Universität Wien

150016 UE Scandals in Japan (2025S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Fr 06.06. 15:00-16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 07.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 14.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 21.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 28.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 04.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 11.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 02.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 09.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 16.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 23.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 30.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 13.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 20.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29
  • Friday 27.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Japanologie 2 UniCampus Hof 2 2K-EG-29

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The aim of this course is to introduce the students to the hitherto under-explored phenomenon of media scandal in contemporary Japan. Some observers may find scandals marginal if entertaining, but the course will demonstrate that scandals can actually reveal a great deal about the society which produces them. By analyzing Japanese celebrity, political and corporate scandals, the students will find themselves learning and thinking about the most probing issues and intricate mechanisms of the contemporary Japanese society. The course will start with a basic introduction of scandal theory while emphasizing the function of media institutions in general and Japanese media in particular. Next, the course will focus on an advanced theory of Japanese scandal which has two components: analyzing scandal as 'media product' and as 'social ritual'. Finally, the introduced theories will be applied to selected case studies from the world of entertainment, politics and corporations.
This course is held in English language with occasional use of Japanese language.

GOALS:
- Ability to independently write a short scientific paper on a clearly defined topic (related to scandal) with the help of English and Japanese sources.
- Ability to present the paper in class.
- Ability to apply the previously acquired knowledge of academic work in Japanese Studies (i.e.: independent work with the relevant literature on the topic of the course paper)
- Ability to discuss the assigned papers in the class while engaging in dialogue with others

METHODS
This course is a combination of lectures (70%), discussions (10%) and presentations (20%). The obligatory sources listed below will be required for discussions. Every student chooses one case study of Japanese scandal and gives a short presentation toward the end of semester.
In the first half of the semester, the participants develop a course paper plan on their topic (a short case study of one selected scandal/controversy in Japanese history). The peer feedback and feedback from the course instructor will contribute to a smooth completion of the course paper.

Assessment and permitted materials

Plagiatsnotiz:
Mit Ihrer Anmeldung zu der Lehrveranstaltung erklären Sie, ALLE Leistungen eigenständig zu erbringen und alle Quellen und Hilfsmittel, die Sie benutzen, durch Zitieren/Belegen kenntlich zu machen. Nähere Informationen sind der Webseite des Studienpräses zur Sicherung der guten wissenschaftlichen Praxis zu entnehmen:
https://studienpraeses.univie.ac.at/infos-zum-studienrecht/sicherung-der-guten-wissenschaftlichen-praxis/plagiat/

Beachten Sie unbedingt IMMER:
- Alle Textelemente und Bilder, die mittels KI-Tools generiert oder verändert wurden im Prozess der Erstellung einer Arbeit oder notenrelevanten Teilleistung, müssen transparent gemacht werden. Verstöße werden wie Plagiate behandelt. In allen Lehrveranstaltungen, die den Fokus auf das Verfassen eigener Texte auf Japanisch legen (insbesondere Japanisch Praxiskurse), ist die Verwendung von Übersetzungstools im Sinne der eigenständigen Produktion von japanischem Text nicht zulässig.
-Das Plagiieren, also die Übernahme fremder Ideen und Formulierungen ohne entsprechende Quellenangaben (= Zitate), verstößt gegen die Grundsätze des wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens. Das gilt auch für Eigenplagiate! Wird ein Plagiat festgestellt, so führt dies automatisch zu einer Nicht-Bewertung der gesamten Lehrveranstaltung; im Sammelzeugnis scheint dann der Vermerk "unerlaubte Hilfsmittel" auf, darüber hinaus kann es auch strafrechtliche Konsequenzen haben. Dies gilt ausnahmslos für alle schriftlichen Abgaben.
- Zum Nachweis der eigenständigen Erbringung aller schriftlichen und mündlichen Teilleistungen - z.B. Referate, Hausübungen, schriftliche (Abschluss)Arbeiten -
kann die LV-Leitung eine mündliche Reflexion für eine positive Absolvierung der LV (bzw. Teilleistung !) vorsehen.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The course attendance is mandatory and active participation will be assessed. Participants may be absent without excuse for a maximum of two sessions.
Active participation also includes the preparation for each session and readiness to participate on the discussion of the obligatory reading.
Successful participation also requires
- the timely submission of the course paper plan in the first half of the semester,
- submission of the course paper at the end of the semester, and
- presentation of the paper in the class.
The paper must be graded as at least sufficient.

The overall grade is made up as follows:
- Participation in the course: 20%
- submission of the course paper: 40%
- presentation in class: 40%

Examination topics

Reading list

Haller, Andre, Michael, Hendrik and Kraus, Martin. 'Scandalogy. An Introduction to an Interdisciplinary Field.' In Scandology, edited by André Haller, Hendrik Michael and Martin Kraus, 7-13. Köln: Herbert von Halem Verlag, 2017.

Tumber, Howard and Waisbord, Silvio. 'Media and Scandal.' In The Routledge Companion to Media and Scandal, edited by Howard Tumber and Silvio Waisbord, 10-21. London: Routledge, 2019.

West, Mark. Secrets, Sex, and Spectacle. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2006. See Chapter 1: 'Introduction' (p. 1-10).

Prusa, Igor. Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual. London: Routledge, 2024. See Chapter 2.3: Scandal as Media Text (15-22).

Farley, Maggie. 'Japan’s Press and the Politics of Scandal.' In Media and Politics in Japan, edited by Susan J. Pharr and Ellis S. Krauss, 133-163. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 1996.

Association in the course directory

BA M16, Alternative Erweiterungen
MA M5

Last modified: Tu 11.03.2025 12:26