History of Modern Japan, 1850-1945 This course reviews the major events and enduring questions of modern Japanese history beginning with the Meiji Restoration (1868) up to Japan’s defeat in World War II (1945). Through a variety of materials, including novels, philosophy, historical essays, and films, we will explore the formation of the modern Japanese nation-state, the “invention of tradition” in constructing a modern national identity, Japan’s colonial incursions into East Asia, 1920s mass culture, the consolidation of fascism in the 1930s, and the transwar legacies of early postwar Japan. We will pay particular attention to the relationship between transformations within Japan and larger global trends.

Police Power: Theory and History As Egon Bittner once stated, the police are “at once the best known and the least understood” of the institutions of modern government.  In this seminar students begin by reading introductions to theories of modern state power, and then turn to exploring how the police manifest this power at the local level. In the second half of the semester, we will read histories of police forces with special emphasis on the formation of the police in East Asia. We conclude by reviewing recent theories of the police for the twenty-first century.

History of Modern Japan, 1850-1945 This course reviews the major events and enduring questions of modern Japanese history beginning with the Meiji Restoration (1868) up to Japan’s defeat in World War II (1945).  Through a variety of materials, including novels, philosophy, historical essays, and films, we will explore the formation of the modern Japanese nation-state, the “invention of tradition” in constructing a modern national identity, Japan’s colonial incursions into East Asia, 1920s mass culture, the consolidation of fascism in the 1930s, and the transwar legacies of early postwar Japan. We will pay particular attention to the relationship between transformations within Japan and larger global trends.

History of Postwar Japan, 1945-2000 In this course we will study the important developments in the postwar history of Japan, including: the Allied Occupation, Japan’s place in the Cold War order, high economic growth, radical politics in the 1960s, the 1980s “bubble economy” and the “lost decade” of the 1990s. As we study these different periods, we will also reflect on the contested meaning of “postwar” (sengo) as it transformed over time.  Historiographical texts and lectures will highlight the organizing themes for each week, while primary and cultural sources will provide topics for weekly discussion and paper assignments. Lecture, 2.5 hours

Tokyo: Between History and Utopia In this course we will explore the history of Tokyo—from its "prehistory" as a small castle town in the 16th century to the cosmopolitan metropolis of the 20th century—and trace how Tokyo has captured the imagination as a space of possibility, of play, and for many, of decadence. Through a range of sources, including films, novels, ethnographies, and historical essays, we will use Tokyo as a "site" (both urban and ideological) through which to explore broader questions related to capitalist modernity, the formation of the nation-state, cultural identity, gender politics, and mass-culture.

Police Aesthetics in Japanese Film In this course students will consider theories of police power in modern society while analyzing its representation in Japanese cinema. Each week we will begin with readings about one aspect of police power, and will then consider this aspect when analyzing a set of Japanese films. The objectives of the course are for students: (1) to gain a more multifaceted understanding of the police function in modern society, (2) to learn the general history of the Japanese police system, and (3) to cultivate an appreciation of Japanese film and its possibilities for critical reflection.

Postwar Japanese History in Film and Literature In this seminar we will study the history of postwar Japan (1945 to the present), focusing on how literature and film have engaged the defining historical and political questions of this period. The seminar is organized around specific themes, including: trauma and war memory, the Allied occupation, the cold war in East Asia, high economic growth in the 1960s, political protest, post-coloniality, and a resurgent nationalism. Students will learn postwar Japanese history while also considering the possibilities of pursuing historical analysis through translated literature and narrative film.

History of Pre-Modern Japan In this course we will explore the social, cultural, and institutional history of Japan from the eighth century up through the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate in the 17th century. The course is organized thematically to illuminate the different periods of Japanese history, including the imperial origin myth and Heian culture, the frontier and the rise of samurai government, localism and the warring states period, and finally the Tokugawa settlement and the paradoxes of centralized feudalism.  Pre-1800.

Global Fascism What was, or is, fascism? How do we know it when we see it? Can fascism be understood as an exclusively European phenomenon, or did it become manifest in movements and regimes in other parts of the twentieth-century world? In this seminar, we will engage with such questions via a range of texts including manifestos, films, and scholarly works. The first part of the course will interrogate seminal theories of fascism, the second will examine historical instances of fascism with particular emphasis on East Asia, and the final part will engage with debates about the contemporary resurgence of authoritarian populism. 3 hrs. Sem.

Max Ward

Reviews and ratings for Max Ward at Middlebury College.Max Ward teaches History Modern Japan 1850-1945, Police Theory & History, History PostwarJapan 1945-2000 and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Max Ward good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

This course was very interesting and the instructor had a deep passion for Japanese history which made the course quite engaging. There were many reading quizzes, and some papers throughout the course. 

Max Ward is the absolute best. I wish I had taken more classes with him while at Middlebury. The class was great and the content was super helpful. Exams were pretty easy if you studied enough. My one recommendation is to try and participate as much as possible since he grades that part of the class pretty difficultly. 

I had a great experience in History of Postwar Japan with Max Ward. Ward was a great professor, his genuine enthusiasm brought a certain authenticity and engaging tone to his lectures. There were readings every week that were discussed in discussions. Exams were relatively straightforward, nothing surprising if you were paying attention in class and studying the terms. Overall, I would reccommend. 