ARTS 310.004
Japanese Masters: Murakami, Takemitsu, Kurosawa
Charles McKnight
Lipinsky Hall 107-D
[email protected]
251-6487
The Arts and Ideas Mission and Student Learning Outcomes are listed here:
http://arts.unca.edu/about-us
Haruki Murakami, Toru Takemitsu, and Akira Kurosawa and are three of the
greatest artists in the world from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. All three are
Japanese but are world figures in literature, music, and cinema. Their lives span a
turbulent era in Japanese history. Japan moved from a total rejection of Western
culture in the 16th century to an embrace of Western culture, especially military
culture, in the late 19th century. In the last 150 years Japanese culture has been
somewhat schizoid, at times rejecting aspects of traditional culture and adopting
Western modalities, and at times just the opposite. Naturally, the work of artists of
the stature of Murakami, Takemitsu, and Kurosawa will express this tension
between cultures. How is Japan and its society and culture viewed through the eyes
of the three artists? How do they reconcile the tension between tradition and
modernity? What public are they addressing?
Texts: The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Confronting Silence by Toru Takemitsu
Something Like an Autobiography by Akira Kurosawa
Out of print but useful if you can find it:
The Art and Culture of Japan by Nelly Delay
Reviews: We will explore one major work by each artist together in class:
Murakami’s Wind-up Bird Chronicle, Takemitsu’s From Me Flows What You Call Time,
and Kurosawa’s Ran. You will choose one work by each artist to explore
independently. Write a review (about three pages) of your analysis of each work
with special attention to the questions above. These reviews are due as follows:
Murakami, March 3
Takemitsu, March 31
Kurosawa, April 28
Forum: There will be a discussion forum on Moodle for each week. This is an
opportunity to continue the class discussion during the week after our Monday
evening meetings, raise further questions, and reflect on the works we are studying.
Each person will be required to post a reflection (about one page) everyweek.
Participation: Always come to class. This is a seminar; if you are not present we are
deprived of your contribution. If you have to miss let me know in advance so we don’t wait
for you.
Grading:
20% = Murakami review
20% = Takemitsu review
20% = Kurosawa review
20% = Forum posts
20% = Discussion participation