Presentation

This final is focused on the Subject, Social, and Self Understanding.Throughout our classes, we focused on Subject and Social understanding by reading textbooks, posting blog entries, watching films, discussing with classmates, and writing compare and contrast essays. On Final exam, please focus on SELF understanding through the democratic ways of Subject, Social and Self understanding. For example, how this subject and social understanding/ experiences affect on yourself. 

****Take home Final exam is due by Friday, December 12th by 11:59pm.
Email your final to my gmail

Blog #14

Contents

1) discussion of comparison and contrast ANALYSIS paper

Discussion leaders for next week- Hudson, Jimmy, Chris, Charlie, and Nick

Homework is
1) Watch the rest of "Depatures"http://youtu.be/ujQ4cXHqtBM
2) blog entry#14--- answer the questions
3) comparison and contrast analysis paper due on next week 11/25

Departures (2008)  ”Okuribito” (the person who sends or sees someone off)

1. When they are asked about their religion, most Japanese answer they are Shinto and Buddhist. Why do they belong to two religions at the same time?  Why don’t they think it’s contradictory?  Cite more than 2 times from the textbook and explain why you think so.

2. What is iitokodori? Cite once from the textbooks and explain what it is. Choose the scene from this film in order to explain the negative effects of iitokodori.

3. Daigo was a cellist, but his orchestra was dissolved, and he takes a job as “Nokanshi.”  What kind of job is “Nokanshi”?  From the film, what is the general perception of this job? How does Daigo feel about his job? Describe the transition of Daigo’s wife perception toward his job.

4. Japanese funerals have many rituals and customs.  In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the Japanese funerals you saw in the film and the kind of funerals you have been to?  

5. Movie---What does the stone that Daigo has mean?
6. Movie--- Was Daigo able to meet his father? What kinds of situation was it?
7. What other Japanese key concepts do you see in this film? Explain what and why you think so.
8. What did you learn about the Japanese culture through the film?  What do you think about the movie overall?

Blog #13

Contents
1) Talked more about your paper→Bring handout
2) Discussed about Nemawashi→ listened to Fumi's authentic story
3) Discussed about film, From up on poppy hills
Discussion leaders are Em, Ethelyn, Anthony  (Nick has to do on 25th for Departures)

Homework is
1) Read the following concepts and analyze them with citations

        Iitoko dori (p.127)  Soshiki (p.201)

2) Work your paper with handout

IF you are absent today, answer ① to ⑤　questions and put on your blog #13

Make sure that this paper is Comparison and contrast essays NOT definition essays. It means that you WON'T write about what the Japanese concept is, for example, what Bushido is or the history of Bushido.
    ① What and what are you going to compare and contrast
     e.g.) Japanese and American bullying
    ② What Japanese key concepts are you going to use? 
     e.g.) Chinmoku (Silence in Japanese communication)
    ③ Thesis statement---What are you going to proof by explaining ① and ②.
     e.g.) American bullying is worse than Japanese bullying because it is more physical than                  mental bullying. 
The thesis statement should be personal perspective and should not be really obvious common senses.  Through comparing and contrasting essay, you will proof your thesis statement. 
    ④What is the writing format for this paper
          e.g.) APA 6th edition
　⑤ Outside resources-- You have to find 2 other resources for this paper. You will find the     
          book, journal, or, videos and write the citations/bibliography referring to ④.
          e.g.)  Bruner, Jerome. (1983). In search of mind. New York: Harper Colophon.   

Blog #12

Contents
1) explanation of comparison and contrast paper
2) watch the film (From up on Poppy Hill)
NEXT WEEK----Discussion of film 
Discussion leaders -EM, Nick, Ethelyn, and Anthony have to ready for questions 

Homework is
1) Blog entry #12 -answer the following questions about film (from up on poppy hill) 

From up on Poppy Hill (Kokurikozaka Kara):  histrorical background-May－June, 1964, (year of Tokyo Olympic) Showa period

1. Considering Nemawashi, what aspects did you seen in the film? Explain that and write the reasons why you think so.

2. Nemawashi and Sudan ishiki have deep connections. Use the one citation from the textbook and explain it.

3. Considering Sempai and Kohai, what are the relationships between Umi (Mel) and Syun?

4. Do you think the clubhouse embodied wabi sabi? why or why not?

5. What was the significance of the scene where Umi, Shiro, and Syun, wait for the head of the company in regards to otogibanashi? Was was the significance of the way Umi acted in relation to the others?

6. Why did Miyazaki (directer) make Umi and Syun think they were brotherand sister later to find out they weren't actually related. Which value does this represent?

7. How did the clubhouse serve as nemawashi?

8.  Was Umi’s grandmother a good example of Ryosaikenbo? Cite textbook one time and explain the reasons why do you think so.

9.  With the strong women that Umi has around her do you think she will develop into a good example of Ryosikenbo?

10.  Movie---What is the relationship between Shiro Mizunuma(school president) 's sister and Hokuto (doctor)?
11. What do you think about this film? Answer this comparing your personal perspective and experiences. 

special picture #2

 

Happy Halloween from Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff!

Happy Halloween!!!

From Elsa and Olaf with Love

Haiku

Blog #11

Contents

1) discussed about "What make you American?" with the groups
2) Try to write Haiku→ You have to vote the best one! by next Monday so I can be ready for your prize!
3) discussed about film, Memoirs of Geisha.

Homework is
1) Blog entry #11 Read and analysis of following key concepts

　　①Nemawashi (p.159)

　　②Sempai-kohai (p.187) 

　　③Ryosaikenbo (p.179)

　　④ Reflection of the last discussion of Memoirs of Geisha

2) Vote the Haiku that you think it showed the purpose of Haiku the best

Rubric is

①Focused on NATURE

②surprising not literal 

③Show the writer's emotion by describing nature

Blog #10

Contents
1) Watch the film as much as possible

Homework is
1) find the film and watch the rest of film
2) Blog entry #10-answering the questions
Krista and Makenzie have to think about 2-3 questions for next week.
★Next week
1) Discussion of "What makes you American?" →Answer the question on Blog #9
2) Explanation of final paper 
3) Discussion of Memoirs of Geisha



Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)    Set in 1920’s Kyoto’s Gion destrict

 

1.  Today’s Japan is very much like the West. The Japanese wear jeans and T-shirts, listen to Hip Hop, dance at the club to the dance music, sit on the couch, etc.  In modern Japan, geisha in Kyoto Gion district symbolize the old, traditional Japan. What kind of arts and lifestyle of traditional Japan does geisha, “a person of art,” maintain and practice?

2.   Considering Bigaku, the Japanese sense of aware means “people are aware of the beauty of full blossoms, of course, but are more touched and deeply moved when these blooms are falling or beginning to wilt” (p.37). Can you find a moment in which you can relate to this Japanese aware in your life? Describe your example and experience. Explain the reasons why you think so.

3.   Comparing with the other Japanese films we have watched in this class, in Memoirs of Geisha, do you think it lost ma or aware because they speak English? Why? Why not? Explain the reasons why you think so.

4.   Considering Kisetsu, are there any events (e.g. Tanabata, Omisoka, etc) where you appreciate Kisetsu in the U.S.?  Find one and explain what it is. If you were Japanese, how would you enjoy the events differently from Americans.

5.   Considering Otogibanashi, in the film, can you discover "sense of emotional beauty, of a feeling of aware, which embodied in feelings such as patience and pity” (p.172). Describe the film and explain why you think so.

6.   Explain Wabi-Sabi with your own words. Compare the sense of aesthetics in your country with the notion of Wabi-Sabi in Japan.

7.   In the film, what scenes do you see Wabi-Sabi? Describe the scenes and explain why you think so.

8. Movie- how did Hatsumomo end up? What is the relationship between Sayuri and Chairman at the end?

    Do you think Sayuri is happy about the her life or not? Why do you think so?

9. Movie-Who did Okaasan adapt? What do you think Pumpkin's life?

10. What do you think about the movie overall? Share your personal opinions.