Spring 2017 Course Offerings

ASIA

REQUIRED COURSES:

ASIA 200 INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN STUDIES
Joseph Rogers, Dr. Carol Brash, Dr. Sophia Geng, T/6:15-9:15
This colloquium course introduces the academic discipline of Asian Studies.  Through modules from across the multidisciplinary spectrum, students will acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of Asia's enduring traditions, modern transformations, and recent emergence as a central player in global affairs.

A Mod: Joseph Rogers
This mod will focus on the history of the field of Asian Studies in the United States as it has evolved over the past several decades.  Students will be challenged to view this evolution from different cultural and theoretical perspectives.  For example, students will read excerpts from Orientalism by Edward Said, and will reflect on their own motivation and interest in studying Asia.  We will attempt to articulate our own values, motivations and perspectives that have brought us to the field and will guide us on our journey as students of Asian societies, cultures and people.

B Mod:  Dr. Sucharita Mukherjee
The analysis and experience of gender inequalities in any society is critical for complete under-standing of human development within it. This mod focuses on studying gender inequalities be-tween women and men in Asian economies that have had recent or continuing experiences of otherwise rapid economic development. Through a study of issues from academic papers, newspaper articles and other media we seek to understand and question the persistence of deep seated patriarchal norms which continue to create an unequal playing field for women in these parts of the world even as manifold opportunities for economic prosperity emerge with growing global integration.

C Mod:  Dr. Carol Brash
Asian Art Between Past and Future: In this mod, students will explore contemporary art made by Asian artists who make reference to history, historical processes, or art history and the event, process, or older work on which it is based.  Students will explore notions of “Asia”, acquire familiarity with the histories and cultures of Asia through artistic representations, and gain basic skills in formal and contextual analysis.  Learning will be assessed through in-class discussions, informal written responses (via moodle), a worksheet (related to the paper), a group presentation of an article, and a five-page paper.

D Mod: Dr. Sophia Geng
In this mod, we will read and talk about canonized authors in modern Asia, both male and female, through the lens of internationally and nationally recognized literary masters. Besides appreciating their representative works that are translated into English, we will also discuss the class, race, gender and sexuality issues reflected in these literary creations.  These works echo the aspirations and struggles of different Asian societies and shed light on the bigger forces impacting modern Asian societies, such as modernization, neo-colonialism, immigration, urbanization and globalization.

ELECTIVE COURSES:

ART

ART 200 ENVIRONMENTAL ART AND ARCHITECTURE (FA)
Richard Bresnahan, TR/9:35-10:55, R /12:45-3:45 (lab)
This course focuses on a range of issues addressing art, architecture and their relationship to a sustainable environment. Through an analysis of critical theory, students will gain an understanding of the language and critical issues of art, architecture and their impact upon the environment. Through a hands-on approach, students will apply these concepts to make ceramic artwork in the SJU Pottery Studio. By using all native materials, designing through a programmatic structure of indigenous systems, in a sustainable framework the student will parallel architectural and design schematics presented in theory and research to an applied reality. Students will critically analyze readings, will discuss examples of art and architecture and will meet with artists in order to expand their understanding of the relationship between art, architecture and the environment.

ART 208 NON-WESTERN ART SURVEY (FA)
Dr.  Carol Brash, TR/12:45-2:05
Selected survey of great architecture, sculpture and painting of Asia and other non-Western cultures. A study of artworks in relation to religion, culture, philosophy and geography of the non-Western world.

ART 300 MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART (FA)
Dr. Carol Brash, TR/9:35-10:55
A survey course tracing the principle movements and theories of art in the US, Europe, and Asia from 1850 to the present. This is a discussion- and writing-intensive course. There is a required field trip (an additional fee will be charged to your student account for this). Open to non-art majors with a  prerequisite of FYS 101 or 201.

ART 309D EAST ASIAN GARDENS (FA)
Dr. Carol Brash, TR/11:10-12:30
In the areas now called China and Japan, people have been creating gardens for thousands of years. Each generation links itself to the past through visual and literary (as well as the edible) fruits of their gardens. Today reinterpretations of some of these early ideas appear in diverse sites ranging from the reconstructed garden at the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the Lucky Bamboo sold at Home Depot. Some of the topics we will investigate include the shift from the garden as a site of agricultural production to a site of aesthetic/cultural production, the complicated relationship of nature and artifice, gardens as repositories of memory, and the relationship of gardens to the other arts. We will read recent scholarship and examine example paintings, poems, prose, plans, maps, and garden reconstructions. Chinese gardens that we may consider include painted versions of the Garden of Solitary Delight and the Garden of the Artless Administrator: reconstructions of the Garden of the Artless Administrator and The Garden of the Master Fishing Nets; and contemporary constructions based on historic models such as the Garden of Awakening Orchids in Portland, Oregon. Japanese gardens that we may consider include Temple of the Gold Pavilion, Temple of the Silver Pavilion, Temple of the Peaceful Dragon, tea gardens, and the painted gardens of the Tales of the Genji. Our exploration will include a field trip to one Chinese and one Japanese garden in the Twin Cities area (an additional fee will be charged to your student account for this).

CHINESE

CHIN 112 ELEMENTARY CHINESE II
Limei Danzeisen, MWF/10:40-11:35
Introduction to the basic elements of the Chinese language. Practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including work with grammar, pronunciation, and culture.

CHIN 212 INTERMEDIATE CHINESE II
Dr. Sophia Geng, TR /1:05-2:25
Review and continued study of grammar together with additional training in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 211 and 212 emphasize Chinese culture and civilization. Satisfactory completion of CHIN 212 fulfills the global language proficiency requirement.

CHIN 312 CHINESE CONVERSATION & COMPOSITION II
Dr. Sophia Geng, TR/2:40-4:00
Designed to help students solidify and further their communicative and writing ability in Chinese through contact with various written styles of modern Chinese. Advanced Chinese also provides a basic introduction to contemporary Chinese literature and culture.

CHIN 321B CHINESE FOLKLORE: MYTHS AND LEGENDS (HM)
Dr. Sophia Geng, TR 9:55-11:15
In this class, we read the English translations of popular Chinese folklore.  These include the tale of Mulan, the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Goddess, and the legend of Caiji. We analyze how the stories evolved throughout history and how they were told differently in mainstream and vernacular cultures. We also examine a number of adaptations of these stories in film, story-telling and writings by Chinese American authors, and compare the differences in terms of language, theme and function. Taught in English

ECONOMICS

ECON 316 ASIAN ECONOMIES
Dr. Sucharita Mukherjee, MWF/9:30-10:25
Examines the rise of the Asia-Pacific as an important economic, cultural, and geopolitical region. Concentrates primarily on the post World War II growth performance of the "Asian Tigers" in East and Southeast Asia. Studies how these countries transformed themselves from peasant societies into global industrial powerhouses within their regional and international contexts. Prerequisite: 111.

ENGLISH

ENGL 381: Literature by Women (HM, GE, IC)
Dr. Madhu Mitra, TR/11:30-12:50

This course is designed to introduce students to the diversity of women’s writings from Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Mainly through novels, but supplemented by poetry, essays, and memoirs, we will explore the ways in which women writers have voiced their concerns, challenged societal and familial roles, responded to war and other political and other political crises, and created a literary and feminist aesthetic.  A major objective of the course is to examine some of the central issues in the field of gender/women’s studies: constructions of femininity and masculinity; meanings and practices of hegemonic patriarchy; the politics and economics of gender relations/identities.  Some of the writers we will read are Nawal El-Saadawi (Egypt), Huda Barakat (Lebanon), Riverbend (Iraq), Marjane Satrapi (Iran), Sahar Khalifeh (Palestine), Orly Castel-Bloom (Israel) and Kamila Shamsie (Pakistan).

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

ENVR 200A ENVIRONMENTAL ART & ARCHITECTURE (FA)
Richard Bresnahan, TR/9:35-10:55, R/12:45-3:45 (lab)
This course focuses on a range of issues addressing art, architecture and their relationship to a sustainable environment. Through an analysis of critical theory, students will gain an understanding of the language and critical issues of art, architecture and their impact upon the environment. Through a hands-on approach, students will apply these concepts to make ceramic artwork in the SJU Pottery Studio. By using all native materials, designing through a programmatic structure of indigenous systems, in a sustainable framework the student will parallel architectural and design schematics presented in theory and research to an applied reality. Students will critically analyze readings, will discuss examples of art and architecture and will meet with artists in order to expand their understanding of the relationship between art, architecture and the environment.

GEOGRAPHY

GEOG 230 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
Luke Feierabend, W/6:15-9:15
A spatial frame of reference for the changing patterns of world events. Study of the relationships between physical and cultural environments and major, global issues such as population, pollution and economic change. Social Science and

GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP

GBUS 300 GLOBAL ENTERPRISE
Dr. Sanford Moskowitz, TR/12:45-2:05
This course covers the fundamental concepts, issues, and structure of 21st century global business. It explores the historical, cultural, economic, and political underpinnings of the basic themes of, and critical actors operating within international business today. The student learns about the nature of and relationships between the major components (or systems) that make up the international business system as a whole. Prerequisite GBUS 210, 220, 230, 240 or permission of instructor.

GBUS 321 Global Marketing
Dr. Tony Yan, MWF, 9:10, SJU
The main goal of course is to develop students’ understanding of global marketing. Specifically, this course is designed to introduce the extensive knowledge of the fundamental dimensions and key issues of international marketing. This course will introduce related theories, models, strategies, and processes of international marketing. This course will also discuss international marketing in a variety of political, economic, and cultural background.

GBUS 337 DOING BUSINESS IN ASIA
Dr. Kingshuk Mukherjee, TR/9:35-10:55
This course will focus on South and East Asia. Students will learn about the cultural milieu in a variety of Asian countries, and the impact of that milieu on business practice. We will study the strategic environment of doing business in Asia, learn about major Asian businesses, and immerse ourselves in Asian business practices. Prerequisite: GBUS 210, 220, 230 & 240 or permission of instructor.

HISTORY

HIST 114 INTRODUCTION TO PREMODERN EAST ASIA (HM)
Dr. Elisheva Perelman, MWF/9:30-10:25
A survey of East Asia-including China, Korea, And Japan-from ancient times to the dawn of the modern era. Explores the origin and building blocks of East Asian civilization and analyzes the changes prior to 1600.

HIST 317 TALKING ABOUT A REVOLUTION: INTELLECTUALS IN MODERN CHINA (HM)
Dr. Elisheva Perelman, MWF/1:00-1:55
This course looks at China in the 20th century and the intellectuals who attempted consciously to direct or deflect its agonizing transformation and incorporation into the "modern" world then dominated by Euro-America and the Soviet Union.

JAPANESE

JAPN 112 ELEMENTARY JAPANESE II
Masami Limpert, Section 1: MWF/10:40-11:35, Section 2: MWF/11:50-12:45
Introduction to the basic structure of the Japanese language. Practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on an accurate command of grammar and culturally appropriate communication skills.

JAPN 212 INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE II
Masami Limpert, MWF/9:30-10:25
Review and continued study of grammar together with additional training in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Satisfactory completion of JAPN 212 fulfills the global language proficiency requirement.

JAPN 312 ADVANCED JAPANESE LANGUAGE II
Dr. Jeffrey DuBois, MWF 10:40-11:35
Review and continued development of grammar together with development of skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Prerequisite: JAPN 311 or 315