ANTHROPOLOGY OF JAPAN

This is one of the core courses of the Corso di Laurea "Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa".
Its formative objectives are within the area of cultural and humanistic skills learning.

During the course, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the various social representations prevalent in Japan. Using the principles of cultural and social anthropology, they will learn to critically examine how these representations influence and shape Japanese socio-cultural reality. Through analysis of case studies, critical reading of academic texts and consultation of relevant multimedia materials, students will develop a clear understanding of social imaginaries in Japan and their cultural, symbolic and economic implications in today's society.

It is advisable for students to have intermediate level skills in English (B2) for a thorough understanding of the content covered in the course, which is based on the reference texts. In addition, a basic knowledge of cultural anthropology is necessary. For those who have not already taken an introductory course in cultural anthropology, we recommend reading the book "Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology" by Thomas Hylland Eriksen, published in 2010 by Pluto Press.

The course aims to explore and analyze the social imaginaries present in contemporary Japanese society, focusing on various forms related to neo-traditionalism, post-tourism, nature perception, mass culture, culinary traditions, rural marketing strategies, and religious culture. Students will have the opportunity to investigate how these multiple representations influence and shape the socio-cultural reality of the country, examining their manifestations and the cultural, social and economic implications associated with them. Through the adoption of theoretical approaches from cultural and social anthropology, the aim is to promote a critical and in-depth understanding of these cultural phenomena. Lectures in the course will include analyses of case studies, critical readings of academic texts and relevant multimedia materials, with the aim of providing students with a comprehensive and articulate view of the social imaginaries present in Japan.

Given the nature of the course and the absence of a reference textbook, the bibliography consists of a number of studies that explore specific topics and problems in depth. Details on the bibliography will be provided at the beginning of the course and during class. Students can find information on the bibliography on the course Moodle page. Texts related to topics covered during lectures will be available on the course's Moodle page. Lecture slides will include links to reference and/or downloadable background texts. In addition, some reference texts will be available on the Moodle page for further study.

Attending and non-attending students:
- Writing a term paper on a topic agreed upon with the lecturer (approximately 5000 words). The paper must be submitted via Moodle in .doc format at least two weeks before the exam;
- Oral exposition of the paper (10 minutes).

written

Grading Criteria for the Thesis and Oral Exam

A. Score range 18-21:
- Knowledge and understanding: Sufficient knowledge of the program with an adequate ability to apply it, but with limitations in depth and analysis.
- Ability to gather and interpret information: Limited ability to independently gather and analyze information. Few personal judgments, sometimes superficial or not fully developed.
- Communication skills: Sufficient communication skills, but the use of specific language is still basic and not entirely appropriate for describing the phenomena discussed. The presentation may be somewhat imprecise.

B. Score range 22-25:
- Knowledge and understanding: Decent knowledge of the program, with a good but not always deep understanding. Ability to apply concepts clearly and pertinently.
- Ability to gather and interpret information: Good ability to gather and interpret information independently. The judgments made are acceptable but could be more thorough and well-argued.
- Communication skills: Good communication skills, with correct use of specific language, although sometimes not entirely precise. The presentation is clear but could be smoother.

C. Score range 26-30:
- Knowledge and understanding: Excellent knowledge and understanding of the program, with a solid ability to apply concepts in a relevant and in-depth manner. Complete and well-articulated analysis.
- Ability to gather and interpret information: Excellent ability to gather and interpret information, with well-formed and well-argued personal judgments. Strong capacity for synthesis and analysis.
- Communication skills: Very good communication skills, with precise and appropriate use of specific language. The presentation is clear, structured, and well-organized, with a good ability to adapt to the audience.

D. Honors:
Honors will be awarded for an outstanding performance, with in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the program, exceptional judgment skills, and flawless communication. The ability to analyze and mastery of specific language are superior, and the presentation of the thesis and oral exam stands out for originality, clarity, and depth.

Lectures and seminar type teaching.

Italian

It will only be possible to take the exam with the syllabus taken in this course (a.y. 2023-24) for the first four appeals following the delivery of the course.
Once these four appeals have passed, students will have to take the exam with the syllabus of the new academic year.