Universität Wien
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150025 SE MA-Seminar II: Regional stratification in Japan (2016S)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

This is a graduate seminar on regional stratification in Japan, designed to introduce you to the study of ‘Japan below the national level’. This is of particular importance in times of ongoing demographic change, which is felt most severely in infrastructure-poor rural areas, leading to regional disparities within Japan. Furthermore, with the Aso region being the current research focus of the Japanese studies department, a solid understanding of rural Japan is imperative. The readings for this course introduce you to a large range of disciplines and methodological and theoretical viewpoints, paying attention to issues of social class, gender, as well as historical, organizational, political, and cultural issues. The course is structured around three aspects: we will look at (1) regional differences of families and social networks, (2) the differences of people’s life satisfaction and levels of happiness in different regions of Japan, and (3) the discourse of regional differences through and within (mass)media.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes

Mittwoch 17:00-18:30, Besprechungszimmer Japanologie.
Beginn: Mi 9.3.2016

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

You will gain a firm understanding of the regional variations of Japanese society.
You will be familiar with both macro- as well as micro-level research on different regions and the regional variation of Japan.
You will be able to understand the importance of social structural variables for understanding the regional diversity of Japan – or any country for that matter.
You will be sensitized for the critical observation of national level studies of Japan.

Assessment and permitted materials

You are required to attend class regularly, finish the assigned readings before class, take part in discussions, and be prepared to share your thoughts in class.
Your research paper in total takes up 60 percent of your grade: you submit a research proposal on April 4, 23:55, present your research in class (20 minutes, plus 10-15 minutes of discussion time), and submit your final paper on August 30, 23:55.
Each student will also be responsible for a presentation on the readings in a predetermined session. The presentation should comprise of a brief summary followed by leading the seminar in a discussion of the issues.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Befähigung zum selbständigen Abfassen kleiner wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten zu einem klar abgegrenzten Thema unter Zuhilfenahme von japanischen Quellen. Die TeilnehmerInnen sollen das bisher erlernte Wissen über das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten in der Japanologie selbständig anwenden und auf dieser Basis die für ihr Thema relevante Literatur recherchieren sowie nach geeigneten Theorien und Methoden suchen. Nach Abschluss der LV sollten die TeilnehmerInnen über einen guten Überblick über die Diskussion zum Seminarthema in japanischer, deutscher und englischer Sprache verfügen.

Examination topics

Interaktiv. Einführung in das Thema durch die Seminarleiterinnen.
Individuelle Vorbereitung und anschließende, gemeinsame Textbesprechungen, teilweise auch in Form von Gruppenarbeiten im Seminar; die SeminarteilnehmerInnen sollen außerdem ein Spezialthema präsentieren und darüber eine Master-level Seminararbeit verfassen. Absprache des Forschungsthemas im Verlauf des Seminars mit der LV-Leiterin.

Reading list

Wird über moodle sowie auch laufend im Seminar bekannt gegeben.

Association in the course directory

JMA M6, JMA M7

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:35