HIST 396 SAMURAI IN FILM.
Dr. Andrew GOBLE Department of History
361 McKenzie; 346-4800 University of Oregon
platypus@uoregon.edu Spring 2008, M, 1800-2120.
Office Hours: Tu 0900-1000; W 1400-1500. 240A McKenzie; CRN 35345
GTF Ms. XIA Yun
340K McKenzie, 346-6168
yxia@uoregon.edu
Office Hours: M 1400-1700.
General
Japan 's samurai warriors constitute one of the distinct elements of pre-20 th Japanese society, culture, and government. They are still with us as a “ready-reference” in a number of contexts: anime samurai from outer space; samurai businessman; “Last Samurai;” samurai spirit that infuses the martial arts; practitioners of the samurai ethos of bushido (self-immolation, death before defeat, self-sacrifice etc); and exponents of hara-kiri ( hari-kari in English use).
Historically, the samurai was a more nuanced social entity. While a specific warrior class existed for nearly 1000 years (900s to late 1800s), for the vast bulk of this time Japan was at peace, and warriors only rarely died while fighting. There was also a shift in the political position of the warrior class: prominent in rural areas in the 900s, to monopolizing national government from the 1600s. The social composition of the “warrior class” also changed, from rural land-managers and administrators, to members of a “warrior government” in the 1180s, to major cultural patrons from the 1300s, from hereditary families through the 1400s to being drawn from any social background by the late 1500s, to hereditary bureaucrats from the 1600s.
This class will focus on the samurai in the medieval era, roughly 1150s-1600, that period of time when they were most involved in warfare.
Samurai as they are recalled in film reflect not just the “historical samurai.” The choice of samurai type in films has also been influenced by concerns, social criticisms, valorizations, and the formation of historical memory. That is, when we see samurai, we sometimes see something of the shifting cultural and political currents of modern Japan (as well as entertainment!). Thus, the course will present different opportunities for learning about the samurai.
Course Structure .
The course is a combined lecture and film course, with films preceded by the lecture. In addition to assigned readings designed to provide broader context for films, some film synopses will be provided (on Blackboard) to outline the main theme and to provide additional historical context.
Expected workload .
In order to satisfactorily complete the course, in addition to attendance at class, students will need to allocate at least ten hours per week for completing reading assignments and to reviewing films that have been shown in class. Also, in my own experience, preparing a good film report can entail viewing a film at least three times, in order to clarify details.
Evaluation .
1/ Attendance is required (10% of course grade).
2/ All written work to be submitted is to be double spaced, 12-point, Melior or Times New Roman font, and printed on only one side of the page.
3/ Two film reports, each 4-5 pages (each worth 15% course grade). The first report must deal with a film shown prior to 4/28 , and is due no later than 5/05 . The second report must deal with a film shown between 4/28 and 5/19 , and is due no later than 5/27 (the Tuesday after Memorial Day). The report is to focus on themes, and is not a film review.
4/ A quiz on 4/21 (15% of course grade).
5/ A 1300-word exploration of Conlan's State of War (20% of course grade). Due no later than 5/19 .
6/ A final exam on 6/09 (1900, regular classroom, 25% of course grade). It will be based on course material covered since the first quiz.
7/ Failure to pass the final exam is an automatic fail for the entire course.
Assigned Texts . Thomas Conlan, State of War .
Pierre Souyri, The World Turned Upside Down .
Additional Readings . All potentially examinable. They are available via the Knight Library's online catalog.
WEEK ONE 3/31 Introduction.
Kwaidan ?? ( Ghost Stories ) [ DVD 01058 ; VT 00476; 161 mins].
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapters 1 and 2.
Conlan, State of War , chapter 6.
Steenstrup, Karl. “The Gokurakuji Letter: Hôjô Shigetoki's Compendium of Political and Religious Ideas of Thirteenth Century Japan,” Monumenta Nipponica , 32.1 (1977), pp. 1-34.
WEEK TWO 4/07 . Lecture: The Warrior Rise to Power.
Jigokumon ??? ( Gate of Hell ). ( VT 06342 ; VT 00437; 86 mins).
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , Chapters 3 and 4.
Conlan, State of War , chapter 1.
WEEK THREE 4/14. Lecture: The Fourteenth Century Rupture.
Onibaba ?? ( The Ogress ). ( VT 05493 ; 104 mins).
Reading : Conlan, State of War , chapters 1 and 3.
Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapter 7.
A. Goble, “War and Injury: The Development of Wound Medicine in Medieval Japan .” Monumenta Nipponica , 60.3 (Autumn 2005), 297-338.
WEEK FOUR 4/21 . First quiz
Lecture: Loyalty and Betrayal.
**Multi-region DVD player needed**
Kumonosujô ???? ( Throne of Blood ). ( DVD 00281 ; 109 mins).
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapters 8 and 11.
Conlan, State of War , chapter 5.
WEEK FIVE 4/28 . Lecture: Samurai and Commoners.
Shichinin no samurai ???? ( The Seven Samurai ) ( DVD 00011 ), (203 mins); VT 04073 v. 1 and VT 04073 v.2, (208 mins).
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapters 8 and 11.
Conlan, State of War , chapters 2 and 4.
C. Steenstrup, “The Imagawa Letter: A Muromachi Warrior's Code of Conduct Which Became a Tokugawa Schoolbook,” Monumenta Nipponica , 28.3 (Autumn, 1973), 295-316.
WEEK SIX 5/05 continuing
Shichinin no samurai ( The Seven Samurai ).
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapters 8 and 11.
Conlan, State of War , chapters 2 and 4.
5/5 Last day to submit first film exploration .
WEEK SEVEN 5/12 . Lecture: Social Status in Flux.
Ugetsu ?? ( Tales of Moon and Rain ). ( DVD 02165 , 97 mins; VT 03189; 94 mins).
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapters 9 and 10.
Conlan, State of War , chapters 4, 7 and 8.
WEEK EIGHT 5/19 . Lecture: The Takeda Family in an Age of War.
Ten to chi to ???? ( Heaven and Earth ). ( VT 06718 , 104 mins).
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapter 12.
Conlan, State of War , chapters 7 and 8.
“C. Steenstrup, “Hôjô Sôun's Twenty-One Articles: The Code of Conduct of the Odawara Hôjô,” Monumenta Nipponica , 29.3 (Autumn, 1974), 283-303
5/19 Last day to submit Conlan exploration .
WEEK NINE 5/26 . Memorial Day, no class.
5/27 Last day to submit second film exploration .
WEEK TEN 6/02 . Lecture: The End of War: Reshaping the Samurai.
Harakiri ?? ( Ritual Suicide ). [ VT 06739 ; 134 mins)
Reading : Souyri, World Turned Upside Down , chapter 12.
Conlan, State of War , chapter 8.
6/09 FINAL EXAM : 1900, regular classroom (240A McKenzie).
HIST 396– SAMURAI IN FILM
GUIDE FOR FILM REPORT AND BOOK EXPLORATION
Film Reports .
There are several ways in which you can craft a film report. In this course, the emphasis is on your writing a report that demonstrates clear familiarity with the film; and that you have reflected on some of the themes or issues relating to samurai and warfare. Please remember that the class is not one on film or film history; and that the film report is NOT a film review that deals with directors, cinema technique, and suchlike (a report that forgets this is headed for an “F” grade).
The report could emphasize a particular theme that comes through in the film, or even a couple of themes. You could also reflect upon the film and discuss issues that occurred to you. The least desirable film report, which being such is not to be submitted (and if so might well receive a grade of “F”) is one that provides a synopsis of the film – after all, we've all seen it.
Feel free to inform your report with ideas and general information that you may have encountered in the readings, although this is not required in order to write a successful report.
Book exploration of Thomas Conlan, State of War .
This book exploration will be a different effort than a film report.
It is acceptable to provide a general overview of the book, one that is thoughtful and not simply a recapitulation of the chapters. You could also focus your efforts on a couple of themes in which you might have a particular interest, such as: loyalty and the warrior ethos, social organization of warrior society, weapons and tactics, warfare and violence.