ASIAN 2218 - Introduction to Korea

(ALC-AS, HST-AS) (CA-AG, HA-AG, LA-AG)

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

I. Yi.

This course provides an introduction to Korean culture and history from early times to the present. We will examine major historical time periods and cultural forms of the Korean peninsula, with a focus on the Chosŏn dynasty (1392-1910) and the twentieth century. The course is designed to give students an overview of the transformations of Korean civilization in the context of the East Asian cultural sphere and globalization. We will engage with a wide range of texts and media across time periods, including films, primary historical sources in translation, literature, and music videos. Key themes and topics of the course include the formation of South and North Korea’s identities, the rise of Neo-Confucianism, Japanese colonization and (post) colonialism, the construction and performance of gender, the Korean War and postwar reconstruction, environmental degradation, and developments in popular culture. (GE)