Reflecting their marginalized status in Japanese society, minority groups in Japan, including Ainu, burakumin, Korean-Japanese, and Okinawans, have until recently received minimal recognition in modern Japanese literature. This course examines “minority literature” in Japan in order to develop students’ knowledge of the experiences of ethnic minorities in Japan as well as the ways in which these experiences have been reflected in literature and film.

This class explores modern Korean history from women's perspectives. It charts the historical and cultural transformation in modern Korea since the 1920s by coupling key terms of modern history with specific female figures: (1) Colonial modernity with modern girls in the 1920s and 30s; (2) colonization and cold-war regime with "comfort women" and "western princesses" from the 1940s to the 1960s; (3) industrial development under the authoritarian regime in the 1970s with factory girls; and (4) democratization and multiculturalism with rising feminists in the new millennium.

This course focuses on the writings of Japanese women from the 10th century until the present. The course examines the foundations of Japan’s literary tradition represented by such early works as Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Genji and Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book. The course then moves to the late 19th century to consider the first modern examples of Japanese women’s writing. How does the existence of a "feminine literary tradition" in pre-modern Japan influence the writing of women during the modern period?

This survey of traditional Chinese fiction and drama from roughly 800-1900 reads classical tales of the strange, vernacular stories, novels, zaju and chuanqi drama alongside official narratives such as histories and biographies, as well as popular genres like ballads, baojuan (precious scrolls) and tanci (plucking songs). The class considers the ways individuals, family, community and government appear in literature, along with the conflicting loyalties presented by romance, family and the state.

Students learn about Chinese identity, culture, and society as they emerge through transnational encounters, including the lives of Chinese students at Smith and Smith alums in China, as well as institutional, national, and international history. Students explore literary, historical, and archival research materials, and practice interpreting texts with attention to source, genre, context, and audience. Students learn basic archival research skills, and prepare a digital exhibition highlighting selected items from the Smith archive and contextualizing them for a public audience.

Restrictions: DAN graduate students only. Enrollment limited to 12.

Restrictions: DAN graduate students only. Enrollment limited to 12.

Senior seminar is a capstone course that integrates dance studies through an individual research or creative project and to articulate critical analysis and feedback for peers. Required for senior dance majors. Open by permission to seniors with other majors who have a serious interest in dance. ​Restrictions: Seniors only; Dance majors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required.