“Cutting-Edge Samurai Theatre: Noh Then, Noh Now, Noh Tomorrow” by Matthew R. Dubroff and “In the Noh: Using Samurai Theater in the History Classroom” by Eric G. Dinmore Syllabi

This two-semester seminar for entering freshmen in the Honors Program will trace the rise and fall of the samurai in Japan, as well as the distinct impact these warriors left on Japanese and global culture. We will draw from a range of academic disciplines, including history, literary criticism, theater studies, religion, and the visual arts. This fall, we will focus on the historical transformation of the samurai from loosely-knit bands of provincial warriors to a powerful political elite. In the realm of cultural studies, we will examine Japanese religions, battlefield tales, architecture, Buddhist-inspired visual art forms, nō theater, and the way of tea (sadō). Our course materials will encompass primary documents, plays, Buddhist scripture, warrior epics, and the occasional samurai film. We will even see Star Wars. Through this in-depth examination, we will develop critical college-level academic skills and a more culturally and historically sensitive view of the samurai.