Contemporary Japan II
HUM-445 / 3 credits
Teacher: Vogel Chevroulet Irène Elizabeth
Language: English
Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.
Remark: Une seule inscription à un cours SHS+MGT autorisée. En cas d'inscriptions multiples elles seront toutes supprimées sans notification.
Summary
Introduction to the culture of Japan - its thought and way of life - designed to foster future study of the archipelago. It elucidates the specificities of a Japanese identity that is imbued with both tradition and openness to innovation, for creating sustainability - society, economy, environment.
Content
See the full description of the course in the fall semester HUM-444.
The content depends on the topic of the research linked to the thematics of the autumn semester.
Keywords
Sustainability, interculturality, Do, Shinto, Zen, communication, robotics, food, innovation, ethics, arts, anime, cinema
POLY-perspective :
- interdisciplinary perspective
- creative perspective
https://www.epfl.ch/schools/cdh/cdhs-vision/
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Develop a critical methodology for studying ethnocentric thinking
- Interpret cultural stereotypes attached to Japan (spirituality, gender, arts)
- Develop an intellectual argument on a proposition relevant to the course
- Synthesize the array of knowledge necessary to have a good understanding of social integration in Japan
- Synthesize the contributions of contemporary Japan (innovation, work ethics, spirituality, robotics, arts)
- Compose or write a memoir
- Use a work methodology appropriate to the task
Transversal skills
- Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
- Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
- Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
- Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
- Take account of the social and human dimensions of the engineering profession.
Teaching methods
Fall semester: lecture and visiting speakers + supervision (English/French) of the elaboration of a research plan
Spring semester: supervision of research, mini-colloquium, a paper sample will be furnished to students
Expected student activities
Elaboration of an individual or group research plan, active participation, critical lecture of articles and books, working discipline and time management, writing skills (English/French)
- Fall semester: written examination, research plan (two pages: title, issue, detailed plan, bibliography)
- Spring semester: abstract (250 words), participation to a mini-colloquium, paper (4000 words)
Assessment methods
Oral presentation at the mini-colloquium (50%), paper (50%)
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
Resources
Bibliography
Bibliography and specialized resources on thematics will be at disposal on the moodle
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Number of places: 50
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Contemporary Japan II
- Project: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory