KOREAN 305 : Korea through TV Drama and Film

Arts

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines some of the cultural, social and political issues of contemporary South Korea through a selection of popular TV dramas and films.

Course Overview

With the critical and commercial success of Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019) and Squid Game (2021), global audiences have renewed their interest in Korean popular culture. However, these recent hits are part of a broader history of Korean media's engagement with overseas audiences, which began in the 1990s with the transnational spread of Korean films, television dramas, and pop music. This course investigates how a national history and culture advances into the globalised mediascape, using Korean cinema and TV dramas as a case study. Each week, students will engage with exemplary Korean films and dramas, examining them through historical, socio-economic, political, and cultural lenses. Through this interdisciplinary approach, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that shape contemporary media landscapes, the negotiation of local and global identities, and the impact of globalisation on cultural production.

No knowledge of the Korean language is required.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Asian Studies, Chinese, Japanese or Korean or Media and Screen Studies Restriction: ASIAN 202, KOREAN 205

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the meaning and contexts surrounding the globalisation of Korean popular culture (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  2. Critically analyse a range of Korean media texts in relation to their sociopolitical and cultural conditions (Capability 4 and 6)
  3. Develop and demonstrate the ability to locate, read, verify, and interpret diverse academic and non-academic sources in the fields of Korean Studies and Cultural Studies (Capability 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Identify and articulate a range of implications of the globalisation of contemporary Korean culture (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  5. Communicate and explain effectively concepts, analytic observations, and critical insights in both spoken and written academic style (Capability 4 and 6)
  6. Develop and demonstrate cultural sensitivity when engaging with diverse societies, peoples, and cultures (Capability 3, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 50% Individual Coursework
Mid-semester Test 20% Individual Test
In-class assessments 30% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week on each 15-point course that they are enrolled in, including class time, personal study, and completing assignments. There will be a two-hour lecture class and a one-hour tutorial class each week. Students are expected to prepare for class by reading and watching assigned materials and preparing assignments in their own time. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at all scheduled activities, including tutorials, to receive credit for in-class exercises. While lectures will be recorded and made available for review, tutorials involve interactive learning activities and discussions that will not be recorded or available for remote access.

On-campus attendance is required for certain assessments, including the in-class closed-book test, which will take place as part of the standard weekly timetable.

Please note that this course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside of New Zealand. All activities, assessments, and tutorials require in-person participation to successfully complete the course.

Learning 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.

All readings and required viewing materials will be accessible through Canvas.

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.

The assessment structure has been streamlined, reflecting feedback of students from previous years.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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 24/10/2024 08:08 a.m.