Asian Studies (ASIA) courses:
ASIA 1100 3 credits
Introducing Asia
Utilizing a pan-Asian approach, this course will introduce students to a variety of ways of seeing the Asian continent. Students will consider questions of gender and class, the impacts of colonialism, and the creation of the Asian diaspora, as they engage with the folklore, material culture, religion and philosophy, and economies of Asia.
ASIA 1111 3 credits
The Religions of India
Students will study the four major religions that originated in India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. They will study these religions with an emphasis on both scriptural sources and religious practices. They will also examine the development of these religious traditions within their socio-cultural and historical contexts, including Islamic influence.
ASIA 1311 3 credits
Religions of East Asia
Students will study the major religions of East Asia. They will critically examine the history and doctrines of religions including Daoism, Buddhism, and Shintoism. Students will analyze how these religions evolved over time in response to local conditions, and how they influenced the formation of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cultures.
ASIA 2120 3 credits
Introduction to Chinese and Japanese Cinema
Students will examine the emergence of several cinematic phenomena in post-war Japanese and Chinese-language cinemas. They will contextualize the classical period of Japanese cinema and the new waves that occurred respectively in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China, and further investigate the body of works by select Japanese and Chinese-language directors. Students will learn various concepts in film studies as they view films produced in various national, social, cultural, economic, and political contexts. They will also compare and contrast the conventions and styles across different cinemas and directors. Note: Student may earn credit for only one of ASIA 2120 and LANC 2120 as they are identical courses.
ASIA 2156 3 credits
Martial Arts of China and Japan
Students will challenge the portrayal of East Asia martial arts as ancient, timeless, and even mystical, by examining the history of the martial arts. They will examine how military techniques intended for use in war, policing, and the control of banditry came to be practiced as methods of moral, spiritual, and physical self-cultivation. Students will examine the historical origins of martial arts in Japan and China, their evolution over time, and how they both subverted and served state agendas in the modern era. They will also examine the role of martial arts in popular culture. NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 2156 or HIST 2156 as they are identical courses.
ASIA 2210 3 credits
Happiness and Wellbeing in Indian Religions
Students will investigate the existential, psychological, and spiritual perspective on wellbeing and happiness in the religious traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. They will analyze how these traditions address the problem of suffering, conceptualize wellbeing, and shed light on the pursuit of happiness. In doing so, students will learn about the application of Indian religious teachings and explore the overlap of such teachings with popular concepts and themes found in Western thought (such as mindfulness, meaningful living, and resilience) and the diffusion of religious practices (such as yoga and vipassana meditation) in the global context.
ASIA 2240 3 credits
Sikh Gurus: Life and Teachings
Students will study the development of the Sikh tradition through the lives and teachings of the Sikh Gurus. They will examine the evolution of Sikh beliefs and practices, within their social, cultural, economic, and political contexts. Students will study primary sources both by and about the Sikh Gurus in English translation. Students will look at how the Sikh religion draws attention to the ways in which people construct ideas of themselves and the world, and explore a wide range of concepts, including life and death, mysticism and war, and time and history. Students will also examine how aspects of Sikh philosophy and ethics may be applied to the contemporary world.
ASIA 2252 3 credits
Indian Society through Popular Film
Students will examine Indian culture and society through the medium of popular cinema, ranging from post-1947 Hindi classics to some more recent Bollywood blockbusters. They will investigate the ways in which Indian history and culture are depicted in film, including issues like nation building, gender, caste, nationalism versus regionalism/communalism, and globalization. In doing so, students will explore 'depicted reality' versus 'historical reality', the notion of the family as the symbol of the nation, as well as the relationship between the homeland (desh) and the West/diaspora (pardesh). Students will also study several films made by South Asian filmmakers in the diaspora.
ASIA 2290 3 credits
South Asians around the Globe
Students will examine South Asian diasporas -- across religious, ethnic and national boundaries – as they exist outside their homelands, with special focus on the South Asian communities in Canada. They will examine social theory related to South Asian migration and social adaptation as well as look at contemporary concerns related to globalization and transnationalism. Students will also investigate social issues that people often face in the process of adaptation to a new country at the personal, community, and societal levels. In doing so, students will have an opportunity to engage in experiential learning. Note: This course is cross-listed with SOCI 2290. Students may only receive credit for one of ASIA 2290 or SOCI 2290, as they are identical courses.
ASIA 2351 3 credits
Opium, Alcohol, & Tobacco in Asian History & Culture
Students will examine the very different ways in which drugs and alcohol have been looked upon over time in different cultural contexts. They will analyze differing interpretations of drugs and alcohol at pivotal moments in Asian history, where arguably, opium, alcohol, and tobacco (among others) have played important economic, geo-political, and social roles, not just as drugs but as strategic resources and cultural ‘habits’. Students will also examine the ways in which drugs and alcohol have shaped Asian history, including local and regional economies, social practices, material cultures, imperialisms, and even contemporary governments. NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of HIST 2351 or ASIA 2351, as they are identical courses.
ASIA 2355 3 credits
The Chinese Overseas: A Global History of Chinese Migration
Students will undertake an analysis of migration in modern Chinese history, with an emphasis on overseas migration. They will be introduced to relevant theories concerning migration, diaspora, and transnationalism before examining and analyzing the development of ethnic Chinese communities abroad over the past two centuries. NOTE: This course is cross-listed as HIST 2355. Students who have taken HIST 2355 may not receive credits for both HIST 2355 and ASIA 2355.
ASIA 2359 3 credits
Tea in Asia
Students will explore the rich history, material culture, and practices related to tea in Asia. Beginning as a commodity and drink native to China, tea would eventually come to dominate much of the world. Throughout this course, students will examine the various “ways” and cultures of tea in modern Asia, and how tea has shaped history through economies, social practices, and politics. Students will learn that tea in China, Japan, and India is not just a historical artifact—it is a way of life. From tea plantations to art, commodity chains to literature, tea has become both a national drink and social imperative across Asia. NOTE: This course is cross-listed with HIST 2359. Students may only receive credit for either ASIA 2359 or HIST 2359.
ASIA 2365 3 credits
Pathways to Nirvana: Cultural History of Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion, a philosophy, a ritual system, and a set of cultural practices in play throughout Asia. Students will look at the cultural history of some aspects of Buddhist thought and practice. They will examine philosophy, ritual, and other impacts of Buddhism within Asian culture including its role in politics and its impact on women, diet, and other key aspects of Asian society. NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 2365 or HIST 2365, as they are identical courses.
ASIA 2399 3 credits
Readings in Asian Studies
Students will examine key issues in Asian society, culture, economy, and/or politics under the direction of a faculty member in Asian Studies with expertise in the area. They will examine a selected topic in depth and will be required to complete both readings and research in this area. Students will be required to identify relevant sources of information and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Note: This course may be repeated more than once for credit, to a maximum of 9 credits.
ASIA 3130 3 credits
Sikh Culture, Religion and Society
Students will examine the cultural, religious, social and political developments in the Punjab over the past five centuries from the perspective of the Sikhs. They will focus on the cultural and social forces that shaped and consolidated Sikh religious beliefs, ritual practices, and social institutions. Students will explore the interrelationship among traditional pan- Indian customs, Punjabi folklore, and Sikh religious beliefs and practices. They will also explore the impact of the British Raj, including the Sikh reform movements, and the contemporary issue of the Sikh search for a distinct political identity. NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of ANTH 3130 or ASIA 3130.
ASIA 3140 3 credits
Environment and Society in East Asia
Students will critically analyze the interaction between environments and societies in East Asia. They will critically examine environmental history, institutional politics, property rights, and political ecology. Students will analyze the historical background of specific environmental problems, examine the legacies of late imperial, early twentieth, and late twentieth century policies on the use and abuse of natural resources. They will critically examine a broad range of issues including agriculture, forests, wildlife and biodiversity, grasslands, water, and the impact of "mammoth projects". NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 3140 or HIST 3140 as they are identical courses.
ASIA 3149 3 credits
Hong Kong: Past, Present, and Future
Students will undertake an in-depth analysis of Hong Kong's history from its days as a remote fishing outpost and pirate haven, through its development as a British-administered trading port and colony, and finally to its emergence as a Pacific Rim economic powerhouse. They will place historical developments in Hong Kong into a broader regional and global context. Students will also critically analyze contemporary issues such as the impact of Hong Kong's liberation from colonial rule, the role of "One Country - Two Systems" in protecting Hong Kong's unique character, the region's economic prospects following the opening of China's economy, and the ongoing struggle for democratic reform. NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 3149 or HIST 3149, as they are identical courses.
ASIA 3150 3 credits
East Asian Immigrants to North America
Students will critically analyze East Asian immigration to North America over the past two hundred years. They will also examine settlement experiences in North America, with a particular emphasis on the connections between immigrants and their homelands, interactions among East Asian immigrants and other groups in North America, and the development of ethnic communities. Students will critically examine issues including discrimination and racism, anti-immigrant legislation, the creation of ethnic enclaves, Japanese internment, the struggle for civil and political rights, assimilation and multiculturalism, inter-generational tensions within ethnic communities, transnationalism, and contemporary migration issues. Note: ASIA/HIST 2355 strongly recommended. NOTE: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 3150 or HIST 3150, as they are identical courses.
ASIA 3151 3 credits
Gender in East Asia
Students will critically analyze the role of gender in contemporary East Asia, and in doing so gain a unique opportunity to explore differences in the conceptualization of gender among countries and regions. They will, by going beyond dichotomies of East and West, traditional and modern, critically examine gender issues from a theoretically informed and comparative perspective. Students will critique different conceptualizations of feminism, the gendered effects of economic change, the relationship of gender to politics and the state, and the historical and transnational contexts which shape gender relations. They will, therefore, gain an insight into the situation of women in contemporary East Asia, as well as extend their understanding of the dynamics of gender in the contemporary world.
ASIA 3152 3 credits
Ethnicity in China and Japan
Students will examine the rich diversity of the Chinese and Japanese populations and their place in East Asian political and historical narratives. They will critically analyze the ways in which these many ethnic groups have dominated, informed, or otherwise played important roles in the governance, social development, and economic development of China and Japan. Students will also critically analyze the narratives of unity produced in the pursuit of nationalism and nation-building, and examine the ways in which these narratives have downplayed the diversity of the region's peoples. They will critically examine the making of majorities and minorities and how these were marked across cultural, regional, and national boundaries. Students will analyze and critique the various ways in which racial, ethnic, and national identities were defined, institutionalized, and reproduced in the early modern and modern periods.
ASIA 3153 3 credits
Folklore of China and Japan
Students will critically analyze the diversity and changing forms of folklore and folkways in East Asia. They will examine various myths in Japanese and Chinese culture. They will also assess how folklore practices such as festivals, arts and crafts folkways, folk life, and mythology impact culture and every day life in the ancient, pre-modern, and modern eras. They will analyze theoretical understandings of folklore and folkways and reflect critically on current debates and topics. Students will critically examine the formation and transformation of folklore throughout the cultural history of China and Japan, with particular emphasis on their metamorphoses within popular cultural forms in the contemporary world, including narrative, visual, oral, and customary genres. NOTE: HIST 1150 and ASIA 1311 recommended prior to taking this course.
ASIA 3154 3 credits
Chinese Cinema and Society
Students will explore the representation of gender, class and ethnicity in Chinese-language cinema from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. They will also investigate various theoretical debates over politics, nationhood, identity formation, and censorship. In doing so, students will evaluate the issue surrounding the conceptualization of cultural ‘Chinese-ness’. Borrowing examples from both mainstream and independent cinema, students will explore the ways in which the historical, social, and political contexts of the three regions shape and are shaped by film culture. Students will also critically analyze how visual elements and thematic concerns in different films work to characterize, comment, and criticize the shifting identities of and social structures within Chinese-speaking communities. Note: ASIA 2120 is strongly recommended. Note: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 3154 or LANC 3154 as they are identical courses.
ASIA 3230 3 credits
Islam in South Asia
Students will critically analyze the history and influence of Muslim communities and Islamic institutions in South Asia. They will examine and analyze the broad historical currents of the expansion of Islam on the Indian subcontinent, the nature of Muslim political authority, the interaction among religious communities, and Islamic aesthetics and contributions to material culture. Students will also critically analyze the multiple engagements with and reactions of Muslims to colonial rule, as well as the partition of British India and the creation of Pakistan, the relationship between Islam and gender in South Asia, and the contemporary concerns of South Asia’s Muslims.Note: ASIA 1111 highly recommended.
ASIA 3252 3 credits
Bollywood and Contemporary India
Bollywood and Contemporary India will introduce students to the directors who have begun to produce films that focus on the effects of globalization on contemporary Indian society and culture. Students will explore pertinent social issues pertaining to the cinematic representation of gender & sexuality, religion, politics, and Western influence. They will critically examine how films can serve as a platform for social change and will also critically analyze the politics of the censor board and controversies related to various film releases.
ASIA 3255 3 credits
Gender in South Asia
Students will critically examine the influence and impact of dominant gender norms and considerations in shaping lives in South Asia. They will examine historical, political, socio-economic, cultural, and religious challenges and changes; theoretical understandings of gender, class, ethnicity, religion, location, and other variables in subject formation; and, debates and controversies surrounding discourses of femininity and masculinity. Students will analyze primary and secondary scholarly sources, cultural products such as film, literary works, and mass media, and reflect critically on current debates and topics of interest, both in South Asia and in a transnational context within the South Asian diaspora.
ASIA 3310 3 credits
Japanese Culture and Business
Students will explore the role and characteristics of business in Japan and the powerful influence of business on contemporary Japanese culture. First, they will follow the development of industry and business in Japan from the beginning of the Edo Period until the end of the Second World War. Then students will examine the remarkable recovery and development of Japan's postwar economy that culminated, in 1980s and 90s, in theories and stereotypes relating to the concept of a unique Japanese business style. Finally, students will examine changes in the Japanese economy since the bursting of Japan's "economic bubble" in the mid-1990s, and the effects of these changes on business, society and culture today. Students will read texts as well as current articles in newspapers (such as the Wall Street Journal or The Daily Yomiuri (English edition)), journals and magazines (such as The Economist), and watch movies and documentaries in order to explore a broad range of topics, from the role of business in Japan's international relations to its effects on the lives of individual Japanese and their environment. NOTE: Students may earn credits for only one of LANC 3310 and ASIA 3310 as they are identical courses..
ASIA 3320 3 credits
Japanese Culture Through Film
Students will deepen their understanding of contemporary Japanese art and culture by viewing significant post-war Japanese movies. They will focus on influential directors and characteristic genres. Students will focus on influential directors and characteristic genres, discuss important themes and cultural references, and connect these movies to the broader Japanese culture. Students will also consider how the increasing success of Japanese animation in foreign markets might contribute to Japanese cultural integration into the global community. NOTE: Students may earn credits for only one of LANC 3320 and ASIA 3320 as they are identical courses..
ASIA 3860 3 credits
South Asian Folklore
Students will critically analyze the diversity and changing forms of folklore and folk customs in South Asia. They will look at how and why folklore impacts the culture and the everyday lives of people in South Asia. Students will critically examine the various genres of folklore, including narrative, oral, and customary genres. They will also look at performance traditions, including music and dance, as well as folk life, including folk art and crafts. Note: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 3860 or LANC 3860 as they are identical courses.
ASIA 3870 3 credits
Bhangra Movements and Identity
Students will critically examine the origins and development of Bhangra within Punjab and the Indian subcontinent as well as its adaptations and hybrid forms within the Punjabi diaspora, in North America and Europe. Students will critically analyze the development of Bhangra from a popular folk dance and music style within Punjab to its modern day status within the diaspora as a largely hybrid music incorporating Punjabi folk music with modern Western music traditions. Students will also analyze the role of Bhangra in the formation of identity for members of the South Asian diaspora. Note: Students may earn credit for only one of ASIA 3870 or LANC 3870 as they are identical courses.
ASIA 4350 3 credits
Canadian East and South Asian Communities
Students will critically examine the theories surrounding the study of migration and adaptation, as well as explore the local experience of East and South Asian communities in Canada, with emphasis on the post-World War II period. They will critically look at immigrants as 'social actors' and active contributors to their own social and cultural transformation as they engage with the new and changing social, economic and political structures of Canadian society. Students will conduct a field research project from a social science perspective on an Asian community in the urban field site of Greater Vancouver or in the Fraser Valley region. Students will develop important field research skills and gain exposure to the pertinent issues surrounding the complexity of the Asian immigrant experience in Canada's multicultural environment. Note: This is a seminar course.
ASIA 4351 3 credits
Advanced Topics in Asian Cinema
Students will engage in the critical study of selected genres/directors/national film industries within Asia. Students will critically evaluate a number of methodological approaches to the study of Asian cinema, assess the implications of these approaches, and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Students will also critically analyze the global influence of selected Asian cinema genres/directors/national film industries. Notes: This is a seminar course.Students may take this course more than once, in consultation with the Asian Studies Coordinator.ASIA 2120 or ASIA 2252 or ASIA 3154 strongly recommended
ASIA 4499 3 credits
Selected Topics in Asian Studies
Students will engage in the study of a particular issue within the discipline of Asian Studies. They will critically analyze the topic from a broad variety of perspectives, thereby developing a comprehensive understanding of both the issue itself and the related research. Students will critically evaluate a number of methodological approaches, assess the implications of these approaches, and identify their strengths and weaknesses. NOTE: This is a seminar course. This course may be repeated more than once for credit, to a maximum of 12 credits.
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