JAPN 985 - World of Japanese Magna

4 credits
This course will examine manga (modern Japanese comic books that evolved before and after World War II). Manga are avidly read in Japan as a main component of Japanese popular culture. They have a huge influence on other media such as films and anime. The genre has greatly expanded its readership outside of Japan during the last decade. We will read, in English translation, a variety of manga aimed at people of different genders and age-groups. The texts will be interpreted as a means of understanding the worldviews of the Japanese and how Japanese society has evolved in recent decades.