HISTORY 399 Samuri in Film

Course Description

Japan's warriors, the samurai, represent one of the distinct elements of pre-20th 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; "kamikaze taxi-drivers;" samurai spirit that infuses the martial arts; practitioners of the samurai ethos of bushido (self-immolation, death before dishonor, self-sacrifice etc); the "banzai chargers" of World War II.

But the phenomenon of the samurai was far more nuanced. Most strikingly, while a specific warrior class can be identified from at least the 900s and continuing through the late 1800s - that is, for a period of about 1000 years - for the vast bulk of this time Japan was at peace, and warriors only rarely died while fighting. Equally striking, as we note a shift in the political prominence of the warrior class (from prominent in rural areas in the 900s to monopolizing national government from the 1600s), we also note a shift in the social composition of the "warriors" over time, 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. And at all times we have some who were wandering swords for hire, the ronin (a term that can now be applied to Japanese male students who have initially failed college entrance exams, or to Robert de Niro and friends starring as a gun for hire in France).

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. As "they were," as "we think about some of them," as "how we find period dramas useful for raising contemporary issues.

One last comment: one thing we probably will not find is a glorification of war. And this, while being heavily influenced by the horrible experience of World War 2 perhaps, is a key point to remember about the historical samurai class - their task was to keep the peace in a society that they knew exploded violently when destabilized.

Course Policies

The course will combine lectures and handouts, with assigned readings, in order to provide context and background for the films. In general, and depending upon the length of the films, each class will include both lecture and film.

Evaluation.

1. Attendance is required (20% of course grade).
2. Two film reports, each 5 pages (double spaced). One report must deal with a film in the WARFARE category, and the other report must deal with a film in the STRICTURES OF PEACE category. The first report (worth 10% of course grade) is due no later than February 9. The second report (worth 15% of course grade) is due no later than March 8.
3. A five-page review of the book State of War (20% of course grade). Due no later than February 16.
4. A short quiz, on January 26, worth 10% of course grade. The quiz will focus on the assigned reading in Conlan.
5. A final exam, held in the assigned exam period, worth 25% of course grade, and will be a combination of short essay and factual questions, based on lectures, ,films and the readings. An exam study guide will be distributed by March 1.
6. Failure to pass the final exam is an automatic fail for the course.

Required Texts

Thomas Conlan, State of War: The Violent Order of the Fourteenth Century.
Katsu Koichi, Musui's Story.
Hiroaki Sato, Legends of the Samurai.

Readings.

It is expected that students will read and re-read the assigned texts, in addition to ensuring that they cover the designated sections for each week.

Course Schedule

ANTICIPATED LECTURE AND FILM SCHEDULE:

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