Seminars & Short Courses
The Medieval Samurai – Myths and Realities
Most people associate the Japanese samurai with fiercely loyal killing machines who in lieu of suitable targets would not hesitate to kill themselves in gruesome ways. During this short course, we will critically examine these myths and show a much more varied image of the medieval (pre-1600) samurai. We will go through the social dynamics that led to the political rise of the warriors in Japan as well as discuss the realities behind the myths of the samurai that are so often reproduced in film and games even today. The purpose of the course is to provide the tools to teach about this historical phenomenon in a more nuanced and balanced way that will promote critical thinking and appreciation of diverse viewpoints. This course contains some synchronous components, and all scheduled times (TBA) will be posted in EDT.