AsienEyes: Japan sehen, Japan hören und evtl. verstehen.

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Subject according curriculum

Elective Course

Teachers

Prof. Frank Böhme

Scope

Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Room

BP U01

Duration

2 Semesterwochenstunden

Description

There is likely general agreement that Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, is a land of contrasts: on the one hand, it boasts one of the world’s most modern industrial sectors; on the other, it maintains the unbroken vitality of centuries-old traditions. Much of this may seem foreign to the Western observer at first—but that is precisely what gives it its special charm.

This seminar explores this tension, taking Japanese woodblock prints as its starting point. In their heyday in the 18th century, these images paint a multifaceted panorama of life at that time. They tell of architectural culture and fashion, of the image of women in that era, of nature, literature, and eroticism. At the same time, they offer a glimpse into a society whose traditions continue to influence contemporary Japan.

Taking these images as a starting point, the seminar examines Japanese culture both then and now. The focus is on the relationship between tradition and modernity, as well as the question of how cultural forms are preserved, transformed, and reinterpreted. Music and theater are additional focal points of the seminar. They introduce students to aesthetic forms of expression based on distinct concepts of perception and reception, which stimulate and challenge Western habits of seeing and hearing.

Encountering the unfamiliar invites wonder, inquiry, and at times even contradiction. It is precisely through comparison that differences become visible, surprising connections emerge, and familiar perspectives are reexamined. From this perspective, the seminar is an invitation to a shared journey of discovery through Japan’s traditional and modern culture—and to a lively exchange about images, sounds, theatrical forms, and social ideas.

Literature

Will be provided

Credits

2 Creditpoints

Comments

Please register by email: Frank.Boehme@HfMT-Hamburg.de
Thank you

Modules

Wahlmodul freie Wahl (alle Studiengänge), Wahlmodul Lehramt, Studium generale Wahlmodul Master