HONORS 385 ASIAN LITERATURE SEMINAR

Dr. Rachela Permenter Spring 1996, Slippery Rock University

Schedule
Course Guidelines and Basis for Grades


Texts:

A Treasury of Asian Literature. Ed. J.D. Yohannan. Meridian, 1994.
Paradise of the Blind. Duong Thu Huong. Penguin, 1993.
Te-Tao Ching. Lao-Tzu. Modern Library, 1993.
Farewell My Concubine. Lillian Lee. Harper Perennial, 1994.
Rashomon. Akira Kurosawa. Ed. Donald Richie. Rutgers, 1994.


In addition to the above texts, we will study four Asian films as major texts for the course. You will also view three American films to supplement your work. Seven Friday classes will not meet at the regular time in order to accommodate film viewing.
You are responsible for the reading assignments for class on the day they are listed. The following schedule may be modified as the course proceeds:
INDIA

W Jan 17 Intro to course
F 19 From Cartoon History of the Universe (India); "Introduction," Treasury xi-xiv

M 22 From The Mahabharata, Treasury 91-98
W 24 From The Mahabharata, Treasury 99-107
F 26 No Regular Class
View The Little Buddha
M 29 From The Bhagavad Gita, Treasury 350-59
W 31 From The Bhagavad Gita, Treasury 359-66
F Feb 2 From The Bhagavad Gita, Treasury 366-74
M 5 From The Dhammapada, Treasury 375-81
W 7 From The Dhammapada, Treasury 381-85
Th 8 From The Dhammapada, Treasury 386-88;
excerpts from A Tiger for Malgudi
PAPER #1 DUE

VIETNAM

F 9 No Regular Class
View Heaven and Earth

M 12 Paradise of the Blind
W 14 Paradise of the Blind
F 16 Paradise of the Blind
M 19 Paradise of the Blind

CHINA

W 21 From Cartoon History (China)
F 23 No Regular Class
View Joy Luck Club

M 26 From Cartoon History (China); From The Analects of Confucius, Treasury 314-26
W 28 From The Analects of Confucius, Treasury 327-33
F Mar 1 From The Analects of Confucius, Treasury 333-40
Spring Break Mar. 2 - 10
M 11 From The Chinese Poets (Intro & choose one poem from each: The Book of Songs, Wang Wei, Li Po, Tu Fu, Po Chu-I and Su Tung-P'o), Treasury 226-44
W 13 Intro to Chinese Film
PAPER #2 DUE
F 15 No Regular Class
View Ju Dou
M 18 Ju Dou Discussion
W 20 Ju Dou Discussion
F 22 Te-Tao Ching
M 25 Te-Tao Ching
W 27 Te-Tao Ching
F 29 Te-Tao Ching
PAPER #3 DUE
M Apr 1 Farewell My Concubine
W 3 Farewell My Concubine
Easter Break April 5 - 8
W 10 Farewell My Concubine
F 12 No Regular Class
View Farewell My Concubine
JAPAN

M 15 From Cartoon History (Japan); From The Tale of Genji, Treasury 58-73
W 17 From The Tale of Genji, Treasury 74-91
F 19 No Regular Class
View Snow Country

M 22 Snow Country Discussion
W 24 Rashomon 96-109
F 26 No Regular Class
View Rashomon
M 29 Rashomon 31-91
W May 1 Rashomon (Selections)
F 3 Rashomon (Selections)
Finals Week May 6 - 10

PAPER #4 DUE at scheduled Final Exam time

COURSE GUIDELINES:

1. This is a seminar. You are expected to attend all classes and film viewings, to read thoroughly, to maintain the reading schedule, and to contribute significantly by thoughtful discussion. Undocumented absences beyond two will lower your grade (excused only if documentation from a dean or medical doctor is provided).

2. Seminar sessions should be more student-initiated than in traditional classes. You are expected to contribute by occasionally finding some outside material to add to informal discussions. (Of course this research material may also be added to your papers.)

3. Papers must be computer printed (laser or inkjet quality), following MLA format.

4. For each week-day a paper or presentation is late, your grade for that assignment will fall by approximately one letter.

5. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work which is not the product of your own study and efforts, you will receive a grade of F for that work and perhaps for the course.

6. You are encouraged to visit the professor during office hours or by appointment for assistance with research, papers, presentations, etc., or to discuss the course material.

BASIS FOR GRADES:

*Discussion Contribution to Seminar (thoughtful discussion & regular attendance): Expected
Papers #1, #2, #3: 15% each
Paper #4: 25%
Presentation: 25%
Outside Research Contribution to Seminar: 5%

*A deficiency in this area will lower the grade you earn in the other four areas.

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Last updated on January 16

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