Undergraduate Course: Modern China in Literature and Film A (ASST08055)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course examines the representation of modern China in film, with references to literary texts. Throughout this journey, students will explore the profound political, social, and cultural transformations that have shaped China¿s modern history from the early twentieth century to the present day. While this course focuses on films, its sibling course 'Modern China in Literature and Film B' will primarily examine literature. |
| Course description |
The course will be taught through lectures, tutorials, and weekly film screenings. It is organised generally in chronological order.
Topics covered include nationalism and revolution, gender and sexuality, family and tradition, urbanisation and modernity, propaganda and power, among others. Students will also be guided to closely examine visual, aesthetic, and narrative aspects of film in conveying particular messages within given historical contexts.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2024 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Other Study Hours 44,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
128 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Weekly film screenings
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
40 %,
Coursework
60 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1 Long Writing Assignment (1500 - 2000 words) 50%
1 Exam 40%
Participation mark for exercises during the semester 10% |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback exercise.
Feedback on coursework essay. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- develop historical understanding of China¿s modern transformations
- demonstrate insights into cultural representations of history
- display analytical skills in critically interpreting cultural texts within historical contexts
- undertake autonomous research to critically evaluate sources and arguments
- apply communicative skills, both in writing and in discussions
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Reading List
Berry, Chris ed., Chinese Films in Focus II: 25 New Takes. London: BFI, 2008.
Cui, Shuqin. Women through the lens: gender and nation in a century of Chinese cinema. Honolulu: University of Hawai¿i Press, 2003.
Lim, Song Hwee and Julian Ward eds. The Chinese Cinema Book London: Palgrave Macmillan 2011. Second edition. London: Bloomsbury, 2020.
Lu, Sheldon ed. Transnational Chinese Cinemas. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1997.
McGrath, Jason. Chinese Film: Realism and Convention from the Silent Era to the Digital Age. University of Minnesota Press, 2022.
Widmer, Ellen and David Der-wei Wang, eds. From May Fourth to June Fourth: Fiction and Film in Twentieth-Century China. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1993.
Zhang, Yingjin, ed. A Companion to Chinese cinema. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course aims to develop insights into one of the world's major civilisations in its modern transformations; to develop an understanding of 20th China through two of its chief modes of expression. The course aims to develop the communicative skills of writing and discussion. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
1 lecture
1 tutorial
1 screening |
| Keywords | film,power.,China,modernity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Xuelei Huang
Tel: (0131 6)50 8985
Email: Xuelei.Huang@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Hope Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)50 4167
Email: hope.hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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