BA Film Studies and Arabic

This course examines various aspects of contemporary cinema from China and East Asia, with consideration also given to overseas communities. Thematically structured, the module addresses four main concerns:

(1) the influence of aesthetic traditions on contemporary cinematic production;
(2) the role(s) filmmakers play in reflecting upon national/transnational socio-political issues;
(3) the phenomenon of global new-wave cinema and its legacy; and
(4) the increasing impact urbanization has had on the socio-politico-artistic life-worlds across the continent. The audiovisuality of course materials is stressed and extended periods of time will be devoted to considering specific filmmakers and their representative works. The ultimate aim is to provide students a broad introduction to the lively artistic communities in China and East Asia and to critically consider how these communities present themselves and explore what it means to be a contemporary Chinese or East Asian filmmaker in a globalized world.

This course aims to:

• familiarise students with crucial texts in contemporary Chinese and East Asian cinema from the early 1980s to today;
• cultivate students’ skills of close reading and audiovisual analysis;
• develop students’ ability to analyse texts of Chinese and East Asian cinema through English translation in conjunction with knowledge about the historical contexts in which they were produced; and
• develop students’ critical skills in reading, thinking, writing, and presenting.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• better understand the complex habitus many contemporary Chinese and East Asian filmmakers find themselves in and to appreciate how they socially manoeuvre within and against these confines;
• demonstrate an ability to critically engage with the themes discussed in the module; and
• be more aware of the interconnectedness of art and culture and the position(s) they hold in contemporary societies.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• think critically and engage in well-informed discussions;
• critically engage with a variety of secondary literature from across different disciplines;
• construct coherent, persuasive, and well-supported arguments in writing; and
• process and understand complicated concepts in the field of Chinese and East Asian contemporary cinema.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• prepare audio-visual presentations;
• manage time and work to deadlines;
• apply critical reading skills;
• assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others; and
• present information, ideas and arguments, orally and in writing, with due regard to the target audience; and
• demonstrate skills of analysis

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• prepare audio-visual presentations;
• express themselves with confidence;
• manage time and work to deadlines;
• apply critical reading skills;
• assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others;
• present information, ideas and arguments, orally and in writing, with due regard to the target audience; and
• demonstrate skills of analysis 

Attendance and Participation - 20%

Seminar Presentation - 20%

Final Essay - 60%

All assigned books, book chapters, and journal articles will be available through Blackboard and the library portal.