HIS 482SEM—Problems in Japanese History

This course explores the complex interplay between Japanese imperialism, colonial occupation, and the formation of modern Korean nationalism. It begins with a brief examination of the historical relationship between Korea and Japan, the changes that occurred in late nineteenth-century East Asia, and an overview of Japanese colonialism in Korea during the early twentieth century. It then shifts to a consideration of the theoretical approaches to imperialism, nationalism and Orientalism. Students will be asked to assess the applicability of these theories to the historiography of Japanese colonialism in Korea with respect to national consciousness, identity formation, gender, class, socio-economics and industrialization, resistance and collaboration, and law. AAL