana, Mahabharata), learn about gods and goddesses (Krishna, the Great Goddess), and discuss art and ritual. Topics include: body techniques and the material universe (yoga, Tantra); philosophical traditions, concepts (karma, dharma); religious figures (Mirabai); and movements (Bhakti). Hinduism's contemporary expressions in India and the West will be considered in social and historical context. Frequent illustration is provided through videos.

Crosslisted as: RELIG-167
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
I. Peterson

ASIAN-211 Topics in Asian Studies

ASIAN-211MA Topics in Asian Studies: 'Modern Indian and South Asian Writers'

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

Writing in South Asian languages (e.g., Hindi, Tamil) and English, modern Indian and South Asian writers, both women and men, have responded to colonialism, nationalism and the partition of India, and spoken for social and gender justice. They have imagined ways of being a person and belonging in and emerging from South Asia, in modernity, in families, nations and the world. We will examine these themes and study style and form in the novels, short stories and essays of major writers, including Rabindranath Tagore, R. K. Narayan, Anita Desai, Mahadevi Varma, Mahasweta Devi, Arundhati Roy, Daniyal Mueenuddin, Vikram Chandra and Jhumpa Lahiri. All readings in English.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
I. Peterson
Notes: Taught in English

ASIAN-215 Androgyny and Gender Negotiation in Contemporary Chinese Women's Theater

Fall. Credits: 4

Yue Opera, an all-female art that flourished in Shanghai in 1923, resulted from China's social changes and the women's movement. Combining traditional with modern forms and Chinese with Western cultures, Yue Opera today attracts loyal and enthusiastic audiences despite pop arts crazes. We will focus on how audiences, particularly women, are fascinated by gender renegotiations as well as by the all-female cast. The class will read and watch classics of this theater, including Dream of the Red Chamber, Story of the Western Chamber, Peony Pavilion, and Butterfly Lovers. Students will also learn the basics of traditional Chinese opera.

Crosslisted as: GNDST-204CW, THEAT-234CW
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Y. Wang
Notes: Taught in English

ASIAN-248 Contemporary Chinese Fiction: From 1949 to the Present

Spring. Credits: 4

A study of representative Chinese fictional writings from 1949 to the present focusing on the ways in which issues of individual and national identity, modernity, and gender have been probed and represented by different generations of Chinese writers. A particular emphasis will be placed on the novels and short stories published since the 1980s, in which both traditional ideology and literary styles are seriously questioned and challenged. Readings include works by Nobel Prize winners Gao Xingjian, Mo Yan and other famous writers, such as Wang Meng, Zhang Xianliang, Zhang Jie, Wang Anyi, Yu Hua, Su Tong, Han Shaogong,etc.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Y. Wang

ASIAN-254 India's Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

The ancient Indian epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata, counterparts of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, are popular stories and Hindu sacred texts, rendered in oral, written, and dramatic forms in the languages of India and Southeast Asia. We will follow the Mahabharata war and the adventures of Rama, Sita, and the monkey Hanuman (Ramayana), exploring the interpretations of the epics in text, art, and performance. Topics of study include Valmiki's Sanskrit Ramayana (6th century BCE), women's folksongs and short stories about Sita, the Ramlila drama, Kathakali dance, the Hindi television serial, Peter Brook's film Mahabharata, and the Ramayana in modern Indian politics. All readings in English

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive
I. Peterson
Notes: Taught in English

ASIAN-270 Arts of Japan

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

This course explores the special characteristics of Japanese art and architecture, from the early asymmetry of Jomon pottery and the abstraction of Haniwa figures to the later elite arts of the aristocratic, military, and merchant classes: narrative scroll painting, gold-ground screens, and the "floating world" of the color woodblock print. A historical survey of the arts of Japan, highlighting the interplay of art with religious and political issues.

Crosslisted as: ARTH-262
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
A. Sinha
Restrictions: Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors

ASIAN-271 Arts of Islam: Book, Mosque, and Palace

Fall. Credits: 4

Through investigation of major works produced in the Muslim world between the seventh and seventeenth centuries from Spain to India, this course explores the ways in which art and architecture were used to embody the faith, accommodate its particular needs, and express the power of its rulers. Topics include the calligraphy of the Qur'an, illustrated literature, the architecture of the mosque, and the aristocratic palace.

Crosslisted as: ARTH-271
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
M. Davis
Restrictions: Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors

ASIAN-331 Asian History

Instructor permission required.

ASIAN-340 Love, Gender-Crossing, and Women's Supremacy: A Reading of The Story of the Stone

Spring. Credits: 4

A seminar on the eighteenth-century Chinese masterpiece The Story of the Stone and selected literary criticism in response to this work. Discussions will focus on love, gender-crossing, and women's supremacy and the paradoxical treatments of these themes in the novel. We will explore multiple aspects of these themes, including the sociological, philosophical, and literary milieus of eighteenth-century China. We will also examine this novel in its relation to Chinese literary tradition in general and the generic conventions of pre-modern Chinese vernacular fiction in particular.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
Y. Wang
Restrictions: This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.
Advisory: Intended for East Asian Studies majors and Asian Studies minors.

ASIAN-350 Love, Desire, and Gender in Indian Literature

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

Seminar on love, desire and gender, major themes in Indian literature. We will read classic poems, plays, and narratives in translation from Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi, and other languages, in relation to aesthetic theory, visual arts (miniature paintings) and performance genres (Indian dance and the modern Bollywood cinema). Study of the conventions of courtly love, including aesthetic mood (rasa) and natural landscapes, and their transformation in Hindu bhakti and Sufi Muslim mystical texts, the Radha-Krishna myth, and film. Focus on representations of women and men and on issues of power, voice, and agency.

Crosslisted as: GNDST-333ND
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
I. Peterson
Restrictions: Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors

ASIAN-360 Topics in Asian Art

ASIAN-360BC Topics in Asian Art: 'Bollywood: 'A Cinema of Interruptions'

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

How are we to respond to Indian popular film, which is notorious for its distracting song and dance numbers, meandering story line, and visually overblown spectacles? This seminar will develop historical and theoretical approaches to Indian films as what scholar Lalitha Gopalan calls a 'constellation of interruptions.' Students will examine feature films in class, write critical papers on scholarly essays, and pursue independent research projects on various aspects of Indian film.

Crosslisted as: ARTH-360BC, FLMST-370BC
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
A. Sinha
Restrictions: This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.
Prereq: 8 credits from Art History or Film Studies.

ASIAN-110 First Year Chinese I

Fall. Credits: 6

This is an intensive course with emphasizing the rapid development of listening and speaking ability and intended for students with no prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. Points of focus include pronunciation and tones, basic syntax, high-frequency vocabulary words, conversational flow, and an introduction to reading and writing Chinese characters. Relevant cultural knowledge and activities will be incorporated into the curriculum. The class will initially be conducted in both English and Chinese, with the proportion of Chinese steadily increasing over the first two months, after which the great majority of instruction will be in Chinese. Supplements class work with lab.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
L. Yan
Coreq: ASIAN-110L.
Notes: students with previous language study should contact Ms Yan for placement; students must enroll in a lab section

ASIAN-111 First Year Chinese II

Spring. Credits: 6

This course continues Asian Studies 110, First Year Chinese I, with an introduction to Mandarin Chinese and the development of oral proficiency as well as gradual acquisition of reading and writing skills. Supplements class work with lab.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
L. Yan
Prereq: ASIAN-110. Coreq: ASIAN-111L.
Advisory: Asian Studies 110 or equivalent (contact Ms. Yan for placement)

ASIAN-120 First Year Japanese I

Fall. Credits: 6

Introduces listening, speaking, reading, and writing modern Japanese; hiragana, katakana, and approximately 150 Kanji. Supplements class work with audio and video.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
N. Nemoto
Restrictions: This course is limited to first years, sophomores and juniors
Coreq: ASIAN-120L.
Advisory: Only first-year, sophomore, and junior students may pre-register; if space is available, seniors may be able to register during Add/Drop; students with previous training in Japanese should contact Naoko Nemoto for placement.
Notes: students must enroll in a lab section

ASIAN-121 First Year Japanese II

Spring. Credits: 6

This continues Asian Studies 120, First Year Japanese I. Introduces listening, speaking, reading, and writing modern Japanese; hiragana, katakana, and approximately 150 Kanji. Supplements class work with audio and video.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
N. Nemoto
Prereq: ASIAN-120. Coreq: ASIAN-121L.
Advisory: Students with previous training in Japanese should contact Ms. Nemoto for placement

ASIAN-130 First Year Arabic I

Fall. Credits: 4

The first half of a yearlong course that introduces the basics of Modern Standard Arabic, this course concentrates on all four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Beginning with a study of Arabic script and sound, students will complete the Georgetown text Alif Baa and finish Chapter 15 in Al Kitaab Book 1 by the end of the academic year. Students will acquire vocabulary and usage for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to read and analyze a range of texts. In addition to the traditional textbook exercises, students will write short essays and participate in role plays, debates, and conversations throughout the year.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
M. George
Restrictions: This course is limited to First-year and Sophomore students.
Advisory: Students with previous language study should contact Mohamed El-Sawi Hassan (Amherst College) for placement.
Notes: no pre-registration for juniors and seniors; if space is available, juniors and seniors may be able to register during Add/Drop.

ASIAN-131 First Year Arabic II

Spring. Credits: 4

The second half of a yearlong course that introduces the basics of Modern Standard Arabic, this course concentrates on all four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Beginning with a study of Arabic script and sound, students will complete the Georgetown Textbook "AlKitaab". Book 1, 3rd edition by the end of the academic year. Students will acquire vocabulary and usage for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to read and analyze a range of texts. In addition to the traditional textbook exercises, students will write short essays and participate in role plays, debates, and conversations throughout the year.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
M. George, J. Weinert
Prereq: ASIAN-130 or equivalent.

ASIAN-160 First Year Korean I

Fall. Credits: 4

First Year Korean I is the first half of a two-semester introductory course in spoken and written Korean for students who do not have any previous knowledge of Korean. This course is designed to improve students' communicative competence in daily life, focusing on the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Some of the activities include oral dialogue journals (ODJ), expanding knowledge of vocabulary, conversation in authentic contexts, in-depth study of grammar, listening comprehension, pronunciation practice, mini-presentations, Korean film reviews, and Korean film making.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
S. Kim

ASIAN-161 First Year Korean II

Spring. Credits: 4

Beginning Korean II is the second half of a two-semester introductory course in spoken and written Korean for students who have some previous knowledge of Korean. This course is designed to improve students' communicative competence in daily life, focusing on the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Some of the activities include vocabulary-building exercises, conversation in authentic contexts, in-depth study of grammar, listening comprehension and pronunciation practice, mini-presentations, Korean film reviews and Korean film making.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
C. Park
Prereq: Asian Studies 160 or equivalent proficiency.

ASIAN-212 Second Year Chinese I

Fall. Credits: 6

This is an intensive course to consolidate and expand students' competencies in the four fundamental areas of language learning--speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will improve their oral fluency, study more complex grammatical structures, and enlarge their vocabulary. Emphasis on facilitating daily-life interactions will be supplemented and expanded by increasing discussion of broader issues in society. Students will develop a deeper and broader understanding of relevant aspects of Chinese culture. This course is conducted mostly in Chinese. Supplements class work with lab.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-111. Coreq: ASIAN-212L.
Advisory: Completion of Asian Studies 111 or demonstration of equivalent ability (contact Lisha Xu for placement).

ASIAN-213 Second Year Chinese II

Spring. Credits: 6

This course continues Asian Studies 212, Second Year Chinese I. There is equal emphasis on speaking, listening, reading, and writing modern Chinese. Class work is supplemented with audio and video and multimedia practice.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-212. Coreq: ASIAN-213L.
Advisory: Asian Studies 212 or equivalent (contact Ms. Xu for placement)

ASIAN-222 Second Year Japanese I

Fall. Credits: 6

This course emphasizes speaking, listening, reading, and writing modern Japanese. Includes approximately 250 kanji. Supplements class work with audio and video.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
F. Brown
Prereq: ASIAN-121. Coreq: ASIAN-222L.
Advisory: Asian Studies 121 or equivalent (consult Naoko Nemoto for placement)

ASIAN-223 Second Year Japanese II

Spring. Credits: 6

This course continues Asian Studies 222, Second Year Japanese I. Emphasizes speaking, listening, reading, and writing modern Japanese. Includes approximately 250 kanji. Supplements class work with audio and video.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
F. Brown
Prereq: ASIAN-222. Coreq: ASIAN-223L.
Advisory: Asian Studies 222 or equivalent (contact Ms. Nemoto for placement)

ASIAN-232 Second Year Arabic I

Fall. Credits: 4

Students in this course will continue perfecting their knowledge of Arabic, focusing on the four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students should expect text assignments as well as work with DVDs, audio, and websites. Exercises include writing, social interactions, role plays, and the interplay of language and culture. Students will complete Al Kitaab, Book 1 and finish Chapter 10 of Al Kitaab, Book 2 by the end of the year.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
M. George
Prereq: ASIAN-131.
Advisory: Asian Studies 131 or equivalent (contact Mohamed El-Sawi Hassan at Amherst College for placement)

ASIAN-233 Second Year Arabic II

Spring. Credits: 4

Students in this course will continue furthering their knowledge of Arabic, focusing on the four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students should expect text assignments as well as work with DVDs, audio, and websites. Exercises include writing, social interactions, role plays, and the interplay of language and culture. Students will continue using Georgetown Textbook Al Kitaab, Book 2, 3rd edition. The prerequisite is Arabic 130-131 or the equivalent.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
M. George, J. Weinert
Prereq: ASIAN-232 or equivalent.

ASIAN-262 Second Year Korean I

Fall. Credits: 4

Intermediate Korean I is the first half of a two-semester intermediate course in spoken and written Korean for students who already have a basic knowledge of Korean. This course is designed to reinforce and increase students' facility with Korean in the four language areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Students are encouraged to expand their knowledge and take confidence-inspiring risks through activities such as expanding knowledge of vocabulary, role play in authentic contexts, in-depth study of grammer, mini-presentations, various types of writing, Korean film reviews, skits, and Korean film making.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
S. Massey
Prereq: ASIAN-161 or equivalent level of proficiency.

ASIAN-263 Intermediate Korean II

Spring. Credits: 4

Intermediate Korean II is the second part of a one-year intensive course for students who have already completed the intermediate-level course, Intermediate Korean I, or who have the equivalent language competence in Korean. Designed for students seeking to become bilingual (or multilingual), this course provides numerous and varied opportunities to develop and practice speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Activities include expanding vocabulary, conversing in Authentic contexts (conversation café), studying grammar intensively, reading stories and news articles, and reviewing Korean films and Korean film making.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
S. Kim
Prereq: ASIAN-262.

ASIAN-310 Third Year Chinese I

Fall. Credits: 4

This course helps students to build linguistic and communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through reading, discussing, and writing about authentic texts. Newspapers, essays, and short stories will be the teaching materials for the course. An interactive approach will be incorporated into the curriculum to improve students' conversational skills. The class will be conducted mostly in Chinese, and class hours will be supplemented by individual work in the Language Resource Center.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
A. Kao, L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-213.
Advisory: Asian Studies 213 or equivalent (contact Lisha Xu for placement)

ASIAN-311 Third Year Chinese II

Spring. Credits: 4

This course continues Asian Studies 310, Third Year Chinese I, in helping students build linguistic and communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through reading, discussing, and writing about authentic texts. Newspapers, essays, and short stories will be the teaching materials for the course. An interactive approach will be incorporated into the curriculum to improve students' conversational skills. The class will be conducted mostly in Chinese, and class hours will be supplemented by individual work in the Language Resource Center.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
A. Kao
Prereq: ASIAN-310 or equivalent.
Advisory: Contact Ms. Kao for placement.

ASIAN-312 Newspaper Reading and Journalistic Practice in China

Fall. Credits: 4

This course advances students' Chinese reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills by studying journalistic reports on the most pressing issues in China and the U.S. It also introduces the formal expressions, writing styles, and terminology commonly used in Chinese media. In addition, the course intends to help familiarize students with various media channels and agencies, understand the challenges of journalistic practice in the internet age, and enhance students' critical thinking and analytical stills by broadening their perspective and comparing Chinese and English media sources. Conducted mainly in Chinese with the addition of relevant English materials.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-311.
Advisory: Asian Studies 311 or equivalent required; Please contact Lisha Xu lxu@mtholyoke.edu for placement

ASIAN-313 Advanced Chinese Reading

ASIAN-313LW Advanced Chinese Reading: 'Literary Works and Social Issues'

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

The course will advance students' communication skills in Chinese language through the study of contemporary Chinese literary and nonliterary works. The focus of the course is on short stories by famous writers such as Yu Hua, Su Tong, and Wang Meng. The course also features other types of literary materials such as essays, drama scripts, poems, and television dramas. Materials on pressing social, political, and economic issues from scholarly Chinese journals, newspapers, and Web sites will also be used. The class will be conducted entirely in Chinese.

Applies to requirement(s): Language; Multicultural Perspectives
L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-311.

ASIAN-314 Learn Chinese through Film

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

This course will improve students' four communication skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) by studying contemporary Chinese films, including several prize winners/nominees by internationally acclaimed directors such as Zhang Yimou, Li An, and Chen Kaige. The class will watch the films and then use the synopses and selected dialogues from the scripts as reading materials to facilitate both linguistic and cultural learning. Social and cultural issues reflected in the films will be discussed. The class will be conducted mainly in Chinese.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-311.
Advisory: Asian Studies 311 or equivalent (contact Ms. Xu for placement)

ASIAN-315 Business Chinese

Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4

An advanced speaking- and writing-intensive Chinese course focusing on Chinese business communication and culture. Will further improve students' Chinese proficiency and oral communication by using Chinese as a tool to investigate topics in business and business culture in China. As well as the textbook, the course will make use of a variety of supplementary materials, including some in English. Through lectures and other activities, students will gain experience and comfort in reading and discussing business news, producing analytic and technical forms of business writing, translating business-related documents, and other skills for future work in China.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
L. Yan
Prereq: ASIAN-311.
Notes: Taught entirely in Chinese.

ASIAN-317 Media and Translation

Spring. Credits: 4

The course intends to further advance students' language skills in Chinese through both traditional mass media and the emerging social media. In addition to the four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), oral interpretation and written translation (from Chinese to English and vice versa) will be emphasized in class as a way of deeper comprehension and useful skill of communication. While the reading and viewing materials used in this class are written news reports and news videos, the means of mock publication include some interactive social media tools such as blogs and podcasts.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
L. Xu
Prereq: ASIAN-311.

ASIAN-324 Third Year Japanese I

Fall. Credits: 4

This course helps students attain a higher level of proficiency in modern Japanese through the extended use of the language in practical contexts. The class will be conducted mostly in Japanese.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
N. Nemoto
Prereq: ASIAN-223.
Advisory: Asian Studies 223 or equivalent (contact Naoko Nemoto for placement)

ASIAN-326 Third Year Japanese II

Spring. Credits: 4

This course continues Asian Studies 324, Third Year Japanese I. Emphasizes attaining a higher level of proficiency in modern Japanese through the extended use of the language in practical contexts. The class will be conducted mostly in Japanese.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
N. Nemoto
Prereq: ASIAN-324.

ASIAN-295 Independent Study

Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 4

The department
Instructor permission required.

ASIAN-395 Independent Study

Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 8

The department
Instructor permission required.