21F.064

21F.064
Official Title	Introduction to Japanese Culture
Credits	12 (3--0--9)
Next Offering
Other Details	HASS-D CI-H

21F.064 is an easy HASS class with not too much time commitment; because of this, it is good for those with crowded schedules or who want a slow entrance into MIT's crazy schedules. As of Fall 2007, it took place in Building 4, with lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-2:00PM. It has no recitations and no tutorials, and it has only three papers over the course of the term. Grades are distributed as follows:

• 10% Paper 1
• 20% Revised Paper 2
• 5% Final Paper Proposal
• 25% Paper 4
• 10% Oral Presentation for Final Project

The basic sections of Introduction to Japanese Culture are a modern view on Japanese life (in 2007 embodied by the book Secrets of Mariko), a view on culture through history (Japan's Postwar History), and a look at popular culture through anime and manga (Mechademia).

Workload

There are no problem sets or exams in 21F.064; students' entire grade depends on three papers, a project, and class participation. The second paper requires a draft, but this draft isn't graded. Readings are not puntable, but you don't have to memorize them; as long as you can keep up with class discussion and write enough content in your papers, you don't need to do all the readings. The articles and literature assigned are sometimes very dense, especially the Kelly articles; sections from The Tale of Genji and The Tale of Heike are also assigned.

Lecturers

Prof. Ian Condry has a specific idea of what he wants on a paper, as it seems most HASS professors do; however, his assistant, Bob Irwin, has no idea what this is. Meetings with Irwin are fairly useless, as most of what he does is check syntax and basic writing structure. He doesn't know what Condry wants in terms of content, so if you have trouble figuring out what to do on a paper, talk to Condry himself. He's always willing to meet with students and will even talk to them on the phone if he can't meet with them in person.