Understanding Korea, Korean Society, and The Korean Language From The Points of View of Public Discourse, Ideology, and Stance, Spring 2020

Course Number: KOR 498 (PSU), KOR 291 (MSU), LC 20100 (PU)

Times: Tu/Th | 12– 1:50PM (CT), 1 – 2:50PM (ET)

Instructor: Susan Strauss

Description: Discourse shapes how we see and understand the world, how we evaluate and express ideas, how we interact with others. Public discourse includes language, colors, font styles and sizes that we encounter in the public sphere every day of our lives. Public discourse in and from South Korean society provides a rich sampling that leads to new and deeper understandings of Korea, the Korean language, and Korean Society. We will examine such public discourse as Youtube videos, TV shows, menus, news discourse, blogs, movie posters and trailers, speeches, album covers, public signage, storefronts, T-shirts, song lyrics, memes, and emoticons in South Korea, as well as Japan, China, and Taiwan.

Korean proficiency for this class may range from no prior knowledge of Korean to native/near-native/heritage speaker. It is preferable that students have some background in an East Asian language.

Hosting University: Penn State University

Participating Universities:  Michigan State University & Purdue University

Academic Calendar: Unless specified by the course instructor, the course will follow the host campus’ academic calendar.