This survey course describes the cultural and ethnic diversity of Asia, with specific emphasis on conflict of subcultures with the ruling culture. In addition, students learn about geography, ecology and resource limitations within the Asian continent context. No prerequisites.

This courses introduces the wuxia, or martial arts, genre in Chinese literature, film and culture. This introductory level course aims to develop a general knowledge of Chinese culture through reading Chinese martial arts novels and watching Chinese martial arts films, to appreciate some of the features of Chinese literature, film and popular culture in a comparative context, and to acquire greater facility in reading and discussing texts, textual or audio-visual, “as literature.” This course is taught in English, and the readings are translated into English. Cross-listed as LITR 190.

This course introduces select aspects of 20th century East Asian popular cultures, such as popular music, film, television shows, cartoon and comics, Internet, etc. We discuss various issues that emerge in reference to popular culture, for example: what is popular culture; how do people respond to or “consume” it in their daily lives; and how gender, class, race and other kinds of social identities are imagined and contested in popular culture.

How does the world’s most populous continent meet the population’s nutritional needs? This course utilizes nutritional anthropology for a discussion on nutrition and malnutrition within Asian cultures’ diets and foodways. We discuss specific illnesses associated with nutritional insufficiency and factors that amplify or ameliorate those illnesses. This course discusses foodways as a holistic expression of culture, including ecology, religion and social structure. Students appreciate the innovative and delicious ways that Asian cultures have met nutritional needs within resource-limited areas and how those strategies are changing. Cross-listed as ANTH 205

An overview of the most important literary figures and works in Chinese literary history from its orgins to 1911 as reflections of the various cultural periods that produced them. The broader cultural context to each dynasty, such as its social history, philosophy and art, will be stressed. The course will be taught in English and the readings are also translated into English.

An overview of Chinese literature from the May Fourth Movement in 1911 to the present. The course is taught in English and the readings are translated into English. CHIN/ ASIA 351 is not a prerequisite. Cross-listed as CHIN 352.

A topics course in Chinese literature. This course explores various genres, movements, literary periods or topics in Chinese literature. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught. Cross-listed as CHIN 295.

This course provides an overview of traditional medicine, specific to the Asian context. The course covers ethnomedicine and ethnopharmacology, epidemiology, Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Culture Bound Syndromes, mental health, shamanism, and the influence and role of biomedicine in Asia. We discuss the cultural and historical context specific to the medical traditions and changes in health seeking behavior due to globalization and culture change. Cross-listed as ANTH 305.

To understand the unique voice and literary tradition of Indian literature, novels and short stories are selected to provide an in-depth examination of social structure, cultural traditions, gender and sexuality, religion, and environment and ecology of India. Students also read academic journal articles to provide context and critique of the works of fiction. The role of fiction in documenting cultural traditions and instigating cultural change is considered. Includes exploration of colonial and post-colonial literature.

A seminar course whose topics utilize approaches from a range of disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary teaching and research interests of faculty. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught.