OSAKA UNIVERSITY SHORT-TERM STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM _

Objective
For the purpose of understanding contemporary Japanese culture, a historical survey of artistic activities will be attempted particularly with emphasis on various performing¡¡arts. The course will start from an introduction to contemporary scenes in people's life, in which a variety of elements of performing arts can be found.
In the intermediate stage, it will focus on some representative genres such as bunraku(puppet theater) and koto music. The concluding hours will be spent to a generalisation, again stressing the importance of understanding the contemporary value systems.

Textbook
Reading materials will be provided.

Lecture Outline

Week 1.	Life and performing arts in contemporary Osaka
Week 2.	Festival and performance
Week 3.	Puppet theatre: (1) puppetry
Week 4.	Puppet theatre: (2) musical aspects
Week 5.	Puppet theatre: (3) literary aspects
Week 6.	Bamboo flute
Week 7.	String instruments
Week 8.	Chamber music
Week 9.	Vocal versus instrumental expressions
Week 10.	Stylised conversations as expressive performance
Week 11.	Music and dance in religious context
Week 12.	Osaka and its vicinity as a historical monument of arts
Week 13.	Cultural identity and performing arts in Osaka

Students are required to read the provided materials in advance for the next class.

Grading

Class participation	78%
Examination	22%