CHINESE 724 : Chinese Film and Popular Culture

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Chinese feature films and other popular cultural phenomena (e.g., music, television, fashion, the internet) provide a medium for understanding a society undergoing rapid change. The emphasis is on contemporary developments, including youth cultures and Beijing from the 1960s to the present day. No knowledge of Chinese language required.

Course Overview

We start with two films from the 1930s to examine progressive ideas and social change before 1949. Everyday life is the next focus, including in the Cultural Revolution decade (1966-1976). Topics include clothing and collective memories of the era reflected in film. The second half of the course examines social change in the reform era (post-1978), with a particular emphasis on changes in Beijing.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop an understanding of social and cultural change in contemporary China through engaging with films from the 1930s to the 1990s and with selected topics in social history up to the present day. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)
  2. Evaluate the role and impacts of films and other modern media in Chinese society and how these may differ from the experiences of other societies or nations. (Capability 2.1 and 2.2)
  3. Develop skills in communicating an understanding of change in Chinese society over this period through written work and oral presentations and discussion. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research Bibliography 30% Individual Coursework
Classroom Presentation 20% Individual Coursework
Essay 50% Individual Coursework

Next offered

First Semester 2020 if a sufficient number of students (around five) are interested in enrolling.

Learning Resources

Readings will be available on Canvas or in photocopies.  Copies of films will be made available to students.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week on each 30 point course that they are enrolled in, including class time and personal study and assignment preparation

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 19/12/2019 12:05 p.m.