A seminar exploring the role of the documentary impulse in modern Chinese writing and film. Weekly sessions combine works of reportage literature with independent documentary films, illustrating the development of documentary art forms in modern China. Relevant secondary readings will also be assigned, and students will have to make presentations of their own research in the second half of the course.

Goals

• Philosophical: recognize the issues raised by reality and its artistic representation in China, recognize works of art, and understand how art connects with everyday life
• Methodological: confidently and competently describe, analyze, and interpret works of narrative literature and film; be able to critically think through literary problems and present your ideas clearly
• Disciplinary: how different disciplines approach problems, how each fits together in the field of knowledge, demonstrate facility in methods of scholarship on China and writing in the humanities
• Transcultural: Recognize cultural and historical differences that must be negotiated to understand Chinese literature and art (learning more about your own culture and yourself by understanding what is required to cross the gulfs--and bridges--between cultures and across history)

In Class

Students must read or view each week's material in advance of class, and be prepared to discuss the questions provided in advance by the instructor, or by the student(s) leading the class discussion. The initial several classes will consist of structured discussions and mini-lectures, but as the semester goes on, students will be required to make presentations and lead discussions (including producing discussion questions in advance).

Evaluation

Undergraduates (CHTR 3850): three papers 2, 6, and 12 pages in length, respectively. The 2-page paper should be at least 600 words and is worth 5% of your final grade. The 6-page paper should be at least 1800 words, and will be worth 18% of your final grade, and the 12-page paper should be at least 3600 words, worth 27% of your final grade. Each student must make at least one in-class presentation of 15 minutes in length, or lead class discussion for one hour. Grades will be based 50% on written assignments (weighted according to respective length) and 50% for attendance (accounting for 20%) and participation (30%), which includes participation in discussion and students' presentations and leading discussions. See Policies for attendance policy. There will be no examinations.

Graduate students and Chinese or East Asian Studies majors taking CHTR 5850 to fulfill the capstone requirement must fulfill all these requirements, but the final paper should be 20 pages in length, and students must consult original Chinese-language primary and (optionally) Chinese-language secondary sources, in addition to authoritative English-language sources.

Resources 

Texts (titles with asterisks have Chinese versions available through the Collab site)

Available for purchase at bookstore:

• Berry, Chris, Lu Xinyu, and Lisa Rofel eds., The New Chinese Documentary Film Movement (Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2010).

• Laughlin, Charles A., Chinese Reportage: The Aesthetics of Historical Experience (Durham: Duke University Press, 2002). 

Films:

As much as possible, film material will be uploaded to the course website, either to be accessed through the Kaltura Media Gallery, or the current week's activity tab (see the left of the screen). When that is impossible, we may have to distribute films on DVDs or arrange screening times. The films below are likely to be used this semester, but there will probably be others used (to be announced).

Victory of the Chinese People (1950)

Wu Wenguang, "Bumming in Beijing" (1990) 

Wu Wenguang, "Jiang hu: Life on the Road" (2001)

Liu Jiayin, "Oxhide" (2005)

Jian Yi, "Super! Girls!" (2007)

Wu Wenguang, "Fuck Cinema" (2007)

Jia Zhangke, "Dong" (2008)

Fan Lixin, "Last Train Home" (2011)

Wang Jiuliang, "Beijing Besieged by Waste" (2011)

Tools for Reading and Writing

• Grading Rubric for Papers about Literature
• Guidance on Writing Papers about Literature (or Film)
• Style sheet for papers about Chinese literature
• Online Chinese dictionary
• Guidance on Film Criticism

Schedule

For week to week assignments, activities, and extracurricular events of interest, see the numbered tabs for each week that appear along the left side of the Collab site. To save space, only one or two of these tabs will appear on your screen, but I will prepare and distribute an outline of the course schedule and readings.

Dates and Deadlines

(papers must be submitted via Week tab Assignment link by 11:55pm on the date shown)

Saturday, September 5: deadline for 2-page paper

September 8: deadline for adding classes

September 9: deadline for dropping classes

October 14: hand in thesis statement for 6-page paper

Friday October 23: deadline for 6-page (1800 word) paper

Nov. 18: hand in thesis statement and bibliography for term paper

Nov. 25: no class because of Thanksgiving break

Friday, Dec. 11: Deadline for 12-page (3600 word) paper; 20 pages (6000 words) for capstone and grad students in CHTR 5020