Anthropology 254 | Writing Assignments

Third Course Essay

The third essay is intended to help you formulate some final thoughts about the broader themes of the course. Please select one of the following three options. Whichever you choose, I am particular interested in your ability (a) to synthesize various materials we have read and viewed and discussed during the semester and (b) to draw on specific examples from these readings, lectures, films, and discussions. I think you can compose a perfectly adequate answer in about four pages (about 800-1000 words).

Option 1: In this last segment of the course, we have discussed minorities in Japan and their struggles for social inclusion and social rights. This has often been accompanied with internal debates within these groups over whether to assimilate to the mainstream. Take one of the examples of minority groups (right wing nationalists, deaf activists, Brazillian nikkeijin, Koreans in Japan, etc.) and situate them within and against the themes of mainstream consciousness, nationalism, and modernity raised in this course.

Option 2: In his article, “Making Sense of Nihonjinron,” Sugimoto critiques how nationality, ethnicity, and culture are often used synonymously in writing about Japan. This semester’s readings have shown us that even in the midst of collectivizing large-scale historical changes and social institutions like education, the family, and the workplace, individual experiences of life in Japan show great diversity.

In your essay, introduce examples from our readings where you see similar assumptions and normative expectations about Japanese social institutions, and the ways these assumptions are undermined (or reaffirmed) by individuals. Evaluate the challenges changing social institutions may pose for Japan and assess what these assumptions and normative expectations accomplish, and for whom.

Option 3: The term "cultural imperialism" has been used to describe the export of American pop culture to other countries, where its strong commercial presence and popularity threaten to weaken or displace local cultural forms and practices. Is cultural imperialism an accurate term for the presence of American popular culture in Japan, and for the presence of Japanese popular culture in other Asian countries? Be sure to include the Iwabuchi article in your response.

This essay is due on Thursday, December 13 by 11:30 a.m.  It is worth about 20% of your overall grade.