Japan, Textiles and Pop Culture
Course Details
Syllabus
Instructional Dates
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Travel Dates
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Credits
ART 494, ART 337, LIBR 397
Total Credits: 15
Western’s joint Art and Library program in Japan is an occasion for students to immerse themselves in the study of Japanese culture. Not only do they learn a lot about their fields of interest in art and popular culture, but they also have a chance to explore the cultural setting in and about which the art was produced, including important geographical locations, architecture, language, and artists’ studios. Also essential to this experience is the interaction with our Japanese hosts, whom students meet in the context of staging an exhibition, creating natural-dyed art works, and in every other possible context, traveling around the country, tasting Japanese food and seeing so many different perspectives on Japanese life and art. It is truly an opportunity of a lifetime for these students.
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Program Highlights
- Participating in a natural dyeing workshop and a Zen meditation
- Viewing contemporary arts in Naoshima, Tokyo, and Kyoto
- Visiting many temples/shrines including one of the three most beautiful suites in Japan, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island
- Visiting the Peace Park in Hiroshima
- Visiting Himeji Castle (most authentic Japanese castle) and outdoor installations by Boltanski and Kusama etc.
- Visiting museums devoted to Japanese film and manga as well as a film studio
- Experiencing both traditional and contemporary cultures in Japan through architecture, fashion, arts & crafts, and food.
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Expectations of Participants
Prerequisites: As this is primarily aimed at Art students, it is preferable if they have the Foundations courses completed (Art 109, 110, 120, and Art 230, 280) but exceptions can be made.
With or without reasonable accommodations, students must be able to walk for three to four hours/day and sit for three hours/day. We will be doing a lot of walking. Unfortunately, Japan is notoriously difficult for people with mobility issues. It is getting better, but it is very difficult to get between the different modes of transportation we will be using, primarily train and bus.
Students will have access to refrigeration at lodging locations.
Students must work with the WWU Disability Access Center, Wilson Library 170, (360) 650-3083, drs@wwu.edu. For service eligibility, a complete diagnostic description from a qualified professional is required. Specific accommodations or services are determined on an individual basis and are modified to meet the unique needs of the student and their academic experience. Accommodation policies and procedures are highly individualized and centered on self-advocacy, realistic self-appraisal, and student growth. Each quarter, students need to activate their approved accommodations for each class. Students choose which of their approved accommodations they want to activate for each class.
We strongly recommend that all students traveling on this Global Learning Program are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to maximize the safety of the student cohort. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines remains the most important step to protect yourself and your community.
Participants are expected to abide by all attendance policies of the program, including those for classes and excursions, and to adhere to the program schedule. Since the programs are academic in nature, parents, friends, partners, and families are not permitted on any part of the Global Learning Program. Personal travel must be outside of the course dates and not conflict with coursework or excursion schedules. Travel plans should be vetted by faculty beforehand to ensure personal plans do not interfere with meeting the learning objectives of the course.