ASIA 225

Film adaptations, as a popular cross-media practice, offer a valuable lens for exploring conversations about knowledge production across historical, cultural, and national boundaries, the sociopolitical and economic systems and institutions shaping it, and the power dynamic involved. This course examines case studies of film adaptations based on Chinese literature and beyond. Many of these literary texts and films were created by Chinese authors and directors and intended for Chinese readers and audiences. Other--such as films by the internationally renowned directors like Ang Lee, Hou Hsiao-Hsian, and Zhang Yimou, the Japanese film Princess Yang Kwei-fei (1955), or the American films like Mulan (1998) and Shang-Chi (2019)--were designed to appeal to cross-cultural audiences. Through readings, discussions, written assignments, and group projects, students will critically reflect on such issues as cultural exchange within the context of Western-dominated capitalism and globalization, cultural authenticity and appropriation, gender construction, politics of popular culture, the commercialization of religion, and the representation of Chinese American culture in the U.S.

Offered frequently.

CO24 - ARTHUM (Artistic and Humanistic), CO24 - KN (Knowledge, Identity, and Power), CORE - HM (Humanistic Approaches), CORE - KN (Knowledge, Identity, and Power), INTD - ALC (Asian Langs and Cultures ALC), INTD - ASIA (Asian Studies ASIA), INTD - HUM-VSCLTR (Intd Humanities-Visual IHE)