AMES1201: Arrow, Fist, and Sword: Conceptions of the Hero in Asian Cultures

Concepts of the "hero" in Persian, Indian Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cultures: How did various societies in these countries define the ethos of the "hero" and his relationship to the community? How did versions of the hero change over time, and how was the hero redefined in the context of modern nationalism? What part have traditional gender roles played in defining the hero, and is a "female" hero possible within these traditions? And how has popular film allowed modern Asian societies to reinterpret their traditional conceptions of the hero? Specific explorations: the Persian hero Rostam in The Book of Kings; Rama and retellings of the Indian Ramayana; Mulan and the Chinese female warrior; the Korean hero Hong Gildong; and the Japanese story of the forty-seven ronin.

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