Introduction to basic patterns of contemporary spoken Japanese and to the two phonetic syllabaries (Katakana and Hiragana).

Contemporary spoken and written Japanese.

Advanced conversation, oral comprehension, and selected readings.

There are a number of overly stereotypical gendered and sexualized images of Japanese in the United States. Consider, for instance, the continued dominance of the icons of Japan, the Samurai and Geisha. An examination of the wide variety of representations of femininity and masculinity and gender and sexual identities in Japan, however, offers us a fruitful opportunity to expand and challenge even our most inclusive ideas of gender and sexuality. The title of this course derives from a feminist, theoretical work by Judith Butler, Gender Trouble. Putting a critical lens to fiction, film, drama, art, and legal documents, we will trouble (complicate and deconstruct) received notions of gender and sexuality in a number of fundamental ways.

Development of advanced reading, vocabulary, grammar, and translation skills through selected readings in Japanese drawn primarily from modern literature.