Asian Related Clusters
Asia in Motion
The wide-ranging cluster gives students maximal choice in exploring Asia as a global force from a variety of disciplinary, thematic, chronological, and geographical perspectives. Asia's growing influence makes it imperative that students become familiar with ideologies, institutions, and socio-cultural developments in East, South, and Southeast Asia, as well as how those developments have affected the diasporic populations.
China: From Yao to Mao to Yao
From the study of ancient Chinese civilizations (like the Yao) to the explorations of cataclysmic changes under Communism (led by Mao Zedong) to Chinese American icons (like Houston Rockets center Yao Ming), the courses in this cluster allow students to explore Chinese art, culture, politics, and society over time and in variety of settings.
Japan: From Amaterasu to Anime
The courses in this cluster delve into study of Japan from its earliest histories, which recount the victory of the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) and link that triumph to the essence of Japan, and explore the commercial and artistic triumph of modern Japanese arts, culture, society, history and animated films (anime) around the world. This cluster encourages students to explore many facets of Japanese arts, culture, society, history, and economy.