Contemporary Japan II

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

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

Resources

Bibliography

Bibliography and specialized resources on thematics will be at disposal on the moodle

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/HUM-445