last updated: Thu, December 19, 2019 9:11 AM
This page is updated as the class progresses.
If there is no entry for a day, use the G-Drive excel sheet schedule as the official schedule, or ask me.
Standard abbreviations for our main texts
Seating format: We will sit in a circle. We will almost always sit in a circle so please arrange the room accordingly when you arrive.
Before class: Nothing to do except look over the syllabus and "Syllabus, Part 2" and bring your questions about these two documents.
In class: I will give an overview of the course.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session for this session.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on our learning objectives. I create the next week's schedule during the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive backup calendar and if still not clear, email me.
Seating format: We sit in a big circle. Sit wherever you wish. Please help build the circle at the beginning of class, and restore the room to its original seating arrangement at the end.
Before class:
In class: I will be explaining how we will run the class this time..
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format, and some other things: Big circle. Details recorder (D-RECORD): Nico. Themes level recorder (TL-RECORD): Kevin. Reviewer (REVIEW): Cai. The two recorders should sit at opposite sides of the circle to help capture the discussion. They are welcome to use devices. For all others (including reviewer), devices should be closed. (We don't do "close readings" in this class so there is no need to have access to the texts. You can print them out if you wish, but I won't be asking questions that require recalling specific passages in details, and you won't have time to read once asked a question. You will need to rely on your memory and notes.) DUE TIMES: D-RECORD is due 24 hours after the end of class (so 3:30PM the next day). TL-RECORD is due 48 hours after the end of class. REVIEW is due 72 hours after the end of class. Do not be late in your submission! ...
Before class:
In class: We discuss the assigned material in depth.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
This week we finish the preliminary readings and begin reading the first of Oe's novels. Since MEMUSHIRI is due for Thursday, be sure you have procured your version in time to have done the reading.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: "Big circle." *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
Notes:
William Faulkner's fictional Yoknapatawpha County (pronunciation [Yok'na pa TAW pha"] listen to bCourse: "Yoknapatawpha pronunciation.mp3") is an important literary construct for Ōe. We will return to this in the third major reading for this class: The Silent Cry • Man-en gannen no futtobooru • 万延元年のフットボール (1967). Just as the second and fourth of our readings deal with the theme of facing the challenge of disabled family members, our first and third readings, MEMUSHIRI and MANEN, explore family units and pseudo-family units living in countryside-mentality villages. The Faulkner reading for today takes up some of the core values that Ōe sees in village life and, like Faulkner, Ōe has a mythical valley that he returns to at various times for his novels. MEMUSHIRI is, I think, the first appearance of that valley and is certainly the first worked-out version of it.
In class: We discuss the assigned material in depth.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: "Big circle" *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
In class: We discuss the assigned material in depth.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Note: This week we read Oe in Japanese. There are various levels of reading ability in the room. Do what your level enables you to do, following the guide questions listed on the Tuesday session details.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
NOTE: Sept 18, 11:59PM is the add/drop/swap/change deadline.
Seating format: "Big circle." *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
Notes:
This is our first reading of Ōe in Japanese. It is the opening pages of MEMUSHIRI.
Whenever we read in Japanese, our priority question is:
"What did I get from reading this in Japanese that I did not get when reading in English?"
Note that this is not the same as asking how the two are different, or evaluating the quality of the English translation.
Our second priority is:
to read a section "closely" pondering word choice, the function of this specific scene with its images, events and so on.
Our third priority is:
"What seems to be indicative of Ōe's writing style?"
If you have read attentive to style (not content or theme) any other Japanese author in the original, consider taking some time to compare this style with any of those, and make a comment in class.
In class: We do not read and translate. We discuss what we have learned from reading in Japanese.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session unless you have a recorder role.
Seating format: Small groups, then "Big circle"
Before class:
In class: Same as Tuesday.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session unless you have a recorder role.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: "Big circle." *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
In class: Lorem.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: "Big circle."
Before class:
In class: We discussed themes, then you committed to two of them.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: "Big circle." *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
In class: We will discuss the first third of the book.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: "Big circle." *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
In class: We will discuss the passage.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day. NOTE: Various assignments come due during the weekend.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: Sit with your presentation group. *If you were assigned recording duties for this day, work as you usually would except: incorporate the comments presenters might add to the session transcript and there are no details recording duties during your own group's presentation.
Before class:
In class: Final preparations for presentations, then presentations. How long a presentation should be will be announced once groups are known.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: "Big circle." *Check for whether you have a recording duty for this session.
Before class:
In class: We will discuss the final third of the novel, and the novel overall.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day. NOTE: Various assignments come due during the weekend.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: Big circle.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of AGHWEE X KOJIN.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: Big circle.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of Faulkner vis-a-vis Oe.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Note: Chapter titles for this novel are here.
Seating format: Big circle.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of these chapters, likely based on your DQ.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Note: Chapter titles for this novel are here.
Seating format: Big circle.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of what you have learned of this novel having read some in of it in Japanese.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Note: Chapter titles for this novel are here.
Seating format: Tight circle, circular circle. :)
Before class:
In class: Discussion and presentation. Actually, I discussed most of the time and presentation time was limited to the last 30 minutes of the class.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Note: Chapter titles for this novel are here.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of the book's ending, as a whole, and compared to other works so far read.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
We wrap up our work on MANEN this week.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Note: Chapter titles for this novel are here.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class: We sit in a circle and discuss how you experience the scene differently when reading in the original. I might also ask about the reading for the first round of Japanese, the class you did on your own. No small group work this day.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Note: Chapter titles for this novel are here.
Seating format: Spread out, for quizzing.
Before class:
In class:
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class: We will discuss her, her stories, her notion of the grotesque, and her notion of grace.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Direct link to the Companion Page for JINSEI: here.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of the first three chapters, Yeats, Blake, Theosophy, Kim, Betty Boop, and Mr. Magoo.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class: We sit in a circle and discuss how you experience the scene differently when reading in the original.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class:
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: Tight circle.
Before class:
In class:
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
I sketch out the entire course flow at the beginning of the term, then adjust it as we progress through the class, based on teaching goals. I create the next week's schedule the weekend before that week. When the schedule is not updated, refer to the Google Drive calendar.
Seating format: Tight circle. Your seating also determines small group composition.
Before class:
In class: Discussion of the final chapters of JINSEI.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Seating format: Tight cicle.
Before class:
In class: This is an open discussion. I have topics if you don't but anything you would like to say comes first.
After class: bCourse assignments are not listed here—see your bCourse calendar feed or our bCourse home page. *There is nothing in particular that you are expected to do after this session except consolidate your notes for the day.
Check Calendy for office hours, if any.