C LIT 397 SPEC TPCS CIN STD (VLPA)
1904
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HISTORY
OF CHINESE CINEMA
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the last fifteen years, Chinese films have regularly won important awards
in international film festivals. Who are the major filmmakers, actors
and producers? How can the recent success be traced to the Chinese film
industry that has thrived since 1905? What are some of the critical
terms often used in conjunction with Chinese cinema? Full-feature screenings
as well as extensive clips, mostly from rare films, will allow us to
examine the history of Chinese cinemas in the mainland, Taiwan and Hong
Kong. |
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| link to take-home
essay |
Hours: MW 3:30 - 4:50; F 3:30 - 6:20
Classroom: MGH
238
5 credits
| Instructor: |
Yomi Braester |
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office: C-504 Padelford |
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office hours: MW 4:50- 5:30 and by appointment |
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e-mail: yomi@u.washington.edu |
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course website: http://faculty.washington.edu/yomi/Chinese%20Cinema.html |
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board
Film Links
Course
Description
Assignments
Grading Components
Policies and Procedures
Readings
Class Schedule
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course offers a survey of Chinese cinema,
from the 1920s to the present day. Equal emphasis will be laid on narrative
themes, cinematic technique, and cultural background. No previous knowledge
of cinema studies is required, but students are encouraged to read an introductory
book such as Film Art by Bordwell and Thompson or The Art of Movie-Making
by Peacock. Grading includes a large component of writing. If you want to
talk about any matter related to the course, please take advantage of my office
hours. I’m here for you.
ASSIGNMENTS
Students will submit
a typed reading response in each class, based on the questions (at
least one paragraph on each question). Time will be given at the end of each
class to modify the answers accordig to class discussion. Two quizzes will
be administered, based on the readings and class discussion. A take-home 3-page
essay on a pre-assigned topic will take place at mid-term. A one-page paper
outline and a 5-page final paper, which must engage topics and texts discussed
in class, are due toward the end of the term.
Consult here on
topics for final papers (will be updated)
GRADING
COMPONENTS
| Reading responses
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14
x 3 (each part 0.75) =
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42 |
| Quizzes |
2 x 10
= |
20 |
| Take-home
essay |
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15 |
| Paper outline:
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3 |
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Final paper:
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20 |
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Sorry
-- no second screenings can be arranged. All assignments must be printed,
double-spaced, font size 12, with numbered pages, and stapled together. The
course emphasizes good writing — if you feel unconfident about your writing,
please contact the writing workshop. Late submissions must be pre-approved by
the instructor. The course adheres to UW’s rules on plagiarism (see http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm). Students with disabilities are encouraged to
inform me, and I’ll do my best to provide suitable accommodations.
READINGS
All
required readings are included in the packet, and the books from which they
are extracted are on reserve at the relevant library.
Class Schedule (subject to change)
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| Monday, 1/15 |
MLK DAY - NO CLASS |
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| Wednesday, 1/17 |
The Shanghai days |
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Reading: Rothman, "The Goddess: Reflections
on Melodrama East and West," in Wimal Dissanayake, Melodrama and
Asian Cinema. questions
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Monday, 1/22 |
The myth of a woman: Ruan Lingyu |
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Reading: Kristin Harris, "The New Woman
Incident," in Sheldon Lu, Transnational Chinese Cinemas;
Lu Xun, "Gossip is a Fearful Thing" questions |
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Monday, 1/29 |
A new cinema for a new China |
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Reading: Gina Marchetti, Two Stage Sisters: The
Blossoming of a Revolutionary Aesthetic," in Transnational Chinese
Cinemas questions |
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Wednesday, 1/31 |
Film through the 1980s; Xie Jin |
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Reading: Paul Clark, "Two Hundred Flowers
on China’s Screens"; Zhang and Li , "The Modernization of Film
Language"; Xie, "My View of the Concept of Film" questions
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Monday, 2/5 |
The cinematic revolution of the Fifth Generation |
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Reading: Xudong Zhang, "Ideology and Utopia
in Zhang Yimou’s Red Sorghum" questions |
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Wednesday, 2/7 |
Nationalism and globalism in late Fifth
Generation films |
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Reading: Ann Kaplan, "Reading Formations and
Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine," in Lu, Transnational
Chinese Cinemas questions |
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Wednesday, 2/14 |
Cinematic cityscapes |
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Reading: Tang, "Configuring the Modern Space: Cinematic
Representations of Beijing and Its Politics." questions |
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Monday, 2/19 |
PRESIDENTS' DAY - NO CLASS |
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| Wednesday, 2/21 |
Hong Kong as an allegory |
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Reading: Anne Ciecko, "Transnational
Action," in Transnational Chinese Cinemas; Abbas, "The
New Hong Kong Cinema and the deja disparu" questions
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Take-home essay due |
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Film
clips shown in class |
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| Monday, 2/26 |
Nostalgia for a cinema for China |
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Reading: Dai Jinhua, "Imagined Nostalgia,"
in Boundary 2 24: 3 questions |
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| Wednesday, |
Chinese movies go cool: The Sixth Generation |
| 2/28 |
Reading: Chen Xiaoming, "The Mysterious Other:
Postpolitics in Chinese Film," in Boundary 2 24: 3 questions |
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paper outlines returned |
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Reading: Paul Clark, "Ethnic Minorities in Chinese
Films: Cinema and the Exotic" questions |
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| Monday, 3/12 |
Final paper due |
