Subjects at MIT which establish a context
			 for viewing anime

Thinking about subjects for Spring 2003?  MIT offers many subjects
that help you gain perspective on anime as a cultural or art form.
Perhaps the most directly relevant subjects are Japanese Animation
(SP.270) (taught by club president Sean Leonard), and Japanese Popular
Culture (21F.039), but there are many more subjects that will help
establish a context which will deepen your appreciation and
understanding anime as a cultural artifact and as a medium.


SP.270: Japanese Animation: Still Pictures, Moving Minds

	Explores Japanese animation, known as anime, and its
	associated institutions in terms of media theories,
	aesthetics, fan cultures, and production practices. Students
	analyze significant series; debate over global and local
	reception, including fan culture growth and function; compare
	the anime form to other artistic works; connect anime with
	contemporary and historical trends in Japan; complete a
	project in a particular discipline related to anime. Examines
	works by specific directors (Oshii Mamoru, Ishiguro Noboru,
	Miyazaki Hayao) and studios, supplemented with readings,
	screenings, and guest speakers from the US and Japan. Taught
	in English.
		
21F.039: Japanese Popular Culture

	Examines Japanese popular culture as a way of understanding
	the changing of media, capitalism, fan communities and
	cultural differences. Topics include manga (comic books),
	hip-hop and other popular music in Japan, anime (Japanese
	animated films) and feature films, sports (sumo, soccer,
	baseball), and online communication. Emphasis on contemporary
	popular culture and theories of gender, sexuality, race, and
	the workings of power in global culture industries. Students
	write response papers, make in-class presentations and develop
	final projects based on particular aspects of Japanese popular
	culture. Taught in English.
		
21F.035 Topics in Culture and Globalization

	Spring 2003 Topic: Popular Culture in Japan.

	Scans existing debates over globalization in four continents;
	explores impact on everyday life in First, Third Worlds;
	cosmopolitan culture; global youth culture; religion, society,
	and politics that challenge globalization. 
		
In addition, there are several classes on (or relevant to) Japanese
film, culture, politics, and recent history:

	21H.522 Japan in the Age of the Samurai: History and Film 
	21H.523 Emergence of the Modern Japanese State, 1800-1952
		(Just what was going on in Rurouni Kenshin, anyway?)
	21H.546 World War II in Asia: Film, Fantasy, Fact
	21F.030 East Asian Culture: From Zen to Pop
		(This subject actually concentrates on Chinese.)
	17.537/17.538 Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan
	17.486 Japan and East Asian Security
	17.562 Political Change in Italy and Japan
		
Equally important is the fact that anime is a medium, and exists
alongside other media (indeed, one of the distinguishing features of
anime is the use of cinematic effects and camera angles).  MIT is
lucky to have a distinguished Comparative Media Studies group, and
there are a number of film (and other media) subjects being offered
this Spring.

	21F.019 Communicating Across Cultures 
	21F.027J Visualizing Cultures
	21F.055 Dreams, Visions, and Nightmares: German Cinema 1918 -1945 
		(Heh.  You think the _End of Evangelion_ is weird.
		There's also a subject on French cinema taught in the
		Fall.  Godard's work, especially, would make you see
		_Evangelion_ in a new light.)
	21L.011 The Film Experience 
	21L.430 Popular Narrative
	21L.432 Understanding Television
	21L.433 Film Styles and Genres
	21L.449 End of Nature 
		(Perhaps someone should introduce this professor to
		the works of Miyazaki, especially the _Nausicaa_
		manga!)  
	24.209 Philosophy in Film and Other Media