ARTJ Courses on Anime and Manga
Japan House is excited to offer new online courses starting Spring 2021 taught by Lindsey Stirek: ARTJ299: Exploring Anime, ARTJ299: Queer Manga, and ARTJ301: Manga: The Art of Image and Word.
ARTJ299: Exploring Anime Through the Works of Studio Ghibli approaches the medium of Japanese animation through the works of Studio Ghibli with a strong focus on the films of Hayao Miyazaki. Through studying the history and mindsets of the animators and the inception, production, and global reception of the films, it is hoped that students will acquire a better understanding of how anime are created and the impact that anime, and particularly the works of Studio Ghibli, has had both in Japan and globally.
ARTJ299: Queer Manga - Gender Representation in a Changing World looks at manga through the lens of queer and gender studies to help students gain a broader perspective on the role of manga and gender in the 21st century. Through close reading and thorough discussion, it is hoped students will acquire a better understanding of the ways manga reflects our changing perceptions as a global society and the ways in which manga itself contributes to changing those perceptions.
ARTJ301: Manga - The Art of Image and Word offers an introduction to manga (Japanese comics), its production, its history in both a Japanese and global context, and the fundamentals of manga as an art form and part of the larger cultural traditions of Japan.
ARTJ299: Exploring Anime
In this course, students will watch a variety of Ghibli films and read interviews, director’s notes, and related scholarly articles. Students will also do mini-projects that will allow them to explore aspects of the creative process.
ARTJ299: Queer Manga
Students will read several manga in translation and analyze the drawing style, narrative techniques, and social, cultural, and political issues addressed. Students will also do mini-projects that will allow them to challenge mainstream representations of "queerness."
ARTJ301: Manga - The Art of Image and Word
Students will read and analyze a variety of manga in translation and related scholarly articles in addition to participating in discussions of the evolution of manga and the ways it interacts with culture and society.
ARTJ299: Exploring Anime
This class will allow students to move beyond superficial understandings of Japanese animation. Students will develop a deeper appreciation for the form of anime by means of critical analysis and contextualization.
Educational outcomes for this course include gaining new knowledge of Studio Ghibli and anime, becoming familiar with the creation and production process of Japanese animated films, applying newly gained insights to one’s own creative processes, gaining new perspectives on the global impact of anime, and enhancing one’s ability to contextualize and analyze anime.
ARTJ299: Queer Manga
This class will encourage students to examine changing perceptions of gender in Japan and globally through the lens of manga. It is hoped that students will develop a deeper understanding of their own ideas about gender and will gain appreciation of manga as a form of expression with the potential to challenge mainstream gender ideologies.
Educational outcomes for this course include becoming familiar with critical works of manga by LGBTQ and genderqueer author-artists, gaining new knowledge of manga and of gender ideologies in Japan, applying newly gained insights to critically analyze manga and other media, and enhancing one’s ability to creatively challenge normative expectations.
No requirements. All classes are open to all students.
ARTJ299: Exploring Anime Through the Works of Studio Ghibli
This class meets once a week on Wednesdays in the fall semester for 8 weeks.
ARTJ299: Queer Manga
This class meets once a week on Wednesdays in the spring semester for 8 weeks.
ARTJ301: Manga - The Art of Image and Word
This class meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the spring semester for the whole semester.