Introductory Topics in Chinese Literature and Culture (200-0-20)
Topic
A History of Love: Chinese Romance in Time
Instructors
Paola Zamperini
847/467-4593
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall, Office 4-431
Office Hours: Varies quarter to quarter, please check with instructor.
Meeting Info
Online: Mon, Wed 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Overview of class
Summer26 - This course focuses on the world of romance in premodern and modern Chinese culture, with a special attention to plays, theatrical texts, performance, and cinema. Our aim shall be to engage the main discourses circulating about the experience of passion, love, and lust in narratives from the eighth century CE dynasty up until the 21st century (in their English translation). What are the meanings attached to love by the changing authors and audiences in this span of time? What relationships existed between love and sex and how did they evolve through time and media? And what about marriage? Did gender and sexual identity matter in questions of the heart, and if so, how?
Taking a genealogical approach to the exploration of the tales of love in various genres and media, we will in turn address issues such as the place of romance, sentiment, and sentimentality in Chinese literature; the changing roles played by religion, societal and economic pressures; the relevance of gender in terms of authorship and readership; as well as by femininity, masculinity, sexuality and their discontents across various dynastic and historical changes and shifts, among other things. In addition to the primary sources, representative theoretical work in the field of Chinese literature will be incorporated as much as possible. Previous knowledge of Chinese literature, though helpful, is not required.
Learning Objectives
-Acquisition of knowledge about romance narratives in Chinese literary sources written between the eighth century CE until the 21st century. This will entail exposure to primary sources (in English, and for those students able to, in Chinese) produced by Chinese authors of the time, as well as to related secondary sources.
-Familiarization with the literary and performative conventions of pre-modern and modern Chinese drama and film.
-Development of methodological skills in studying, reading, and analyzing the primary and secondary sources related to the themes of the course.
-Growth as independent researchers in the field of Chinese literature, Asian humanities, and gender and sexuality studies.
-Growth as independent academic thinkers and writers in the above areas and disciplines.
Teaching Method
The course is open to students interested in the history of premodern and modern Chinese literature, and gender and sexuality studies. No familiarity with China and Chinese literature, though helpful, is required.
No pre-requisite necessary, though previous exposure to pre-modern and modern and contemporary Chinese literature and culture may be helpful. Please note that in our in-class discussions and for all written assignments for the course, we will default to the English translations of the sources we will focus on, but anyone who can read the original versions- be they in Classical Chinese or early modern vernacular-is welcome to do so.
Class Materials (Required)
All course materials will be available on Canvas.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Synchronous:Class meets remotely at scheduled time