Integrated Area / Contemporary Pop Culture Program
Program Overview
Anime, manga, games, popular music, fashion, TikTok, YouTube, X, Twitch—expressions intersect in diverse ways, transcending the boundaries of traditional genres and media, and blurring the lines between viewers and creators. This program explores the meaning and value of the representational culture produced by contemporary pop culture from multiple perspectives.
Program objectives
This program aims to allow students to deeply explore their passions using data and theory. It aims to cultivate the multifaceted perspectives and critical thinking skills demanded by modern society, based on the following three educational objectives.
Understanding the Social and Historical Background: This involves comprehensively examining the social and historical context of contemporary representational culture and deeply considering the meaning and role of culture.
Cultivating critical thinking skills: Instead of viewing pop culture merely as a hobby or consumer culture, critically examine its potential as a starting point for disseminating social messages and forming communities.
Understanding diverse values: By engaging with works and people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, students will cultivate an attitude of respecting the values and viewpoints of others and engaging in the exchange of opinions.
Curriculum Features
The curriculum is structured around three pillars: [Basic & Methodological Subject Group], [Theoretical Subject Group], and [Topic Subject Group]. You will learn integratively, from the basics of investigative and critical methods, to theories such as aesthetics and philosophy, and topics that delve into specific topics like manga and anime studies and gender studies. Additionally, by limiting the program to minor majors, students can combine their field of expertise with pop culture to engage in interdisciplinary and unique research that is College of Arts and Sciences.
Other classes and subjects
Representational Culture Studies / Contemporary Pop Culture Studies A & B / Aesthetics and Art Theory / Philosophical Issues / Japanese Art Studies / Community Art / Science and Technology Communication Studies B / Special Lecture on Media (Contemporary Manga and Anime) / Special Lecture on Media (Youth and Media Literacy) / Media and Gender / Cultural Sociology A / Special Lecture on Contemporary Literature / The World of Contemporary Literature
Message from the lead instructor
Even at this very moment, new cultures are born and disappear. From anime and games to social media memes, to fan-favorite advertisements, selfies, and character bento boxes—cultures rooted in everyday life—all of them are important representations for understanding modern society. There's no time to hesitate. Let's run through the world of modern pop culture together!
Ikko Tanaka Associate Professor (Specialization: Western Ancient Philosophy, Aesthetics, Humanities and Informatics)
Characteristics of the academic group
Open list of subpages
Content of learning
Open list of subpages
Career paths, qualifications, and achievements