• PROGRAM
  • Agricultural Trade
  • Principles of Environment and Agriculture
  • Global Food Systems
  • Environment Society and Culture
  • Environment Conservation in ASIA
  • Farmers and Consumers in JAPAN
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Ecology and Food Production
  • Food and Environment in Economic Development
  • Field Study Food and Environment
  • Japanese Agricultural Development
  • Comparative Developing Agriculture
  • Comparative Food Processing Technologies
  • Comparative Food Production Technologies
  • Environment and Landscape of JAPAN

Environment Society and Culture

This course is designed to develop students' awareness of the ways in which the environment affects society, how the concept of nature is reflected in different societies, and how cultural aspects are influenced by nature and the environment. Students will read selected journal and book articles on the topic of nature across cultures, an essay on Japanese architecture, selections from the arts including Japanese haiku, and a short, fictional piece, in order to better understand the inter-related aspects of social, cultural and natural environments. The course will help expand the concept of nature studies by challenging students to examine their own cultures from an outside point of view, as well as encourage deeper thought on the link between art and nature.

	theme	contents	etc.
1	Introductions; discussion	Topic introduced, discussion, short writing on environmental issues	Prepare 3-minute self introduction
2	Nature in Japanese Literature	How is nature depicted and reflected in modern Japanese literature?	Read prepared handouts
3	Nature in Pre-modern Literature	Significance of images in Pre-modern Japanese Nature Writing	Read prepared handouts
4	Nature in Modern Literature	Discussion of modern Japanese literary images of nature	Select piece for discussion/presentation
5	Cross-cultural issues	Environmental, cultural issues discussed in cross-cultural context	Select topic for presentation
6	How different cultures see nature	International concepts of nature and the environment	Prepare topic for individual consultation
7	The American Perspective	Formation of culture; Readings from N. American nature writing	Read handouts; prepare presentation draft
8	Environment, culture and the arts	Student presentations	Prepare short presentation
9	Environment, culture and the arts	Student presentations continued, discussion of Emerson, Thoreau	Prepare short presentation, read handouts
10	Where land and culture merge	Reading and discussion of Japanese landscapes, interpretations	Select topic for final report/presentation
11	Cross-cultural architectural issues	International perspectives on aesthetic values in architecture	Read Frank Lloyd Wright handouts
12	Wright''s 50 views of Japan	The influence of nature on architecture; Japan as case study	Prepare draft of final project for consultation
13	Environment, culture and the arts	Student presentations; review of semester	Prepare presentation
14	Reserve
15

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