The end of the semester is here! Portfolios are due on Tuesday, May 6th. Don’t forget to include self evaluations, both for each course and for the entire semester.

Below are some examples of preces that were written this past semester for Preston Houser’s “Japan: Behind the Mask” class.

Gill, A.A. “Mad in Japan.” Travelintelligence. Sep 2001.

A.A. Gill in his article “Mad in Japan” argues that the Japanese are not just different from Westerners, but “certifiably bonkers.” Gill gives examples of many of the contradictions that exist within both traditional and modern Japanese culture to argue that the Japanese are “weird” and even “alien.” He begins with some humorous observations, such as Japan having highly advanced toilets yet primitive toilet paper or the fact that blowing one’s nose in public is considered more rude than urinating in the street. The opening paragraphs initially gave me the impression that the piece is satirical, but as Gill went on to label Japan as a shame-based culture and even applaud the bombing of Hiroshima, his agenda became unclear. Gill combines humor with serious criticisms that make the article an entertaining and thought-provoking read.

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