2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Cultural Anthropology C
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Noriyuki Ueda
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon (M-103(H114)) / 3-4 Thu (M-103(H114))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.H303
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course, we explore human suffering and release from suffering from the perspective of cultural anthropology. Everyone hopes to be happy, at the same time, faces a large amount of suffering. What is suffering for us? Does suffering differ from culture to culture? Or, is there suffering which is common to a human? What is suffering that is peculiar to Japanese society? We will learn these sufferings in the first half.
In the latter half, we will focus on release from suffering. What is “healing” that the instructor has dealt with for a long time? Do religions derive release? What kind of the world where performances, such as festivals and rituals lead to? Why humans need art?
Knowing many types of sufferings and ways of release from suffering in various cultures will be a valuable experience in your life. The course will include not only lectures but also workshops and discussions. Active participation is highly expected.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand human suffering and release from the perspective of cultural anthropology.
2) Acquire a profound personality and express it.
Keywords
Culture, society, history, nature, science technology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course will include lectures, film session, and workshops.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction 1 | Think about the meaning of exploring human "suffering." |
| Class 2 | Workshop: what is suffering | Discuss what are modern society's and students' sufferings. |
| Class 3 | Social structure and discrimination | Understand sufferings which social structure encloses through some samples such as the caste system in India. |
| Class 4 | Film session | Experience conflicts which are caused by cultural conflict. |
| Class 5 | Workshop: go beyond conflicts | Discuss the causes of conflict and improvement plans from the film session. |
| Class 6 | Difficulties of surviving in Japanese society | Understand why people say Japanese society's level of happiness is low |
| Class 7 | Film session | Understand feelings of happiness in the world |
| Class 8 | Workshop: what is happiness | Discuss differences of feelings of happiness by culture. |
| Class 9 | Can religions be release? | Explore whether religions can be release. |
| Class 10 | Possibilities of rituals and festivals | Understand the functions of rituals and festivals. |
| Class 11 | Workshop: Kechak dance in Bali | Experience real Kechak dance and realize the meaning of festivals and performing arts. |
| Class 12 | Merits and demerits of religious salvation | Understand the pros and cons of religious salvation. |
| Class 13 | Film session: Dalai Lama | Watch the dialogue between the instructor and Dalai Lama and think about human salvation's future. |
| Class 14 | Workshop: building a future | Go beyond issues which students face and look to the future. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Ueda Noriyuki. "Ikiru imi" Iwanami shinsho
Ueda Noriyuki. "Tatenaosu Chikara" Chuko shinsyo rakure
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Ueda Noriyuki. "Ikiru imi" Iwanami shinsho
Ueda Noriyuki. "Ningen rashisa: bunmei, shukyo, kagaku kara kangaeru" Kadokawa shinsho
Ueda Noriyuki. "Jinse no 'nigeba' Kaisha dakeno seikatsu ni ikizumatte iru hito he" Asahi shinsho
Ueda Noriyuki. "Kakegae no nai ningen" Koudansha gendai shinsho
Ueda Noriyuki. "Dalai Lama to no taiwa" Koudansha bunko
Ueda Noriyuki. "Sri Lanka no akuma barai" Koudansha bunko
Evaluation methods and criteria
Midterm report, final report, and feedback sheets.
Related courses
- LAH.H103 ： Cultural Anthropology A
- LAH.H203 ： Cultural Anthropology B
Prerequisites
Active participation is expected such as participation in workshops and asking questions during class.