Prerequisite:
Nil
Co-requisite:
Nil
Description
English-medium elective
This course explores representations of artificial intelligence, androids, and automation in modern and contemporary Japanese literature and popular culture. Spanning from the Meiji period to the present, it examines how Japan’s encounters with technology, industry, and posthuman thought have shaped cultural imaginaries of the machine, the cyborg, and the algorithmic self. Readings and media include fiction, film, manga, and anime that engage questions of consciousness, labor, embodiment, ethics, and creativity in an automated society. Students will also participate in guided workshops using generative AI tools to critically and creatively reflect on their use in storytelling and cultural production. All texts and media are provided in English translation or with subtitles.
Professor:
Coordinator:
Michielsen, Edwin
Assistant Professor