This course seeks to introduce students to the diversity of doctrines held and practices performed by Buddhists in Asia. By focusing on how specific beliefs and practices are tied to particular locations and particular times, we will be able to explore in detail the religious institutions, artistic, architectural, and musical traditions, textual production and legal and doctrinal developments of Buddhism over time and within its socio-historical context. Religion is never divorced from its place and its time. Furthermore, by geographically and historically grounding the study of these religions we will be able to examine how their individual ethic, cosmological and soteriological systems effect local history, economics, politics, and material culture. We will concentrate first on the person of the Buddha, his many biographies and how he has been followed and worshipped in a variety of ways from Lhasa, Tibet to Phrae, Thailand. From there we touch on the foundational teachings of the Buddha with an eye to how they have evolved and transformed over time. Finally, we focus on the practice of Buddhist ritual, magic and ethics in monasteries and among aly communities in Asia and even in the West. This section will confront the way Buddhists have thought of issues such as "Just-War," Women's Rights and Abortion. While no one quarter course could provide a detailed presentation of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, my hope is that we will be able to look closely at certain aspects of these religions by focusing on how they are practiced in places like Nara, Japan or Vietnam, Laos.

This course seeks to introduce students to the diversity of doctrines held and practices performed by Buddhists in Asia. By focusing on how specific beliefs and practices are tied to particular locations and particular times, we will be able to explore in detail the religious institutions, artistic, architectural, and musical traditions, textual production and legal and doctrinal developments of Buddhism over time and within its socio-historical context. Religion is never divorced from its place and its time. Furthermore, by geographically and historically grounding the study of these religions we will be able to examine how their individual ethic, cosmological and soteriological systems effect local history, economics, politics, and material culture. We will concentrate first on the person of the Buddha, his many biographies and how he has been followed and worshipped in a variety of ways from Lhasa, Tibet to Phrae, Thailand. From there we touch on the foundational teachings of the Buddha with an eye to how they have evolved and transformed over time. Finally, we focus on the practice of Buddhist ritual, magic and ethics in monasteries and among aly communities in Asia and even in the West. This section will confront the way Buddhists have thought of issues such as "Just-War," Women's Rights and Abortion. While no one quarter course could provide a detailed presentation of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, my hope is that we will be able to look closely at certain aspects of these religions by focusing on how they are practiced in places like Nara, Japan or Vietnam, Laos.

"Pastoralism and Mobility" will examine the society and history of mobile pastoralists (nomads) in Inner Asia from earliest times to the present. Peoples covered will include Mongols, Tibetans, Turkic nomads (such as Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Turkmen), and their ancestors and predecessors. The class on focus on questions such as: Is there a distinctive form of Inner Asian pastoralist society? At the grass roots level? At the elite level? How have states (native and foreign) influenced Inner Asian pastoralist society in pre-modern and modern contexts? How have Inner Asian pastoralists influenced neighboring states? What role does kinship play in governing group formation, property, and status in Inner Asian pastoralist society? Does this role vary over time, space, or ethnic background? If so, how? What purposes does mobility serve in Inner Asian societies? How have various forms of livestock lease-holding changed and shaped wealth in Inner Asian pastoralist society? How did class differentiation emerge & function in pre-modern pastoralist societies? What happens when pastoralists become farmers? How have modern schemes of social improvement and productivity, especially collectivization and decollectivization, shaped pastoralist lives?

"Pastoralism and Mobility" will examine the society and history of mobile pastoralists (nomads) in Inner Asia from earliest times to the present. Peoples covered will include Mongols, Tibetans, Turkic nomads (such as Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Turkmen), and their ancestors and predecessors. The class on focus on questions such as: Is there a distinctive form of Inner Asian pastoralist society? At the grass roots level? At the elite level? How have states (native and foreign) influenced Inner Asian pastoralist society in pre-modern and modern contexts? How have Inner Asian pastoralists influenced neighboring states? What role does kinship play in governing group formation, property, and status in Inner Asian pastoralist society? Does this role vary over time, space, or ethnic background? If so, how? What purposes does mobility serve in Inner Asian societies? How have various forms of livestock lease-holding changed and shaped wealth in Inner Asian pastoralist society? How did class differentiation emerge & function in pre-modern pastoralist societies? What happens when pastoralists become farmers? How have modern schemes of social improvement and productivity, especially collectivization and decollectivization, shaped pastoralist lives?

It’s not just BTS that is storming the Billboard charts; from television dramas, film, fashion, cosmetics, and food, Korean popular culture seems to be everywhere. In this course, we will discuss the significance of culture on the Korean peninsula focusing on its impact on people (“popular” as “of the general public”) and their lived experiences throughout the twentieth century, from the colonial era leading into the contemporary South Korea. Surveying the formation and development of Korean culture, we will revisit major events in and beyond the twentieth century including the Japanese occupation, national division and the Korean War, military dictatorships, democratization movements, the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and the globalization of hallyu and K-pop. Addressing topics such as gender and sexuality, modernity and national trauma, xenophobia and racial tensions, queer feminist movements, and cultural transnationalism in the neoliberal era, we will pay particular attention to the structures of power and the role of the “other” in the construction of contemporary South Korea. Reading across a wide range of texts from Korean history, anthropology, cultural studies, urban studies, cinema and media studies, and visual and performance studies, we will explore diverse materials including film, television, music videos, social media, user-generated contents, among others. All class materials will be in English; no previous knowledge of Korean language is required.

This class aims to expand and deepen students’ understanding and knowledge related to various aspects of the Korean language and culture. Students will consolidate and further sophisticate their expertise in the Korean language and culture to achieve professional language proficiency while engaging in discussions, debates, mini-research, and presentations on a wide range of topics covering the Korean language, contemporary life, and culture. Special emphasis will be given to how the Korean language is structured, how cultural practices are reflected in the way language is used, and how interpersonal relationships are built and negotiated through the use of language. As such, the course is organized into the following two parts: (1) Analysis of the Korean language in various genres and media sources and (2) Examination of critical issues related to the Korean language and culture and development of one’s own stance on the given issues. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to reach the Advanced High Level (according to the ACTFL’s proficiency guidelines).

This course is designed for advanced level students. Based on literary pieces in the form of short stories, essays, and novels, students are to gain an in-depth, multi-faceted and critical understanding of Korean people, society, and culture. These objectives are achieved primarily through 1) close reading and discussion of original literary texts by 20th -century Korean writers; and 2) regular writing exercises. Some Korean films that are related to the topics of the reading text will be used.

Offered through the Penn Language Center. This course aims to develop a deeper understanding of the contemporary Korean society through critical analysis of language use and viewpoints expressed in various types of media including the internet, TV, films and newspapers. This course will provide students with a rich opportunity to relate what they have learned in previous Korean language courses to the larger context of Korean culture and society. The course is conducted entirely in Korean and utilizes both written and audiovisual materials to develop students' reading/listening comprehension and critical thinking. The course also involves in-depth class discussion and writing short compositions to enhance conversation and writing skills.

This course is designed for students who have little or no knowledge of Korean. This course aims to develop foundational reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through meaningful communicative activities and tasks. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to comprehend and carry on simple daily conversations and create simple sentences in the past, present, and future tenses. Students will learn how to introduce themselves, describe their surroundings, talk about daily lives, friends and relatives, and talk about past and future events.

This course is designed for students who have little or no knowledge of Korean. This course aims to develop foundational reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through meaningful communicative activities and tasks. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to comprehend and carry on simple daily conversations and create simple sentences in the past, present, and future tenses. Students will learn how to introduce themselves, describe their surroundings, talk about daily lives, friends and relatives, and talk about past and future events.