It is often stated that the works of well-known authors in early modern
Japan (writers such as Futabatei Shimei, Natsume Soseki, and Mori Ogai)
have little in common.  Our study of modern Japanese literature, however,
will examine how many of these authors (and numerous postwar writers as
well) share a common goal of psychological realism, the representation of
characters' thoughts, motives, and feelings without idealization.  We will
study how pre-World War II authors such as Ogai and Soseki sought to
critique the psychology of the "idealized" pre-modern Confucian hero
(unfailingly noble, and obedient) by representing in detail the inner
worlds of mercenary samurai and undutiful sons.  We will also examine how
psychological realism developed after the war, when, for instance, ‘70s
writers such as Takahashi Takako an d Tsushima Yuko began to critique
"ideals" of an always nurturing, but asexual, mother through exploring in
detail the minds of women tormented by rage towards their children, or by
sexual hunger.

Class will consist of 3 1-hour interactive lectures per week.  Course
requirements include: approximately 100 pages of reading a week, 7 short
(1-2 page) papers, occasional homework assignments to be submitted by
email, a midterm, and a final.