Teacher: KAWASHIMA Takashi
Course Code: JK41001
In this class, we will discuss the story of “Heidi” (1880/81) by Johanna Spyri from the perspective of comparative literature.
It is one of the main tasks of comparative literature to think about the reception of one
literary work in various countries and regions, because it is important to know what has remained the same and what has changed in the course of translation and adaptation of the original work. Usually, these changes do not come from pure chance but from the essential differences of cultures. So, when we think about the transcultural transformations of a literary work, we at the same time (re-)think about the culture in which we are living. In this sense, the story of “Heidi” is a very productive example because it has a lot to tell us about our cultures.
Course Information
Module: Research and Advanced Studies
CATS Requirements: BA 3rd year or above
Day/Period: Fri 4
Location: Prof. Kawashima’s Room
Credits: 2
Course Goals
Students will on the one hand gain basic knowledge about the reception of “Heidi” in Japan, and on the other hand understand the importance of interaction between cultures which sometimes borders on cultural appropriation.
Course Schedule and Evaluation
For a detailed course schedule, please visit KULASIS.
Evaluation is based on homework (30%), active participation (30%), and a final report (40%).