As I mentioned last week, I am leaning towards a comparative or connective study of the West Coast of the US and Japan in regards to disaster culture as earthquakes as represented in contemporary literature and fiction. This new situated context is motivated by a curiosity of the physical connection between Japan and the US, as being on either side of the Pacific Ocean. It is also motivated by a variety of interesting and well-received fictional works about earthquakes in Japan. Here is a draft of my outline so far [UPDATED 12-10]: