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The British Empire in East Asia: Victorian and Neo-Victorian Perspectives II
(AY 2022/2023, Semester 2)

Download course syllabus here: British Empire in E Asia 2 syllabus.pdf

Week 1. Introduction

Britain and Japan: Friends and Foes

Lecture slides: W1. Introduction.pptx

PDF of Mitford, Tales of Old Japan ("The 47 Ronin"): Mitford. 47 ronin.pdf

Sample essays from Semester 1: 

Sample essay 1.pdf

Sample essay 2.pdf

Week 2. British perspectives: Samurai stories

Reading: Extracts from Mitford, Tales of Old Japan ("The 47 Ronins")

Lecture slides: W2. Mitford samurai.pptx

PDF of Mitford, Tales of Old Japan ("The Vampire Cat of Nabeshima"): Mitford. cat nabeshima.pdf

Week 3. British perspectives: Weird tales

Reading: Extracts from Mitford, Tales of Old Japan ("The Vampire Cat of Nabeshima")

Lecture slides: W3. Mitford weird tales.pptx

Week 4. Walking tour of Yokohama historic sites

Field trip (Saturday 9.30AM to approx. 4PM)

Lecture video: W4. Walking tour (with narration).pptx

PDF of Hearn, Glimpses of Unfamiliar JapanHearn. glimpses of unfamiliar japan final.pdf

Week 5. British perspectives: Travel writing

Reading: extracts from Hearn, Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan

Lecture slides: W5. Hearn glimpses of unfamiliar japan.pptx

PDF of Hearn, KwaidanHearn. kwaidan.pdf

Week 6. British perspectives: Weird tales

Reading: extracts from Hearn, Kwaidan

Lecture slides: W6. Hearn kwaidan.pptx

PDF of paintings by J. M. Whistler: W7. Ukiyo-e and Whistler images.pdf

Week 7. British perspectives: British Aestheticism and Japan

Reading: paintings by J. M. Whistler

Lecture slides: W7. Whistler paintings.pptx

PDF of Wilde, "The Decay of Lying": Wilde. the decay of lying.pdf

Week 8. British perspectives: British Aestheticism and Japan

Reading: Wilde, "The Decay of Lying"

Lecture slides: W8. Wilde decay of lying.pptx

PDF of Nitobe, BushidoNitobe. bushido final.pdf

Week 9. Japanese responses: The samurai spirit

Reading: extracts from Nitobe, Bushido

Lecture slides: W9. Nitobe bushido.pptx

PDF of Okakura, Ideals of the EastOkakura. ideals of the east final.pdf

Week 10. Japanese aesthetics and pan-Asianism

Reading: extracts from Okakura, Ideals of the East

Lecture slides: W10. Okakura ideals of east.pptx

Week 11. Post-imperial responses: Neo-Victorian Britain

Reading: extracts from Toboso, Kuroshitsuji

Lecture slides: W11. Kuroshitsuji.pptx

Week 12. Post-imperial responses: Japan and Korea

Film screening of Park Chan-wook's The Handmaiden

Week 13. Post-imperial responses: Japan and Korea

Reading: Park, The Handmaiden

Lecture slides: W13. Handmaiden.pptx

Week 14. Conclusion

Lecture slides: W14. Conclusion.pptx

W14. Example essay outlines.docx

Week 15. Essay due

Assignment instructions: Assignment instructions.pdf

Recommended reading list.pdf

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