The course emphasizes comparative analyses between a student's own culture and society and Japanese culture and society. Instructor to be announced. The major genres of works of poetry and fiction, both classical and modern. Cinematic adaptations of fiction are presented and Chinese poetic and narrative principles introduced. Scheduled films of performances convey Chinese theatrical conventions and aesthetics.
Discussions focus on major themes reflecting aspects of Chinese society and culture.
An introduction to Chinese film through its adaptations of contemporary stories. Early Chinese films from the 1930s to the 1970s are also included in the screenings. The format of the course is to read a series of stories in English translations and to view their respective cinematic versions. The discussions concentrate on cultural and social aspects as well as on comparison of themes and viewpoints in the two genres. While giving critical attention to aesthetic issues and the gendered voices in representative works, the course also provides a comparative view of the dynamic changes in women's roles in Japan and China.