Syllabus for Roster(s):

Course Description (for SIS)

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.

Course Goals and Evaluation

Goals

Recognize the issues raised by reality and its artistic representation in China
Confidently and competently describe, analyze, and interpret works of Chinese literature and film in translation
Facility in methods of scholarship on China and writing in the humanities
Recognize and analyze works of art (learning how different disciplines approach problems, how each fits together in the field of knowledge, and how literature connects with everyday life)
Recognize cultural and historical differences that must be negotiated to understand Chinese literature (learning more about your own culture and yourself by understanding what is required to cross the gulfs--and bridges--between cultures and across history)
Think and write critically about literature

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. 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 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 secondary sources.

Resources and Tools

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).

Million Heroes Crossing the Yangtze (1949)

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

Schedule and Dates

Schedule

For week to week assignments, activities, and extracurricular events of interest, see the Schedule area of the Collab site.

Dates and Deadlines

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

January 24: deadline for 2-page paper

Jan 27: deadline for adding classes

Jan 28: deadline for dropping classes

Friday, Mar. 7: deadline for 6-page (1800 word) paper

Saturday, Mar. 8 - Sunday, Mar. 16: spring recess

Friday, May 2: Deadline for 12-page (3600 word) paper; 20 pages (6000 words) for capstone and grad students in CHTR 5020

Course Policies

Attendance and participation:

Attendance is important, both to optimize your writing and to ensure you can perform well on the exams. You will also be graded partly on your engagement in class and group discussions. In adherence to Department of East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures policy, no more than two unexcused absences will be tolerated.

Writing policy:

In addition to the guidelines set forth in the grading rubric and style sheet, written assignments must be free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Academic Integrity:

Cheating and plagiarism on examinations and writing assignments are not tolerated by the university. It is of the utmost importance that you understand the definitions of cheating and plagiarism as set forth by the university, so that you do not inadvertently commit them.

Deadlines:

Deadlines for writing assignments are usually at 11:59 pm of the deadline date. Written assignments should always be submitted to the Drop Box on the Collab site before that time. Assignments received after the deadline will result in your course grade being reduced by one percentage point each 24-hour period.