This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module explores the cultural specificity and diversity of Asian cultures, traditions, social and political systems and literature from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The topic of Asia will be approached on a thematic basis but with particular emphasis on an understanding of the historical and interpretive challenges to inter-cultural understanding between Asia and Europe/the West.
Total Contact Hours: 40
Essay 1 (2,500 words) – 50%
Essay 2 (2,500 words) – 50%
Indicative Reading List:
Chatterjee, P. (1993). The Nation and its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial Histories. New Haven: Princeton University Press
Chen, K. (2010). Asia as Method: Towards Deimperialisation. Durham, NC: Duke University Press
King, R. (1999). Orientalism and Religion. Oxford: Routledge.
Said, E. (1978). Orientalism, Western Conceptions of the Orient. London: Penguin
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate an appreciation of the richness and diversity present within specific Asian traditions and civilisation;
Describe and critically analyse a key concept, idea, theme or practice as applied to a specific Asian culture, society or tradition for instance, science, medicine, politics, art, literature etc.;
Demonstrate an appreciation of the problems of translating Asian cultures, traditions, practices and concepts into a western interpretive framework and language, for instance the problems of using terms like 'religion' and 'philosophy' or western notions of 'literature' in relation to Asian contexts.
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