Faculty First Year Seminars 197LLC3 - Runng for Jpn: Cltral pursuits

With the Olympics coming to Tokyo in 2020 Japanese media are already discussing candidates to represent the country in the marathon, an event with perhaps surprisingly deep ties and resonance there. This seminar considers the place of distance running in modern Japan, but also in the country's longer cultural history, from medieval monastic rituals to early modern messenger services. We'll read popular novelist and marathon runner Murakami Haruki's collection of essays, What I talk About When I Talk About Running (2007; English translation 2008), and students will also learn to use library resources to explore media coverage of earlier Olympic episodes involving Japanese runners--an introduction to these sources will be integral to the class. Readings and discussions will be in English. No running experience necessary.

Freshmen Only