HST 320 FASHION, FOOD, AND FUN: MATERIAL CULTURE IN CHINA AND JAPAN
This course explores the everyday material culture in the history of China and Japan. Starting with a general discussion of material culture, this course covers a wide range of physical objects (e.g. clothes, tea, food, garden, religious objects, book printing, and artifacts). How they functioned in everyday life and contributed to the mentality of East Asian people will be the main topic. We will also examine how the material culture of different time periods evolved in response to various historical forces. Within the context of material culture and the nature of consumption, this course explores overarching themes such as urbanization, transnational communication, and modernization. Students will be exposed to and encouraged to apply ideas from other fields, such as art history, anthropology, and religious studies, to their research projects. Counts toward Asian Studies minor.
Offered
Spring