AMES3436: Postwar Japanese Literature in Translation

This is an introductory survey of modern Japanese literature and its role in the postwar debates around Japanese culture, aesthetics, politics, and environment. Beginning with the occupation of Japan by the US military and ending with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (postponed by a global pandemic), students will analyze the main movements in postwar Japanese literary production and the core issues featured in this literature. We will explore national genres in Japan, their premodern precursors, and postmodern manifestations. The course has no prerequisite and assumes no prior knowledge of Japanese cultures or experience with literary analysis. All materials, lectures, and discussions are in English.

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