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Course Schedule & Readings

Course Schedule

Week 1: Why do we travel? What is travel writing?

Date

Time 

Topic

Reading Due

Writing Due

Tues.

7.4.23

1:15-3:00

 

3:00-4:45

Lecture 1: Intro to Travel Writing

 

Guest Lecture: Japanese Language by Prof. Morita

Read:

“Writer Pico Iyer On Why There's More to Travel Than Your Instagram Feed”

“The Art of Being a Flâneur"

“The Art of the Travel Essay”

Travel Blog 1: Ian

Weds.

7.5.23

1:15-3:00

 

 

3:00-4:45

Lecture 2: Histories of Japanese Travel Writing

 

Guest Lecture: Japanese Culture by Prof. Simon

Read:

“A Brief History of Japanese Travel & Travel Writing”

Excerpts from the Manyōshū

“Voyages: Visual Journeys by Six Photographers (Tokyo)”

Travel Blog 2: Thomas 

 

Thurs.

7.6.23

11:45

Field Trip: Visit Osaka Castle & Kaiyodo Figure Museum

Read: “The 9 Commandments of Travel Writing”

Osaka Castle Guide

Travel Blog 3: John A

Fri.

7.7.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 4: Michael 

 

Sat.

7.8.23

TBD

OMU Field Trip to Kyoto

Read: “In Kyoto, Feeling Forever Foreign”

“A Guide to Kyoto Through the City’s Craft Scene”

 

Travel Blog 5: Rahm 

 

 

Sun.

7.9.23

TBD

Post-Field Trip OMU Workshop

Read: “The Pillow-Book of Sei Shonagon”

Travel Blog 6: David 

 

Assignment 1 Due: Osaka Guidebook Entry

 

Week 2: Multimedia Storytelling & Travel Genres

Date

Time 

Topic

Reading Due

Writing Due

Mon.

7.10.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 7: Madison 

Tues.

7.11.23

1:15-3:00

 

3:00-4:45

ERAU-OMU Mini Conference

 

Guest Lecture: Japanese Architecture by Prof. Kurakata

 Read: “Chapter 4: Travel Blogging” by Don George (available on Google Books, Kindle, & Apple Books for $12.99)

Travel Blog 8: Aidan

Weds.

7.12.23

1:15-3:00

ERAU-OMU Student Presentations


Travel Blog 9: Colby

Thurs.

7.13.23

1:15-3:00

Field Trip: High School Visit with BP Matsui

Read: “Daily Life in Japanese High Schools”

Travel Blog 10: Daniel

 

 

Fri.

7.14.23

8:00

 

11:00-12:00

Field Trip: Hiroshima

 

Guest Lecture/Lecture 3: A-bomb Legacy Successor

Read: “How We Retain the Memory of Japan’s Atomic Bombings: Books”

“The Dark Radiance of Atomic Bomb Literature”

Travel Blog 11: Race 

 

Sat.

7.15.23

9:30

Field Trip: Miyajima

Read: Lonely Planet’s “Miyajima” Guide

Travel Blog 12: Lara

Sun.

7.16.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 13: Joseph

 

Week 3: Cross-Cultural Communication & Nonfiction

Date

Time 

Topic

Reading Due

Writing Due

Mon.

7.17.23

N.A.

Free Day—National Holiday

 

Travel Blog 14: Samuel

Tues.

7.18.23

8:00

 

 

 10:00

Field Trip: Kobe (Riken-Fugaku and Takenaka)

 

Lecture 4: Fugaku

Read: “36 Hours in Kobe, Japan”

“The RIKEN Story”

Travel Blog 15: Athena

Weds.

7.19.23

1:15-3:00

 

3:00-4:45

Guest Lecture: Drones by Prof. Sasaki

Lecture 5: Feature Articles & Storytelling

Read: "Chapter 2: A Short Course in Travel Writing" by Don George

Travel Blog 16: Lauren 

Thurs.

7.20.23

1:15-3:00

 

3:00-4:45

Interaction with SSSRC Students

 

Guest Lecture: Drones by Prof. Yoshida


Travel Blog 17: John W.

Fri.

7.21.23

1:15-3:00

 

 

 3:00-4:45

Lecture 6: Educational Equity & Coding Education by Prof. Rea (open to OMU audience)

Guest Lecture: Aikido by Prof. Simon

Read: “A New Growth Engine for Japan: Women in STEM Fields; Japan"

(Optional) "Coding Equity: Social Justice & Computer Programming  Education"

Travel Blog 18: Ian

Sat.

7.22.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 19: Thomas

Sun.

7.23.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 20: John A.

 

Week 4: Journalistic Travel Writing

Date

Time

Topic

Reading Due

Writing Due

Mon.

7.24.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 21: Michael 

Assignment 2 Due: Photo Essay

Tues.

7.25.23

11:45

Field Trip: Nara


Travel Blog 22: David

Weds.

7.26.23

1:15-3:00

Lecture 7: Travel Article Writing Workshop

Read: "The Trouble with Paradise"

Travel Blog 23: Lauren

Thurs.

7.27.23

9:00

Field Trip: Himeji


Travel Blog 24: John W.

 

Fri.

7.28.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 25: Race

Sat.

7.29.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 26: Lara

Sun.

7.30.23

N.A.

Free Day

 

Travel Blog 27: Joseph 

 

Week 5: Reflective Writing

Date

Day 

Topic

Reading Due

Writing Due

Mon.

7.31.23

8:00

Field Trip: Tokyo

Read: Travel & Leisure’s “Tokyo” Travel Guide

 

Travel Blog 28: Samuel


Assignment 4 Due: Travel Feature Article

Tues.

8.1.23

8:00

Field Trip: Nikko

 

Lecture 8:

Read: TBD

Travel Blog 29: Athena

Weds.

8.2.23

9:00

Field Trip: Tokyo/Kanazawa

Read: TBD

Travel Blog 30: Colby

Thurs.

8.3.23

9:30

Field Trip:

Kanazawa

 

Lecture 9:

Read: TBD

Travel Blog 31: Rahm

Fri.

8.4.23

 

Farewell Dinner


Travel Blog 32: TBD

 

Assignment 5 Due: Final Reflection

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