Course Description:
This course is a general introduction to understanding the complexities of modern China through Chinese cinema. The focus of the course is on how modern China is represented in movies rather than on the technicalities of moving making. First, we are going to look at a brief history of modern China. Then we are watching 12 films covering the themes of Chinese revolution and its aftermath, Chinese socialism and post-socialism, class division, anxiety over the loss of tradition, social protests etc.
During the next 14 weeks, you will be asked to question what you think you know about China, its people and its political, economic, social issues that the Chinese people care about, and how Chinese cinema has informed (or mis-informed) and influenced that knowledge, and how cinematic representations would probably mis-represent China. This course satisfies Diversity International Requirement and Breadth/Humanities Requirement
Student Learning Outcomes:
? Begin to understand Chinese cinema(s) as transnational, a triangular competitive composite of Mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong cinemas.
? Understand that cinema or for that matter any visual media is not about reality, but an intended representation.
? Such an assumption grants a certain level of political, social, and cultural autonomy to each geopolitical space.
? Understand important social, political and cultural issues in contemporary China represented in the films
This course is a general introduction to understanding the complexities of modern China through Chinese cinema. The focus of the course is on how modern China is represented in movies rather than on the technicalities of moving making. First, we are going to look at a brief history of modern China. Then we are watching 12 films covering the themes of Chinese revolution and its aftermath, Chinese socialism and post-socialism, class division, anxiety over the loss of tradition, social protests etc.
During the next 14 weeks, you will be asked to question what you think you know about China, its people and its political, economic, social issues that the Chinese people care about, and how Chinese cinema has informed (or mis-informed) and influenced that knowledge, and how cinematic representations would probably mis-represent China. This course satisfies Diversity International Requirement and Breadth/Humanities Requirement
Student Learning Outcomes:
? Begin to understand Chinese cinema(s) as transnational, a triangular competitive composite of Mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong cinemas.
? Understand that cinema or for that matter any visual media is not about reality, but an intended representation.
? Such an assumption grants a certain level of political, social, and cultural autonomy to each geopolitical space.
? Understand important social, political and cultural issues in contemporary China represented in the films
- Teacher: Di Bai