12 pm
Clark Hall Room 206
To enhance student comprehension of the Tale of Genji (c. 1008), Beth M. Carter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, is creating digital content specific to the study of utamakura (famous place names) and their related engo (allusions) in the tale’s 795 poems. Although utamakura are useful conventions to convey emotion within the strict confines of waka poetry’s 31-syllable format, most modern readers do not register the emotive associations intertwined with these (once) famous places. In her work-in-progress database, utamakura and engo present in a poem are uniquely linked by URL to a describing video or annotated picture – creating a searchable modern dictionary of premodern allusive terms. This talk will explain the importance of utamakura in the study of Japanese literature, demonstrate the nascent database, reveal the impact this project has had on student learning activities, and map out the planned next steps to enhance this educational tool.
An informal lunch will be served. Registration requested. Register HERE.