Print

2018　Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences29:'Other' Sounds - Music, Minorities, Japan

Font size  SML

Register update notification mail Add to favorite lecture list
Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
De Ferranti Hugh Barry Ziani 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Wed5-6(W323)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.S429
Credits
1
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2018/3/20
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

This 8-week course is built around a series of case studies of ethnic and cultural groups who use music to sustain their existence as minority ‘Others’ in Japanese society today. At the heart of our study will be the ongoing roles that music and dance play in shaping the nature of minorities and the identities of their individual members, as well as crucially mediating between minorities and ‘mainstream’ Japanese society.

Student learning outcomes

Students will acquire the following knowledge in this course:
* Various representative definitions and viewpoints on the nature of ethnic and cultural minorities in Japan.
* How music functions to 'produce' individual and group or community identities.
*　A set of terms and analytical concepts for thinking about how music shapes a minority ‘community’, both as a whole and internally.

Keywords

ethnic minority, cultural minority, identity, marginalisation, mainstream society

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

(1) Students must read the assigned writings and listen to assigned music extracts in advance of each class, and each week 1 or 2 students are assigned to prepare their own set of comments and questions.
 
(2) A short discussion will be held at the start of each session about overall impressions of what students have heard and read, and the questions or points of argument they have prepared.    

(3) Depending on student numbers, in Week 7 and/or Week 8 all students will make a short presentation about the application of key concepts from the reading materials to one or more music examples of their own choosing (but as discussed in advance with the instructor).

(4) A final paper on the material of the session (7-) 8 individual presentations must be submitted within a week after that session.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction to the course; concerning ethnic and cultural minorities in Japan, and their specific circumstances in C20th and C21st society Discussion of participants’ knowledge and experience of ethnic and cultural minorities in Japan and their music-making
Class 2 music and minorities: key concepts, terms and issues In week 2 all returning class members will be assigned some pages in readings to prepare questions and comments about
Class 3 Case study: music and Korean(-Japanese) Page numbers in the readings will have been assigned to individuals or pairs to prepare questions and lead discussion
Class 4 Case studies: Okinawan and Ogasawaran music-making Page numbers in the readings will have been assigned to individuals or pairs to prepare questions and lead discussion
Class 5 Case study: Ainu music and dance Page numbers in the readings will have been assigned to individuals or pairs to prepare questions and lead discussion
Class 6 Case study: Music and the Philippine diaspora in Japan Page numbers in the readings will have been assigned to individuals or pairs to prepare questions and lead discussion
Class 7 Presentations I Presentations on individually nominated topics　approved by the instructor. Demonstrate understanding of some of the concepts and methods studied in readings.  Prepare a revised written version of the presentation for submission within a week.
Class 8 Presentations II Presentations on individually nominated topics　approved by the instructor. Demonstrate understanding of some of the concepts and methods studied in readings.  Prepare a revised written version of the presentation for submission within a week.

Textbook(s)

none

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Copies of reading materials will be provided by the instructor.

Assessment criteria and methods

weekly participation 30%
final paper 30%
presentation 40%

Related courses

  • LAH.S428 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences28: 'Our' Sounds - Music, Society, Community
  • TAL.L403 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences28: 'Our' Sounds - Music, Society, Community (Leadership)

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Neither prior experience of the discipline of Musicology nor advanced knowledge of music theory is required.  (If you are uncertain about this aspect, please ask the instructor by email before the class begins.)  What IS required is an ability to listen deeply, a genuine love of music and an earnest desire to understand why human beings cannot live without it, as well as how we can think, talk and write about music coherently. Ability to read and discuss academic texts in English is also needed.

Page Top