Japanese manga (comics) practice metamorphosis to address real-world concerns. A girl acquires magical powers to save the earth. Animals, plants and spirits advocate for non-violence. An art form that combines text and image and fashions its own unique grammar, Japan’s manga perform a trenchant critique of society, warning against gendered oppression and environmental disaster, and proposing new ways of being in the world. We move from Nakazawa Kei’s haunting evocations of nuclear war to Miyazaki Hayao’s environmental activism; from the revolutionary works of the female manga artists of the 1970s to the wildly popular genre of boys’ love today. Students will be able to choose the works that we read in the final weeks of class. Assignments include both creative prompts and literary analysis.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 25

Prerequisites: None.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall

Notes: