Seminar in the Literature of Japan: Uno Chiyo and the Arc of Modernity

Uno Chiyo (1897-1996) was a writer, notorious femme fatale, magazine editor, fashion arbiter, and kimono designer. Her fiction offers a unique perspective on the historical sweep of the twentieth century. In this course we will explore the different facets of "modernity" in Japanese literature through an overview of Uno's life and works. Topics include "the modern girl," "mass culture," and "tradition and nostalgia." Whereas Uno Chiyo will be the primary focus of the course, we will also examine the works of her contemporaries, such as Tanizaki Jun'ichirô, Kajii Motojirô, Kawabata Yasunari, Hirabayashi Taiko, and others. Readings will be in both Japanese and English. Accommodations will be made for those who do not read Japanese. Prerequisite: prior work in upper-level Japanese literature courses.

Seminar in the Literature of Japan: Uno Chiyo and the Arc of Modernity

EAST ASIAN STUDIES 5671

Section 01