EAJ 391 (Call No. 8583)

WORLD WAR II: THE JAPANESE VIEW

Fall 2007

TTH 11:45 AM -1:05 PM

Humanities 116

 

Instructor: Susanna Fessler                                                                    Office: Humanities 243

Office Hours: TTH 1:15-2:15 and by appt.                                            Phone: 518-442-4119

e-mail: fessler@albany.edu

 

Course Description:

            This course will examine several works of Japanese prose literature written during and after World War II.  The works include essays, novels, short stories, and one poem.  Attention will be given to the question of how the Japanese perceived their role in the war, and if that attitude changed with the passing of time.  Class format will include lectures and discussion; preparation for class and class participation are an important part of student evaluation. All readings are in English.  Course Prerequisites: EAJ212 or permission of the instructor.

 

Required Texts:

            The Harp of Burma by Takeyama Michio

            Black Rain by Ibuse Masuji

            Fires on the Plain by Ōoka Shōhei

            Electronic Reserves (ERES) Readings

 

Testing and Grading:

            Students will be required to write one 10-page paper during the course of the semester.  Students have the option of submitting a first draft for feedback before submitting a final draft. There will be a mid-term examination, and a final examination.  Attendance will be taken regularly; students are expected to attend class unless extenuating circumstances prevent it.    There will be intermittent, unannounced quizzes on the content of the reading.  These quizzes are EASY if you have done the reading, but IMPOSSIBLE if you have not.  Missed quizzes on days when a student DOES NOT have an excused absence CANNOT be made up.

 

Course grades will be based on the following criteria:

 

Mid-Term Examination

20%

10-page paper

30%

Final Examination

20%

Quizzes

15%

Class Attendance & Participation

15%

 

                                               

There will be no extra-credit assignments and no curving of grades.  The grading scale is as follows: 93-100%=A; 90-92%=A-; 87-89%=B+; 83-86%=B; 80-82%=B-; 77-79%=C+; 73-76%=C; 70-72%=C-; 67-69%=D+; 63-66%=D; 60-62%=D-; 0-59%=E. The instructors consider a grade of "Incomplete" to be for emergencies (death in the family, extreme illness, etc.), not for students who fail to plan ahead.

 

This course is A-E graded. Undergraduate regulations prohibit taking an upper-level course as an S/U graded course.

 

Academic Integrity: The discovery of any cheating (including plagiarism, dual submission, or shared work of any kind) on an assignment will result in (1) an immediate failing grade for the assignment; and (2) a report to appropriate SUNY officials. Appeals may be made through appropriate channels.

           

Date

 

 

Topic

Reading

August

28

T

Course Introduction

None

 

30

Th

A Brief History of the War

Japan at War Selections

 Sept.

4

T

The Propaganda

Earth and Soldiers

 

6

Th

The Propaganda, con’t

Wheat and Soldiers

 

11

T

Closer to the Truth

Soldiers Alive, chapters 1-6

 

13

Th

No Class

None

 

18

T

Closer to the Truth

Soldiers Alive, chapters 7-12

 

20

Th

Oguma Hideo’s Poetry

Tumbleweed Company; Long, Long Autumn Nights

 

25

T

Revising History

“The Past in the Present”

 

27

Th

Revising the War in China

Citadel in Spring, chapters 1-5

Oct.

2

T

Revising the War in China

Citadel in Spring, chapters 6-11

 

4

Th

A Rosy View

Harp of Burma, pp. 11-31

 

9

T

A Rosy View

Harp of Burma, pp. 32-132

 

11

Th

Life of a POW

Fires on the Plain, pp. 3-111

 

16

T

Life of a POW

Fires on the Plain, pp. 112-246

 

18

Th

Midterm Examination

None

 

23

T

Hayashi Fumiko

“Bones”

 

25

Th

Ibuse Masuji

“Lieutenant Lookeast”

 

30

T

Kojima Nobuo

“Stars”

 Nov.

1

Th

Mori Hana

“Jirohattan”;  First Draft Due

 

6

T

Ibuse Masuji, con’t.

“Tajinko Village”

 

8

Th

Sakaguchi Ango

“The Idiot”

 

13

T

Umezaki Haruo

“Sakurajima”

 

15

Th

Hara Tamiki

“Summer Flower”

 

20

T

Ōe Kenzaburō

“Prize Stock”; Final Draft Due

 

22

Th

No Class—Thanksgiving

None

 

27

T

The Atomic Bomb

Black Rain

 

29

Th

The Atomic Bomb

Black Rain

 Dec.

4

T

War Crimes Tribunal

Between God and Man

 

6

Th

War Crimes Tribunal

Between God and Man

 

FINAL EXAM IS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 1:00 p.m.-3:00p.m.

 

 

FALL 2007 FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

 

FALL 2007 Final Examinations begin on Tuesday, December 11th and end on Tuesday, December 18th .  Eight Week Two (8W2) and semester course examination day and time assignments may be found in the charts below.  Examinations are scheduled in the same room the class meets in except for departmental examinations and special assignments requested by the instructor of the class, (assignments to be announced in class).

Classes meeting four or five days a week must use examination schedule for MWF class meetings.  Classes meeting Monday and Wednesday only or Wednesday and Friday only use the examination schedule for MWF meetings, unless otherwise designated.

Final Examinations for courses meeting "off campus" should be held during the last class meeting. 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATIONS (Examination days, times and rooms to be announced in November)

 

 

Tues, Dec 11

8:00am-10:00am

Wed, Dec 12

1:00pm-3:00pm

Fri, Dec 14

8:00am-10:00am

 

Tues, Dec 11

1:00pm-3:00pm

Thur, Dec 13

8:00am-10:00am

Fri, Dec 14

1:00pm-3:00pm

 

Wed, Dec 12

8:00am-10:00am

Thur, Dec 13

1:00pm-3:00pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

Morning Classes

Afternoon Classes

 

If your

Beginning at

Your Exam

If your

Beginning at

Your exam

class

one of these

Time and

class

one of these

Time and

meets

hours

Date is

meets

hours

Date is

MWF

8:15am

Friday, Dec 14

3:30pm-5:30pm

MWF

12:35pm

Tuesday, Dec 11

3:30pm-5:30pm

TTH

8:45am

Wednesday, Dec 12

3:30pm-5:30pm

TTH

1:15pm

Monday, Dec 17

8:00am-10:00am

MWF

9:20am

Tuesday,  Dec 18

8:00am-10:00am

MWF

1:40pm

Thursday, Dec 13

10:30am-12:30pm

TTH

10:15am

Tuesday, Dec 11

10:30am-12:30pm

TTH

2:45pm

Monday, Dec 17

1:00pm-3:00pm

MWF

10:25am

Tuesday, Dec 18

10:30am-12:30pm

MW

2:45pm

Thursday, Dec 13

3:30pm-5:30pm

TTH

11:45am

Tuesday, Dec 18

1:00pm-3:00pm

TTH

4:15pm

Wednesday, Dec 12

10:30am-12:30pm

MWF

11:30am

Monday, Dec 17

10:30am-12:30pm

MW

4:15pm

Friday, Dec 14

10:30am-12:30pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LATE AFTERNOON and EVENING CLASSES

 

If your class meets

Beginning at one of these hours

Your Exam Date and Time is

 

M

2:45pm

Thursday

Dec 13

3:30pm-5:30pm

T

2:45pm

Monday

Dec 17

1:00pm-3:00pm

W

2:45pm

Monday

Dec 17

3:30pm-5:30pm

TH

2:45pm

Wednesday

Dec 12

10:30am-12:30pm

F

2:45pm, 4:15pm

Friday

Dec 14

5:45pm-7:45pm

M

4:15pm, 4:40pm, 5:45pm

Monday

Dec 17

5:45pm-7:45pm

T

4:15pm, 4:40pm, 5:45pm

Tuesday,

Dec 11

5:45pm-7:45pm

W

4:15pm, 4:40pm, 5:45pm

Wednesday,

Dec 12

5:45pm-7:45pm

TH

4:15pm, 4:40pm, 5:45pm

Thursday,

Dec 13

5:45pm-7:45pm

M W

5:45pm

Monday,

Dec 17

5:45pm-7:45pm

T Th

5:45pm

Tuesday,

Dec 11

5:45pm-7:45pm

M W

7:15pm

Monday,

Dec 17

8:00pm-10:00pm

M

7:15pm

Monday,

Dec 17

8:00pm-10:00pm

W

7:15pm

Wednesday,

Dec 12

8:00pm-10:00pm

T Th

7:15pm

Tuesday,

Dec 11

8:00pm-10:00pm

T

7:15pm

Tuesday,

Dec 11

8:00pm-10:00pm

TH

7:15pm

Thursday,

Dec 13

8:00pm-10:00pm