The Power of Words

We saw pandemics and economic crises change our lives. We saw terrible massacres taking place all over the world. In times of crisis, many of us tend to lose confidence in words. Words, however, help us to resist the threatening force, too. How does it happen, then? How can words help us to gain confidence and create a new ‘self’ when we have almost lost our way? In this course, we will explore how words retain their power in texts and various cultural settings, with a particular focus on Japanese and English literature. Such an approach will allow us to delve into the continued dynamism of words. The central focal point of the course is the form. We will learn how the form plays important roles not only in written texts and productions on the stage, but in mutual interactions and social customs; the form provides the basis for our expression in general. By learning to read the mechanisms of form, we can develop a deeper understanding of words.

• History of English and Japanese literature, particularly in terms of form
• How the forms work in written texts and human relationships