First-Year Japanese This course is an introduction to the modern Japanese language aimed at acquisition of the four basic skills speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. The emphasis is on thorough mastery of the basic structures of Japanese through intensive oral-aural practice and extensive use of audiovisual materials. The two kana syllabaries and kanji (characters) will be introduced toward the goals of developing reading skills and reinforcing grammar and vocabulary acquisition.

Sex and Death in Classical Japanese Culture In this course we will examine the topics of sex and death in classical Japanese literature and culture, starting with the earliest creation myths of the 8th century, continuing with the masterpieces of the Heian period (794-1185), and culminating with the vibrant culture of the Edo period (1600-1868). We will explore a variety of genres, including poetry, courtly romances and warrior tales, noh and jōruri drama, short stories and novellas, emaki painted scrolls, and early modern woodblock prints, focusing on the ways in which sex and death come to be addressed and represented in classical Japanese culture.

Modern and Contemporary Japanese Women Writers A thousand years ago, women writers dominated the Japanese literary world. Then, for centuries, their skill was discounted, their works overlooked, and their voices silenced. Starting with the nineteenth century, however, Japanese women writers started to reclaim their grandmothers’ heritage. They took the male-dominated literary world by assault, pushing boundaries, drawing on their literary legacy and reinventing it, resisting the label of “women’s literature” so often pejoratively attached to their works.  In this course we will explore these figures of resistance and their multilayered works in the context of the changing socio-political conditions that shaped women’s positions in Japanese society.

Reading Japanese Culture through Anime In this course we will explore contemporary Japanese culture through the lens of Anime Studies.  We will employ historical, literary, linguistic, and anthropological perspectives,  as well as interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches  (Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, Film and Media Studies, and Fan Studies).  We will watch, read, and study both stand-alone anime movies, as well as selected episodes from anime series, to understand the cultural and historical contexts that generated these works and how they in turn shape national and international media culture.

From Godzilla to Totoro: Monsters in Japanese Culture In this course we will examine a series of Japanese monsters (foxes, badgers, demons, vengeful spirits, and others), which populate Japanese myths, tales, folklore, art, and popular culture, in order to understand how the fear of the Other leads to marginalization and demonization and how monsters are created to contain undesirable figures. We will also explore the literary expressions of cultural anxieties generated by lack of understanding or misunderstanding of phenomena, such as the powers of nature and the afterlife, as well as the existential terrors resulting from trauma and war.

The Tale of Genji (in English) /The Tale of Genji/ is the world’s first psychological novel. This rich narrative centers on the political intrigues and passionate love affairs of Genji, a fictional prince barred from the throne.  In this course we will explore the narrative through a close reading in English translation. Students will gain knowledge of the aesthetic, religious, and social contexts of the Heian period, one of the most vibrant eras in Japanese culture. We will also trace how Genji monogatari has been interpreted over ten centuries in art, theater, films, and  most recently, manga.  (Formerly JAPN 0190) 3hrs. lect/disc.  This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.*

Third-Year Japanese This course is a continuation of JAPN 0301.

First-Year Japanese   This course is an intensive continuation of JAPN 0101.  This course is required for those students wishing to take JAPN 0103 in the Spring.

Third-Year Japanese This advanced course aims to increase the student's proficiency in modern standard Japanese, both spoken and written. A variety of written and audiovisual materials will be used to consolidate and expand mastery of more advanced grammatical points and vocabulary. Oral presentation, discussion, and composition in Japanese are also important components of the course.

Otilia Milutin

Reviews and ratings for Otilia Milutin at Middlebury College.Otilia Milutin teaches First-Year Japanese, Sex & Death in Classical Japan, Modern Japanese Women Writers and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Otilia Milutin good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I'm not a Japanese major or minor but I really enjoyed this course. Professor Milutin is fantastic and her lectures are very engaging. There is a lot of reading, but I personally thought the book was pretty interesting. 

This course was discussion-heavy - we had to submit Teams discussion posts twice a week on the readings and the anime. The workload was not heavy, and we had fun discussing different views and theories that emerged from/could explain the anime.

Milutin-sensei is so passionate about Japanese literature, and such a kind person, so this was a joy to take. The book itself was long but fascinating, like one big book about gossip. It was a bit hard to always digest the content and all its weaved poetry and nuances, but Milutin-sensei made it easier to understand by having everyone discuss interpretations in class.