Asian Studies, BA

ASIA 132. Introduction to Modern East Asia. 3 Units.

This course is an introduction to the histories of modern China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from the "dawn of the global world" in the 17th century to present. Taken together these regions make up the geographic and cultural unit commonly referred to as "East Asia." Over the course of the term, we will investigate the usefulness of this concept of "East Asia" by examining its origins as well as the sometimes convergent, sometimes divergent relations between this region and the rest of the world. We will also challenge the stereotype of a monolithic and static East Asia and see to develop a critical understanding of the internal and external forces integrating and dividing this region. We will examine how international diplomatic, commercial, military, religious, and cultural relationships shaped the individual countries as well as their relationships with each other and the world. The course sweeps over large regions of time and space. It aims to put the contemporary discussion of globalization into historical perspective by examining the long-lasting interactions of East Asian countries with each other and the rest of the world. These connections were economic, political, cultural, and psychological. Topics include: global silver and trade flows, warfare and military technology, imperial domination and revolutionary resistance, and the role of historical memory, as in Nanking or Hiroshima. Sources include historical documents, pictures, films, and memoirs. As we move through the course material our goal is not to gain total knowledge of modern East Asia, nor of China, Japan, Korea nor Vietnam. Rather, by the end of the term you should be able to identify some of the main organizing themes in modern East Asian history and develop a greater understanding of the construction and nature of historical knowledge itself. Offered as HSTY 132 and ASIA 132. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course.

ASIA 217. Buddhism. 3 Units.

From India to Indonesia, from Tibet to the United States, the reach of Buddhism has been pervasive and persistent throughout the past millennia. What makes Buddhism so popular? Why are there so many Buddhist traditions all over the world, and what are those? What makes them different, and what sets of core tenets do they share, if any? In this course, we will explore together the basic teachings of Buddhism in its manifold emanations. Using Buddhism as an example, we will also begin to think about religion as a tool of social organization or resistance, as a cosmopolitan language to converse with other cultures, and as an integral part of human lives past and present. Offered as ASIA 217 and RLGN 217. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 226. Southeast Asia And The World: History, Politics, Religions. 3 Units.

This course explores the background and factors contributing to the development and shaping of contemporary Southeast Asia, as well as the intersection and synthesis of the social, cultural, geographical, religious, and political dimensions by placing ordinary lives within the context of emerging postcolonial nation states in Southeast Asia. It analyzes major trends and transformations across the whole Southeast Asia region during different historical periods -- the conquest of traditional kingdoms, colonial rule, the impact of World War II, nationalist revolutions, and the emergence of new postcolonial nations. More broadly, it also examines the intersection and synthesis of the social, cultural, geographical, religious, and political dimensions by placing the ordinary lives of Southeast Asian peoples within the context of emerging postcolonial nation states. At the end of the course, students will gain a firm foundation in acquiring a foundational knowledge in the history, religion, culture, geography, and society of Southeast Asia, as well as understanding the implications of the continuing socio-cultural, economic, and political transformation of contemporary Southeast Asia and the significance that this region has for the rest of the world. Offered as ASIA 226, ETHS 226, HSTY 226, and RLGN 226. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 241. Translating Religion. 3 Units.

We live in a multilingual world. We use different languages to communicate, to connect, and to contest. We also use different languages at home, at work, in church, or in public. This course explores the idea that translation, in an extended definition as "communication and delivery of message across languages or media," is all around us, especially in the context of religion. In encountering differences -- in the form of religious experiences, ideas, narratives, traditions, texts, etc. -- we make sense of these differences through acts of translation. To think with the themes of religion and translation is to recognize that the world has always been multilingual. The task of translation carries not only linguistic but also ethical significance. In this course, we ask: how does translation in this extended sense participate in the religious lives and experiences of people? How do we, as human, make sense of and connect with the other-than-human? Students are introduced to the complex mechanisms of translation as we investigate a rich, global archive of translation case studies, where people engage differences in all aspects of religion. This course also reinforces the university's commitment to a diverse student body by contributing to and celebrating multiculturalism and multilingualism. Offered as ASIA 241, ENGL 241, and RLGN 241. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course.

ASIA 244. Ghosts, Zombies, and Monsters: What We Fear and Loathe in Religions. 3 Units.

Our religious imaginations are constantly haunted by myriad frightening and loathsome beings. In this class, we will explore the many ways in which ghosts, zombies, and monsters have symbolized and personified the issues, concerns, hopes, and fears that have shaped our lives. Combining the two threads of eschatology (theological considerations about death and "the end") and monster theory, it brings to the fore what is commonly demonized, marginalized, or unseen in religious traditions across the globe and asks what it is about the ghosts, zombies, and monsters that appalls and arrests us. To understand the diverse cultural traditions and their imagination of ghosts, zombies, and monsters, the majority of the course content is dedicated to these fearsome beings in Asian contexts -- China, Japan, Tibet, Thailand, to name a few. Offered as ASIA 244 and RLGN 244. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 263. The Arts of Asia. 3 Units.

This course surveys a selection of major developments and masterpieces in the arts of Asia from the bronze age to the early modern era in a wide range of media, including sculpture, painting, ceramics, architecture, bronzes, calligraphy, and prints. With a focus on the arts of China, Japan, Korea, India, and Pakistan, we explore how these visual cultures have developed over time. The course provides thematic focuses, introducing the core issues that are salient to understanding the objects under study. Its thematic and contextual approaches help students explore how religious, political, philosophical, aesthetic, and social ideas have shaped the artwork of these regions. It will also familiarize students with the vocabulary, terminology, and patterns of thinking needed for a critical analysis of a visual culture in general. Offered as ARTH 263, ASIA 263, and RLGN 263. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 288. Imperial China: The Great Qing. 3 Units.

This course is an introduction to the history of Imperial China, from the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644 to the creation of the Chinese republic in 1912. We will explore the major historical transformations (political, economic, social, and cultural) of the last imperial dynasty, the Qing (1644-1911), and develop an understanding of the major social, political, economic, and intellectual cultural forces shaping the formation of modern China. Contrary to commonly-held ideas in both West and in China that traditional Chinese society was timeless or stagnant, historians now see dramatic and significant changes during this period--to the economy, to gender relations, to religion, and to many other aspects of life. This course surveys the social, political, economic, and cultural history of this era, with emphasis on recent research. The main goals of the course will be to acquaint students with the key changes and to show the interplay between economic, social, and cultural changes on the one hand and political developments on the other. By the end of the semester you should have a good sense of how Chinese society was transformed over the course of the 17th through early 20th centuries. The topics we will discuss include urbanization and commerce; gender, family and kinship; education and the examination system; opium and free trade; and ethnicity and nationalism. Offered as ASIA 288 and HSTY 288. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course.

ASIA 289. Reform, Revolution, Republics: China 1895 to Present. 3 Units.

Beginning with the First Sino-Japanese War (1895), this course reviews the historical development of intellectual discourse, public reaction, and political protest in later Imperial China through the creation of the People's Republic in 1949 forward to contemporary times. In contrast to the conventional description of China from a Western point of view, this course tries to explain the emergence of modern China in the context of its intellectual, political, and socio-economic transformation as experienced by Chinese in the late 19th and into the 20th century. By discussing the influence of the West, domestic rebellions, and political radicalism, we examine how the Chinese state and society interacted in search for modernization and reforms, how these reforms were continued during the Republican period, and to what extent historical patterns can be identified in China's present-day development. Offered as ASIA 289 and HSTY 289. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 291. Rivers of Empire: Water and Environment in Chinese History. 3 Units.

This class examines how water shaped the making and unmaking of states, societies, and environments in China from antiquity to the present. Rivers and canals were not only vital arteries of agriculture and commerce but also sites of disaster, ecological change, and political power. This course traces the history of flood control, irrigation, and canal building; the role of droughts and climate shocks in famine and dynastic change; frontier water management in Inner Asia; the ecological consequences of war; and the rise of Maoist hydraulic megaprojects and contemporary debates on environmental authoritarianism. Through a combination of historical scholarship, primary sources, and creative assignments, students will learn to see water as both a material force and a political/cultural metaphor. Case studies range from the Yellow River and the Grand Canal to the Three Gorges Dam and the South--North Water Transfer Project, with comparative perspectives on the Ohio & Erie Canal and China's transboundary rivers. Assignments encourage both analytical and imaginative approaches, culminating in a "water biography" that treats a river, canal, irrigation system, or dam as a historical actor with its own life story. The class also encourages local engagement with the water infrastructure in Cleveland. Students are encouraged to participate in Ohio & Erie Canal cleanups and/or paddle session with the Cleveland Dragon Boat Association. Offered as ASIA 291, ESTD 291, and HSTY 291. Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 308. Chinese Experience: Study Abroad in Taiwan. 3 Units.

This interdisciplinary, three-week study abroad program in Taiwan introduces Chinese culture through the lens of language, society, and political systems. Students will have the opportunity to witness modern, traditional, urban, suburban and rural life in this land and discover how traditional Chinese culture coexists with modern westernized society. Students can study Taiwanese contemporary Chinese culture and how it coexists with traditional culture. This program will include academic study under a professor to offer a closer look at these lands and people. There will be language study, lectures, day trips, hands-on learning, and guided study tours to museums, including the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, tea culture, and other historical sites. We can also taste authentic Taiwanese and Chengdu cuisine as well as others local food at night markets. Offered as ASIA 308 and CHIN 308. Counts as a Local & Global Engagement course. Prereq: CHIN 101 and CHIN 102.

ASIA 312. Korean Popular Culture. 3 Units.

This course examines the development and global circulation of Hallyu (the Korean Wave), highlighting various contemporary Korean popular culture genres including K-pop music, cinema, TV dramas, webtoons and animation, digital games and esports, lifestyle media, fashion, and food. Students will engage with primary sources such as K-pop music videos, films, and excerpts from TV dramas and other media products, alongside academic secondary readings that provide theoretical, methodological, and contextual perspectives. By exploring diverse K-media products and engaging in academic readings, multidisciplinary discussions, presentations, and a research project, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of Korean pop culture and social phenomena while developing analytical tools to critically approach cultural objects and texts. The primary language of instruction, including lectures and discussions, is English, and no prior knowledge of Korean is required. Offered as ASIA 312, KORE 312, and WLIT 312. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 314. The Green Energy Transformation in China. 3 Units.

This course introduces students to the research, development and scaling of green technologies in China. Students will examine the proactive development of renewable energy and energy conservation technologies, commonly referred to as Energy Transition, which was started by the Chinese Green movement and promoted by China's renewable energy policies. Students will explore questions such as the following: What are the implications of China's success story of energy transition and climate action for the rest of the world? What challenges does the energy transition face? What innovative solutions must and can be explored and achieved? In the investigation, students will examine such important issues as globalization, resource finiteness, and sustainability challenges, including economic crises, climate change, energy insecurity, political instability, and global competition. Students may only earn credit for one of the following: CHIN/ASIA/WLIT 314, CHIN 350, and CHIN 350D. Offered as ASIA 314, CHIN 314, and WLIT 314. Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 320. Chinese Popular Culture. 3 Units.

In this course we are going to study Chinese (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Chinese Diaspora) popular culture since the 1980s. By examining different forms of popular culture, including popular literature, film, music, TV programs, posters, the Internet, etc., we will be looking into their political, ideological, sociological, cultural, and psychological mechanisms. The film viewing will take place outside the class. Offered as CHIN 320, ASIA 320 and WLIT 320. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course.

ASIA 330. Chinese Cinema. 3 Units.

This course explores the history of and critical issues in Chinese cinema: we will discuss early film making in Shanghai, leftist melodrama, Socialist films, the Chinese New Wave, underground films, the film making in the era of globalization, and etc. Themes and genres that will be investigated include melodrama, the "Fifth Generation", underground film making, filmic representations of women, minority films, and historical epics. Films from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and diasporic communities will be discussed to illuminate what it means to be "Chinese." All of the films in this course come with English subtitles; the film viewing will take place outside the class. This course has the following objectives: 1) View and comprehend 13 Chinese movies; 2) discuss Chinese language, literature, history, and culture as well as filmmaking as they are reflected in the Chinese movies featured in this course; and 3) learn how to write film reviews on Chinese movies in English. The course will be taught in English and uses the seminar-style instructional methods focusing on developing the students' disciplinary communication skills in Chinese Studies. All course and reading materials will be in English, and all movies will have English or English-Chinese bilingual subtitles. Students may only earn credit for one of the following: CHIN 330, CHIN 330D, or ASIA/WLIT 330. Offered as ASIA 330 and WLIT 330.

ASIA 335. Chinese Calligraphy. 3 Units.

Chinese Calligraphy ("shufa" in Chinese and "shodo" in Japanese) is a traditional form of art with millennia of history behind it. It is also an art of self-cultivation and self-expression. It is one of China's greatest high art forms and is a cornerstone of Chinese culture. This course will explore the five more major styles of Chinese calligraphy and how to write Chinese calligraphy. Through intensive training and practice, learners will be able to create their own calligraphic art that showcases their engagement with the past and their creative spirit. The course is open to those who have taken Asian Languages or art and have had prior experience in calligraphy or writing Chinese characters by hand (optional). Offered as ARTS 335, ASIA 335, and CHIN 335.

ASIA 346. Buddhism Goes to the Movies. 3 Units.

This seminar delves into the lively expressions of being Buddhist, "doing Buddhism," or just thinking along Buddhist lines across the cinematic world. It also queries the rich emanations of Buddhist teachings and practices that inspired cinematic expressions beyond those traditionally labeled as "films about Buddhism." Taking seriously the claim that the practice of seeing brings about spiritual liberation and interpreting films as Buddhist scriptures, students will critically and creatively examine these visual contemplations on the Buddha, his teaching, Buddhist communities, history, practice, and stories of Buddhists in the many worlds they inhabit. Prior knowledge of Buddhism (for example, RLGN 101 or RLGN 217) is strongly preferred but not strictly required. Students may wish to take RLGN 217 and RLGN 346 at the same time. Offered as ASIA 346 and RLGN 346. Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.

ASIA 398. Honors Thesis. 1 - 4 Units.

Intensive study of a topic or problem under the direction of a faculty member, resulting in the preparation of an honors thesis.

ASIA 399. Independent Study. 1 - 3 Units.

Tutorial in Asian Studies.