THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Common Courses (School of Lit, Lang and Cult)

Postgraduate Course: Gender, Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Cinema (CLLC11087)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course will focus on a number of key Chinese films that have explored the impact and influence of political, social and cultural change during the twentieth century on both gender relations and representations of femininities and masculinities. Although the course concentrates on films made in the 1980s and 1990s, a number of important films from earlier decades will also be explored. The content and style of the films will be analysed to investigate how, and in what ways, Chinese filmmakers have used gender perspectives to address such issues as the relationship or tensions between 'tradition' and modernity, the impact of the state on the lives of individuals, and the connections between political ideologies and discourses of sexuality. By the end of the course, students should be able to deconstruct (stylistically and thematically) a number of significant Chinese films that have addressed the impact of dramatic change in twentieth century China on gender relations and representations of femininities and masculinities. They will also be able to situate these films within their political and social contexts, and to see in a wider sense how evolving ideological concerns have been reflected in the country's cinema.
Course description The course will focus on a number of key Chinese films that have explored the impact and influence of political, social and cultural change on both gender relations and representations of femininities and masculinities. The content and style of the films will be analysed to investigate how, and in what ways, Chinese filmmakers have used gender perspectives to address such issues as the relationship or tensions between 'tradition' and modernity, the impact of the state on the lives of individuals, and the connections between political ideologies and discourses of sexuality.

By the end of the course, students should be able to deconstruct (stylistically and thematically) a number of significant Chinese films that have addressed the impact of dramatic change in China on gender relations and representations of femininities and masculinities. They will also be able to situate these films within their political and social contexts, and to see in a wider sense how evolving ideological concerns have been reflected in the country's cinema.
Students will watch a selection of films. Students will take turns in giving a presentation on one film and the topic which it covers, in the course of which they will be expected to present their own ideas, informed by recommended secondary reading material.

Students will take turns in giving presentations on one film and the topic which it covers, at which they will be expected to present their own ideas, informed by recommended secondary reading material.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Display an understanding of how to read and interpret film.
  2. Situate the films they have watched within their political and social contexts.
  3. See in a wider sense how evolving ideological concerns have been reflected in the country¿s cinema.
  4. Understand the ways in which Chinese filmmakers have reflected gender issues affecting China.
  5. Present a reasoned argument analysing one or more of the social themes discussed in the course.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsGRaM
Contacts
Course organiserDr Julian Ward
Tel: (0131 6)50 4226
Email: Julian.Ward@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Annie Kelly
Tel:
Email: Annie.Kelly@ed.ac.uk
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