Language and Culture in Everyday Life: Korean Discourse as a Window Into Culture, Perception, Cognition, Identity, and Taste
Course Number: KOR 498 (PSU); EALC 398 CIC (UIUC); KOREAN 574:390 (RU)
Times: Tues/Thurs 10:15 – 11:30AM (CT), 11:15 – 12:30PM (ET)
Instructor: Susan Strauss
In this course, we will study the interrelationships between culture, language, and worldview-with a specific focus on Korea and Koreans (living in Korea and abroad). Through research, theory, videos, printed matter, and music, we will investigate:
- How language shapes, creates, and is created by behaviors, expectations, orientations, perceptions, and practices
- How language shapes ways of viewing time, space, identities, nation, belonging, exclusion, opinion, even sensory perception-focusing on such issues as:
- Family - structure, kinship, children, the elderly
- Food - taste, presentation; noodle/rice culture
- Politeness (e.g., face, directness, honorifics)
- Identity (e.g., national identity, gender identity)
- Advertising - electronics, food and beverages, fashion
- Media and Entertainment - Korean Wave, K Drama, K-Pop
No prior knowledge of Korean is required.
Hosting University: Penn State University
Participating Universities: University of Illinois, Rutgers University
Academic Calendar: Unless specified by the course instructor, the course will follow the host campus’ academic calendar.
