Asian Studies

Learning about Japan through anime

Students in a new online course got to analyze Japanese culture in a novel way: through the lens of anime and manga, a style of Japanese comic books. The class was offered through the Asian Studies Program and was open to any student, not only Asian Studies majors.

“Naturally, seeing Japanese anime and manga as an available course made me literally do a double take,” said Alan Durham, a student in the class. Not only are students delighted, but according to Rachel Levine, professor of the course, faculty have also shown interest in the class. “It is a course about all the things you never knew about the manga and anime phenomenon,” said Katherine Dicken, an Asian Studies major. In the class, students focus on analyzing anime and manga through a sociological lens and discuss its effects on – or reflection of – Japanese culture and identity. Levine said the importance of this class lies in creating, “a deeper understanding of Japanese culture through an unlikely, yet incredibly amusing, medium.” Her goal is for students to develop a multi-dimensional view of society, in which they can expose themselves to something other than mainstream culture. “Assignments and readings vary and cover a broad range of topics,” she said. “I want students to absorb the material, form their own opinions, and debate these opinions.” Students have the opportunity to interact and share their ideas with other classmates through online discussion boards, where debate and open conversations are encouraged.

“I think the insight into Japanese pop culture is invaluable and entirely unique,” Dicken said. “The content is interesting and the papers we get to write are reflective, which are perfect for a course like this.”