How does the present shape the past?

Nation, culture, history and identity in East Asia.

Class start:

27 February 2024

Class schedule:

Tuesday 10:00-12:00, Classroom A Vetrerie Sciarra

Wednesday 8:00-10:00 a.m., Classroom A Vetrerie Sciarra

The formation of modern nation-states in East Asia has been particularly traumatic and marked by imperialism and divisive violence. The recent past remains divisive between Korea and Japan (and with China as well).

However, the divisions between these countries are not limited to the narrative of the recent past, but are reflected in how national histories are taught in schools, narrated in texts and portrayed in the media.

To date, there is not a history of Asia which can be embraced by these countries and, despite some tentative attempts by transnational think-tanks, a narrative based strictly on the modern idea of nationhood prevails.

A clear example of this attitude is the fact that the general histories of these countries start from prehistory. More or less explicitly, these histories suggest the existence of a linear continuity between past and present peoples and serve to emphasise the unique identity and cultural peculiarities of each country.

Starting from these premises, it is possible to seek a new approach to the ancient and modern history of East Asia: the way history is narrated and represented allows us to understand much about the contemporary reality of Korea and Japan (and China!).

The course will address topics such as:

1) the description of the past using terms and categories from later eras;

2) the interpretation and narration of events or places from a nationalistic perspective;

3) the past as a foundation and justification for political and diplomatic strategies;

4) The reflection in the media and popular culture of this way of narrating history;

5) The existence or non-existence of an objective narrative for historical events.

The course has a seminar structure.

After the first three lectures, held by the professor, the active participation of students will be required in the following lectures. It is however possible to attend the lectures but opt for the non-attending examination mode.

a) non-attending exam mode: Oral examination on a programme assigned by the professor.

b) examination as an attending student:

active participation in class;

in-class presentation of an essay assigned individually or in groups by the professor;

Submission of a paper of 15,000 characters (including spaces! Notes, bibliography and images excluded).

-A supplementary individual examination, should the assessment based on the previous elements not have been adequate.

Lesson organisation

lessons 1-2-3-4: held exclusively by the professor. Students will not be required to do any homework.

lessons 5 to 21: part of each lesson will be given by the professor, another part of the lesson will be devoted to (up to three) presentations, 20 minutes each, in which the student(s) will explain to the class the content of an article or part of an essay assigned by the professor.

Common reading (mandatory for all students):

Michael Lewis (Ed.) History Wars’ and Reconciliation in Japan and Korea. The Roles of Historians, Artists and Activist, Palgrave macmillan, 2017

Further readings will be assigned during the course.