HOME > Super Global High School (SGH) > Event Summaries > SGH The Third Session of the Asian Studies with Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
The Third Session of the Asian Studies with Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University of this academic year was delivered by Prof. Iguchi from Faculty of APS, APU. His field of research is "Area Study and the History of Thoughts" especially Malaysia. He conducted this class using one approach of Semiology based on his lecture Multicultural Studies at APU.
・Friday, Dec. 9th, 3rd and 4th period
In this class, Prof. Iguchi let the students understand E. Said’s Orientalism and notice its influence even in Japan by using the cover of travel guidebook. The students happened to learn about Orientalism from the travel guidebook which they usually read without intent.
The task for the students was, referring to this lecture, that each student first had to choose the travel guidebook of one country, and then observe and examine the elements, its meaning, and the influence from Orientalism in the book.
・Friday, Dec. 16th 3rd &4th period
In this class, the presentation by the students was given. The students were divided into 6 groups and each group gave 5 minutes presentation. The countries of the guidebooks chosen by them were Vietnam, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Cambodia. In each presentation, the students not only analyzed the cover of the book but also researched the current situation of economy and politics of target country. Furthermore, they included how the Orientalism clearly exists in each country. That was the properly high level presentation in the last session.
・"I think the Oriental has been described by the Western’s point of view so far. We should let the West know the new figure of the Oriental. Also, succeeding our tradition and culture, the new presence of Asia is necessary, I think."
・"I could discover the new elements of Cambodia other than the one I used to know by looking through the guidebook. I could also learn the Cambodian respect Buddhism. Now I know that the travel guidebook is not only for the travel, but also a tool for understand the country. "
