East Asia & Pacific

How did ancient Chinese conceive of gender and sexuality, and how did these ideas intersect with the understanding and meaning of "family"? How did these systems change over time, including through interactions with "Western" systems beginning in the 19th century? What did it mean for a woman in "pre-modern" China to be a widow? How did this status affect her agency? In this class, we will explore gender roles, sexuality, and Chinese family structures through close readings and discussions of original sources in translation. Our examination of ancient writings will allow us to engage with a gender system that was quite distinct from those of the "modern" world. We will spend several classes on early periods, and then concentrate on the late imperial and modern periods (~1500 to the present). The readings will include philosophical texts, essays, biographies, letters, poetry, short stories, excerpts from novels, revolutionary texts, legal codes, images, and films. These will include a woman from the first century arguing for women's education and an end to intimate partner violence, a man's frank account about his marriage from the 18th century, a short story about the philosopher Mencius's mother as a man, a cross-dressing character in a short opera by a female author, rousing revolutionary speeches, a graphic work explaining the new communist marriage law, and the film Farewell My Concubine. Course assessments include a variety of writing assignments and presentations designed to develop critical reading, writing & oral skills, and a paper proposal to introduce basic research strategies. This course will be run as a reading and discussion seminar, with occasional lectures for background information. 

Prof. Dott, 4 credits, MW 2:30-3:50 p.m.

• Fulfills Cultural Pluralism, Social Sciences, Textual Analysis, Individual and Society, and/or Studying the Past distribution, as well as Gender Studies or Chinese major electives.
• History major: modern history; Cultures & Ideas; Social Justice

"A Sea of Islands" is a methodological and metaphorical approach to foreground the vastness and interconnectedness of Oceania, its peoples, and their histories. This interdisciplinary class introduces diverse historical narratives that continue to shape Pacific Island societies and its peoples today. Centering Indigenous ways of knowing through their multiple modes of telling and recording histories-: oral histories, language, inscription, performance, and knowledge of the environment- highlights the distinguishing features of Pacific Island histories. The focus on historical method, a collection of techniques to research and write histories, is essential to the course's analysis of primary and secondary sources. It also speaks to the course's themes: Pacific exploration, environment, trans-indigenous and cross-cultural interactions, religion, technology, and labor. Students will read broadly about historical narratives to engage with interdisciplinary approaches that illustrate innovative, imaginative, and insightful perspectives. To this end, the class will not shy away from addressing vital contemporary concerns over Indigeneity, race, gender, colonialism, and the politics of doing history in the Pacific. 

Prof. Ulep, 4 credits, MWF 10-10:50 a.m.

• Fulfills Cultural Pluralism, Social Sciences, Global Cultures & Languages, Textual Analysis, and/or Studying the Past distribution, as well as Gender Studies elective. May also be taken as IRES 166.
• History major: modern history; Cultures & Ideas; Social Justice

From the late nineteenth century, China underwent major political and social change. Nationalist revolutionaries destroyed the imperial system; amidst the ensuing instability communist revolutionaries arose. This course explores national and international politics but also pays close attention to the acute social and cultural changes that shook Chinese society in terms of expected familial, social, gender, ethnic, and class roles. Chinese communists attempted to remake society through mass campaigns, to make intellectuals into peasants, and everyone into comrades. Contemporary China has seen the thriving of socialism with "Chinese characteristics." While many of these themes will be examined at the national and international level, we will also explore a number of the issues at the local level. Work will include several analytical papers, the final one being a research paper. 

Prof. Dott, 4 credits, TTh 2:30-3:50 p.m.

• Fulfills Cultural Pluralism, Social Sciences, Power & Equity, and/or Studying the Past distribution, as well as Chinese major electives.
• History major: modern history; Revolution/War/Politics; Social Justice

From aboriginal shore-based hunts to modern factory ship whaling, the pursuit of whales has drawn people together and set them at odds with each other, particularly since the rise of the environmental movement. This seminar will look at the history of whaling throughout the Pacific Basin, from the west coast of the Americas to Japan and Australia, and all the waters in between. Using a mixture of primary and secondary sources, we will consider in particular the environmental impact of whaling in different areas of the Pacific, as well as the role of environmentalism in changing attitudes towards whaling in the twentieth century. This course is discussion-based, with paper and presentation assignments.

Prof. Arch, 4 credits, TTh 10-11:20 a.m.

• Fulfills Social Sciences, Global Cultures & Languages, and/or Studying the Past distribution, as well as Environmental Studies elective. 
• History major: modern history; Cultures & Ideas; Empires & Colonialism; History-ES elective