ANTH 241 - East Asian Civilization

3 Credit(s)

From Samurai to Anime, from the Opium Wars to the Vietnam Conflict, East Asian civilization has long been an object of fascination and fear in Europe and the United States. This course introduces students to the cultural diversity of Southeast Asia. Students will survey the religion, politics, economics, and art of the region and reflect critically on the cultural divide said to separate “the East” from “the West”. Using the theories and methods of anthropology, students will trace the cultural connections between ancient belief systems, like Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and modern cultural forms, such as Kung Fu movies, K-Pop, and Communism.
Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite.

(SAME AS POLS 241)