JPN 190 FIRST YEAR SEMINAR: EAST ASIAN CALLIGRAPHY IN THE COMMUNITY Made possible by a grant from the Center for Community Partnerships at Emory University
Course Description:
The class uses brush calligraphy as a focal point from which to begin exploration of common values in the cultures of East Asia, and the ways in which some of these values can enrich life in modern, globalized communities. In premodern China, Japan, and Korea, skill in brush calligraphy was one of the most important attributes of an educated, civilized person; it was regarded as a means of both learning and of demonstrating virtue.
Although it was originally developed in China, as early Koreans and Japanese embraced Chinese knowledge, they also took on Chinese writing system and calligraphy. Thus, calligraphy as a means to educate and enrich life in China became an early example of intercultural exchange in countries far from its point of origin, and continues to offer amedium of common appreciation for people from a wide range of linguistic groups and cultural backgrounds.
During the first few weeks of the class we will read fundamental texts related to East Asian philosophy. We will also practice the basic strokes of brush calligraphy. In the second part of the course, we will meet once a week on the Emory campus, and continue our study and discussion of East Asian cultural theory. The second session of class each week will be held at Clarkston Community Center, where we will join the senior learning group in practicing and assisting with students working there (transportation is provided). During the course of these sessions at CCC, students will be invited to consider the applicability of the cultural theory to their own experience, and observe their CCC classmates'experience as well. They will be asked to keep a reflection journal, and to participate in planning and organizing an exhibition of final projects at the CCC.
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* Course Goals
1. Acquire skills in writing frequently and expressively
2. Develop knowledge of key texts of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and explore theways that these texts were interpreted in premodern China, Japan, and Korea
3. Meet local people (many of whom are refugees) and learn about their lives
4. Learn the basics of brush calligraphy
* Service Learning
Service learning combines classroom instruction, student reflection, and work in the local community. Students' acquisition of knowledge is not a passive exercise of memorization, but an active process of practice, experience, discussion, and reflection. In this course, work in the community is integral to exploring, testing, and finding meaning in the ideas we read and write about.
* Assessment and Kinds of Assignments Grading is based on several kinds of assignments and is related to the course goals listed above.
a) Writing (1, 3) 40‰
b) Exams (2) 30‰
c) Calligraphy (4) 20‰
d) Participation (2, 3) 10‰
a) Writing: Freshman seminar classes place great emphasis on developing students' writing skills. We will practice producing documents that are most useful to college students: e-mails, resumes, statements of purpose, bibliographies, thesis statements, and paper proposals. The other kind of written assignment will take the form of short reflection papers on the service learning experience.
b) Exams: The midterm and final will be 15-minute viva voce (oral) exams. These are both intended to serve as a check of students' understanding of the readings, and to give them a chance to practice skills useful in professional interviews.
c) Calligraphy: Students will receive full credit for the calligraphy portion of the grade provided they adhere to the guidelines for homework and the final project, i. e., submission of 10 complete practice sheets per week and one complete version of the final project for exhibition at Clarkston Community Center.
d) Participation: Freshman seminar classes are required to be small, so as to maximize opportunities for students to participate in discussion. Accordingly, instruction in the course is not by lecture, but by conversation among all the members of the course. Since conversation cannot take place without attendance, attendance is integral to the participation grade.
Hints and other details about written assignments, exams, calligraphy, and attendance policies are included in separate handouts.
Equal Opportunity:
The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability. We should all be committed to creating a class environment where everyone's dignity is respected. For more information about Emory's equal opportunity policies, contact Equal Opportunity Programs, 404-727-6016.
Students with a documented disability are invited to speak to the instructor as early as possible in the semester. Conversations will remain confidential. For more information about disabilities services, contact Emory Office of Disabilities Services at 404-727-6016.
Honor Code:
The university requires that students observe the Honor Code. Ignorance of the Honor Code is no excuse. If you are in any doubt, talk to your instructor or your adviser.
* Required Texts and Materials
A) Readings
Please bring a copy of all assigned readings to class on the date the readings is due. Do not come to class without readings. Those who do will be marked absent.
Ivanhoe, Philip J., Bryan W. Van Norden. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Chatham House Publishers, 2000.
Plaks, Andrew, ed. Ta Hsueh and Chung Yung (The Highest Order of Cultivation and On the Practice of the Mean). New York: Penguin, Classics, 2004.
These two books are for sale in the Emory (Barnes & Noble) Bookstore. Other texts areavailable through on-line reserve, www.library.emory.edu. To view and print out these documents, Adobe Acrobat is necessary; this can be downloaded free of charge. If you are having problems with these readings for any reason, please let me know.
B) Calligraphy Materials
Bottled ink
Medium brush
Ink stone
Felt blotter
Packets of 6-box red-lined calligraphy paper (2)
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