Thoughts about 5th session

[Anonymous]

I truly enjoyed this session and wish we could discuss Japanese classical literature for another week! What I found really interesting was how The Tale of Genji has been put into so many different textual and visual forms, from manga versions to an opera! I would love to expose my students to some of these mediums to compare the different portrayals and discuss how successful each version is to us, the audience. Also, I would love to compare The Tale of Genji to a more "western" story that is equally popular in America to show my students how other cultures have commonly known stories that transcend time as well.

[Anonymous]

I thought this session was very interesting and entertaining. I was very impressed by what a dynamic presenter Professor Miyake is. I thought all the resources and teaching tools used were instrumental in making the content especially appealing and engaging.

[Anonymous]

Love the use of manga in literature class. It seems like an easily usable method to get into curriculum approachable by the students. And for those who are worried about reading Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, there are almost always English versions, at least of the more popular books. There's a really nice used book store, and they have chains all over LA for ease of access. It's called: Book Off.

Here's the web address: http://www.bookoffusa.com/

[Anonymous]

Just thought of a really good manga focused on some ideas that work in the classroom and has translations in English, Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken in Japanese).

[Anonymous]

I agree with earlier posts about the use of manga as literature. I have had some of my students create story boards in manga style, and it is pretty amazing. I also would like to use a video of a story presented as a kobuki play. I was amazed at the beauty of kobuki theater and I would love to attend a play someday.

[Anonymous]

Very interesting lecture. I particularly enjoy reading the Japanese magazines that Proffesor Miyake shared with us. The topic they chose to write about and their stile of writing was definatelly different than western society, yet the magazine looks very apealing as American magazines. I am Particularly interested in Watching Japonese theater. So I will follow up on the website sugested.

[Anonymous]

I think emphasis on writting and how it applied to dating rituals would work very well with my students. The different versions of the The tale of genghi were also cool to see.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed it and did not know too much about feudalism and other economic structures in early Japan. I'm looking forward to visit some of the tomb mounds.

[Anonymous]

Professor Miyake rocks! The class wnet by fast. There was so much to take in. She had handouts with notes that served as excellent bullets for what she covered and taught us. She had something for all types of learners, whether you are a visual, audio, or hands-on. The things that stand out are the following: "The Tale of Genji." All the books and cartoons that have been written about it. I was surprised to see prono cartoons. "The Pillow Book" seemed more of a journal or diary. It was a collection of whatever was relevant to the author. She also talked about the different teather done in Japan. I enjoyed the point of "team" with the puppets. Even inanimative things share the sense of having to work together to function.
I was floored when the topic of use of common textbooks in all of japan! Do you know how difficult it is for a department at one school to reach concenses for what book to adopt. How a common textbook would make transfering from one schoolm within the same district, to another so much easier! Let us not oversea the money that would be saved statewide!!! Hats off to the japanese for simplicity!

[Anonymous]

It is fascinating to learn about the Japanese history and those literature works. I would like to read more about it, such as "the Tales of Genji"and so on.

[Anonymous]

thank you everyone for posting such interesting comments on this lecture. This was the one lecture I had to miss because of mandatory outdoor education (i was hiking in yosemite). It sounds like I missed a great seminar, but I intend on using the information given and the resources posted to add to my Japan unit.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the other fellow classmates that the Literature serves as an example of the social concerns in Japan at the time. It helps my students connect and analyze why certain genres of literature fluourished in regards to the historical facts.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the early developement of Japanese literature being poety/prose related to the influence of confucious / zen buddhist philosophy?

[Anonymous]

Facts that stuck with me after Lynne Miyake's lecture was the origins of the austere enviornment created by the Japanese. The reasons behind the sparsely furnished, the old and irregular shapes, were all derivatives of the Momoyama aesthetics. The reason being was for the nostalgia of the heyday of Heian court. For the first time I was able to make connections with the past origins and what I've observed in present day Japanese interiors. When introduced into my classroom, math students may be able to use this information as an extension to ratio and proportions.

[Anonymous]

The literacy rate of Japanese aristocratic women during the Heinan period appears to have been surprisingly high. Their societal rights as well to inherit property ensured power and marriage. After reflecting upon my knowledge of European history, it appears that the Japanese women's rights were economically progressive and far superior to other women in the world during that time. The literature produced as well was exquisite and offered the outside world addtional insight into the psyche of these women. The students in my Model United Nations classroom could use this information to conduct a comparative study of politics and of women's rights of ancient Asia and present day society.

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