Popular Culture of East Asia (Level 5)

About this course

The course uses multidisciplinary perspectives to examine manga, animation, fashion, video games and pop music across Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Topics include theories of popular culture, creative industries and nation branding, kawaii as cultural ideology, celebrity and idols, the Korean Wave, nationalism, masculinity and representations of women. Learning is assessed through a recorded video essay and a written essay, requiring participants to present and develop arguments about the course themes.

What you'll learn

• Explain key theories used to study Japanese popular culture
• Analyse the relationship between creative industries and nation branding
• Examine cultural consumption through concepts such as kawaii
• Compare Japanese and wider East Asian popular culture in relation to nationalism
• Evaluate representations of masculinity and women in Japanese popular culture

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners engaging with popular culture through academic discussion and assessed work. Its Level 5 designation suggests study at an advanced undergraduate level, while the stated all-levels classification indicates that the course is not restricted to one formal level of learner. Participants should be prepared to complete both video and written assignments.

• Includes a 15-minute recorded video essay
• Includes a 2,500-word written essay
• Can be taken as a standalone short course
• Learners study alongside current undergraduate and postgraduate students