Courses - Faculty of Arts
Asian Studies
Stage I
Images of Asia
An interdisciplinary introduction to the histories and cultures of East Asian societies, exploring their development, their engagement with each other over time, and what makes them the societies that they are today.
Restriction: HISTORY 135
New Zealand and Asia
Explores Asia and its interrelationship with New Zealand, including Asia's growing presence in New Zealand in all its manifestations, and the evolving political, social, economic, cultural, and strategic relations between this country and Asia. Topics will include historical and contemporary ties with Asia, Asian migration, literature, media and films. The course will focus especially on South-East and East Asia.
Stage II
Asian Identities
Students will explore the changing and contested nature of Asian identities in the past and present, through an interdisciplinary study of historical texts, anthropological writings, literature, and film. Considers the relationships between the body and identity, as well as between individuals, society, culture, and nation in the East Asian context, touching upon health, beauty, food, family, gender, and religion.
Prerequisite: ASIAN 100 or 30 points in Gender Studies or 45 points in BGlobalSt courses
Restriction: ASIAN 303
Asian Diasporas
Focuses on three major diasporic groups in Asia: Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Comparisons will be made among the three diasporic groups of overseas Koreans, Japanese and Chinese in their migration patterns, modes of adaptation, and transnational life styles.
Prerequisite: 45 points at Stage I in BA courses or 45 points in BGlobalSt courses
Restriction: ASIAN 302
Transnational Asia: Korea and its Neighbours
Critically engages the current debates surrounding the concept and movement of “transnational Asia” and the possibility of reconciliation among China, Japan and the two Koreas. Examines the historical, cultural and ideological sources and recent development of this new form of regionalism, in addition to such challenges as Chinese hegemony and competing nationalism in the region.
Prerequisite: ASIAN 100 or KOREAN 120 and 45 points at Stage I in BA
Restriction: ASIAN 309, 753
Stage III
Special Study
Independent student research conducted under the supervision of one or more lecturers.
Prerequisite: Approval of Academic Head or nominee
Asian Diasporas
Focuses on three major diasporic groups in Asia: Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Compares the migration patterns, modes of adaptation and transnational lifestyles of overseas Chinese, Japanese and Koreans.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in BA or BGlobalSt courses
Restriction: ASIAN 204
Asian Identities
Students will explore the changing and contested nature of Asian identities in the past and present through an interdisciplinary study of historical texts, anthropological writings, literature and film. Considers the relationships between the body and identity as well as between individuals, society, culture and nation in the East Asian context, touching upon health, beauty, food, family, gender and religion.
Prerequisite: ASIAN 100 and 30 points at Stage II in BA, or GENDER 100 and 30 points at Stage II in BA courses, or 30 points at Stage II in BGlobalSt courses
Restriction: ASIAN 200
Special Topic
Prerequisite: ASIAN 100 and 30 points at Stage II in BA courses, or 30 points at Stage II in BGlobalSt courses
Transnational Asia: Korea and its Neighbours
Aims to critically engage the current debates surrounding the concept and movement of “transnational Asia” and the possibility of reconciliation among China, Japan and the two Koreas. Examines the historical, cultural, and ideological sources and recent development of this new form of regionalism, as well as such challenges as Chinese hegemony and competing nationalism in the region.
Prerequisite: ASIAN 100 or KOREAN 120 and 30 points at Stage II in BA
Restriction: ASIAN 209, 753
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Approaches to Research in Asian Studies
The theories and methods of research in history, literature and cultural studies in an Asian context, including practical instruction in the skills involved in developing individual research projects.
Restriction: ASIAN 700
Religion in Modern Japanese Society
The aim of this course is to understand the role of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions in modern Japanese society. Topics to be covered include the “invention” of State Shinto and its role in nation-building, the decline of established temple Buddhism, the emergence and impact of new religious movements, and social conflict related to religion-state issues in the postwar period.
Restriction: JAPANESE 308
Translation Project
The translation of a text or texts, translator's note and an extensive glossary of the terminology of the field.
A Course-linked Research Topic
A research topic related to another course in which the student is enrolled.
Research Essay - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in ASIAN 758 A and B, or ASIAN 758
Research Project - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in ASIAN 780 A and B, or ASIAN 780
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in ASIAN 792 A and B
Thesis - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in ASIAN 793 A and B
Thesis - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in ASIAN 796 A and B