The Tale of the Genji. This monumental work of fiction significantly influenced Japanese literature, visual arts and performing arts for the next 1000 years, with characters and events of the novel being constantly represented and recreated. In this course we will investigate how Genji has evolved over the centuries, reading the original novel, 11th century court diaries, 15th century noh plays and 18th century parodies, as well as viewing paintings, sculptures, films, and manga.
Students have the option of performance, exhibition or anthology formats for their final projects.