Global Liberal Arts（The “SDGs” Contested）
Source: https://catalog.he.u-tokyo.ac.jp/detail?code=7V0101006S&year=2025 Parent: https://catalog.he.u-tokyo.ac.jp/result?type=ug&faculty_id=27&q=&interface_language=en
Undergraduate (3rd and 4th years)
Global Liberal Arts（The “SDGs” Contested）
The URLs, account and classroom informations have been removed to prevent the leakage of internal information for online classes.\ Last updated at Oct 17, 2025.\ \ Class plans and classrooms are subject to change, so be sure to check UTAS for the latest information.\ If you do not have access to the UTAS, please contact your instructor or academic affairs office.\
Global Liberal Arts（The “SDGs” Contested）
Critical Perspectives on Sustainability through Film
Do you enjoy watching good movies? Are you interested in global environmental issues such as the SDGs? If your answer to both questions is "yes", this course is for you! First, we will explore academic literature in the field of political ecology relevant to sustainability and the SDGs; then, we will put the knowledge gained into practice by watching (good) movies and discussing how the films that we as global citizens consume can help us understand environmental and sustainability issues, and in which ways our own personal perceptions and academic views on nature society links are shaped by the process. Concepts from political ecology that will be covered in the course include environmental justice, ecosystem services, nature contributions to people, ecological economics, de-growth, or ecofeminism, among others. This is a fun, rewarding course both personally and academically. To take this course you do not need to have any specific background (students across any arts & sciences fields are all welcome); yet students are required to take the time to diligently watch all the movies in whole, with a critical, academic eye. While some (initial) films will be chosen by the instructor, as the semester advances, students may propose films to watch and lead the follow-up class discussion about them.
MIMA Search
Code
Course title
Lecturer
Semester
Period
7V0101006S
FGL-GL3106S3
Global Liberal Arts（The “SDGs” Contested）
Raquel Moreno Penaranda
S1
S2
Tue 1st
Add to My List
Remove from My List
Language
English
Credit
2
Lecturers with practical experience
NO
Other Faculty
YES
Course Offered by
Center for Global Education
Schedule
The course is organized in 5 main sections, each section lasting for 2 weeks, corresponding to a sustainable development theme and its related film*, following this sequence:
Introduction to key concepts >> completing readings >> watching film >> answering reflection questions >> class discussion >> The remaining 3 weeks of class will be devoted to introducing the course, midterm reflection and final reflection, in this order. *List of films (proposed): Film #1: Avatar (2009) by James Cameron https://www.imdb.com/***** Film #2: Okja (2017) by Bong Joon Ho https://www.imdb.com/***** Film #3: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) by Hayao Miyazaki https://www.imdb.com/***** Film #4: A Simple Life (2011) by Ann Hui https://www.imdb.com/***** Film #5: Dune: Part One (2021) by Denis Villeneuve https://www.imdb.com/*****
Teaching Methods
There will be short, interactive presentations by the instructor to introduce key concepts of assigned readings that students must complete individually afterwards. Films will be then watched individually online. Next, students (in groups) answer short reflection questions in preparation for class discussion the following week. Class discussions will be facilitated by the instructor but led by the students. At the end of the course, students will be asked to complete a final reflection on the course. The course uses an active learning approach and students take a leading role in organizing class discussions, working in small groups. The course is taught in English but it is designed in an accessible, inclusive way to facilitate local and international students to interact fruitfully despite any language barriers.
Method of Evaluation
【Please check the grading scale that applies to this course. If the Course Code ends without “-P/F”, this is a course with a letter grade (A+, A, B, C, F). If the Course Code ends with “-P/F”, this is a Pass/Fail Course.】 Reflection questions (group): 10% (x5) Midterm reflection (individual): 10% Final reflection (individual): 30% Participation (individual): 10%
Required Textbook
適⽤しない／Not apply
Reference Books
適⽤しない／Not apply
Notes on Taking the Course
(1) Up to 20 students will be, in principle, allowed to register for this class. (2) If more than 20 students come to the first class, instructors make a selection. If you are interested in taking this course please attend the first class.