"The course will be focused on the question: What is Justice? We will do so by analyzing the Japanese Anime, Death Note, featuring a young genius, named Light Yagami, who seeks to create justice in the world through a mass murder of criminals. The original twelve volume series has gone on to sell over 26 million copies, and has received nominated for several awards such as "Best Manga at the 2006 American Anime Awards, the 2007 , an Official Selection at 2008, and Obata was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker at the 2008 s." The protagonist's voice actor also won the "Best Voice Actor" award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2008. In addition to the successful Anime adaptation, there have since been three live-action movies, three video games, and two spin-off novels from the material. The series has since been banned in several cities, primarily in China, to protect the physical and mental health of young students, as well as to avoid the copycat crimes that had been occurring throughout the world. We will be using Death Note as a lens to look critically at current events such as the drone strikes in the Middle East, and discuss whether or not such actions are just. The course will address aspects of vigiliantism, as well as the morality within murder. Overall, we ask students to keep an open mind and to challenge their preconceived notions of justice based upon what is actually happening in the world."

"Light... I trust you. (72)"

"Murderers should go to hell!"

"Light, my son, from one murderer to another, I'll see you in Hell! (36)"

"I have a responsibility as a parent and as the chief of police. (36)"

"No...anything obtained by killing people can never bring true happiness. (22)"

"The real evil is the power to kill people. (22)"

"I will not succumb to evil."

"Didn't I tell you in the beginning? I'll be the one to write your name when you die. This is the deal that is made between the shinigami who brought the notebook into the human's world and a human who possesses the notebook. If you are cast into jail, I will never know when you'll die. It would be annoying to wait until your death. You are finished. You'll die here. (107)"

"The name I'm writing in the Death Note is yours, Light. (107)"

"You're using the word 'destiny' for a woman again, Light. You always use a one-patterned approach for women. (87)"

"I can understand them, because they can exchange that money for tons of apples. (80)"

"Shinigami trust shinigami before they trust humans. (72)"

"What? I'm going to be possessed by such a poor imbecile? (71)"

"Heh. Are those the eyes of a man in love? (68)"

"Hehe. A disaster—struck family playing a happy—homey family... This show is funny. (60)"

"Sorry, but... believe it or not, I'm a male too... (56)"

"Hey, all it did was go around in a full circle. (54)"

"Humans are hilarious. (10)"

"That was worth an Academy Award, Light. (9)"

"I feel like I'm in a sitcom."

"Humans are... so much fun. (1)"

"But Light Yagami... to kill even a shinigami... he's surpassed the shinigami. (58)"

"Humans are such ugly creatures. (37)"

"Nobody can tell what is right and what is wrong, what is righteous and what is evil. Even if there is a god, and I had His teachings before me, I would think it through, and decide if that was right or wrong myself. (105)"

"No. You're just a murderer. (105)"

"It's over. You've lost the game. (103)"

"I've wanted to make him taste his own pathetic failure with all my heart. (90)"

"To kill me, a potential avenger. (89)"

"Does she understand what she's doing, this stupid woman? (88)"

"You said she's smart but it only means she got high marks, and she's actually a stupid woman. (86)"

"For me and Mello, L has been the only person we adore and the only person who deserves our respect. (82)"

"What an obvious lie he is telling. (79)"

"Making such a sleazebag a spokesman... (77)"

"Which of us will get Kira first... It's a race! (77)"

"Don't make me repeat the same thing many times. (77)"

"We will be removed. All because of that chicken we call a President… No, "chicken" is too nice. He's even lower than a maggot. (75)"

"I don't know what to say. Now, I think it's just best to observe closely. (71)"

"To Mello, it's like playing a video game against me, I think. See who gets to Kira, the last boss, first. (67)"

"You, who've taken on his name, have managed — well, nothing. (66)"