CULTURAL STUDIES OF EAST ASIA (CHINA)

This course is part of the "Languages and Civilisations of Asia and North Africa" degree programme (Curriculum: China).
This course fulfils the educational goals of the above-mentioned degree programme, for the part which concerns the Humanities area.
The goal of this course isto teach students not only how to view East Asian societies from an interdisciplinary, cultural studies perspective, but also how to begin to apply the techniques and approaches of cultural studies to the analysis of culture in general.

Students will learn not only to view East Asian societies from an interdisciplinary, cultural studies perspective, but also to begin to apply the techniques and approaches of cultural studies to the analysis of culture in general.

Basic knowledge of Chinese culture (literature, history, art, philosophy, and religion), at B.A. level (for Chinese majors), is recommended, but not mandatory.
Knowledge of English language is mandatory.
Knowledge of Chinese language is recommended, but not mandatory.

This course will provide a general introduction to Cultural Studies, with a focus on Chine culture and society. The application of the radically interdisciplinary cultural studies approach to an analysis of East Asian societies challenges much of the conventional wisdom concerning these societies. In fact, it leads to a deconstructive process which questions the very concept of "Asian" culture in light of contemporary technology and cross-cultural influences.

Barker, Chris; Jane, Emma A. (2016). Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice (5th ed.). Los Angeles CA: Sage. ISBN-13: 978-1473919457 ISBN-10: 1473919452
Ceresa, Marco (2017) Shanghaied into the future: the Asianization of the future Metropolis in post-Blade Runner cinema, Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 41:2, 129-144, DOI: 10.3846/20297955.2017.1327951 (scaricabile da http://hdl.handle.net/10278/3688688 )
During, Simon (2007). The Cultural Studies Reader (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN-13: 978-0415374132 ISBN-10: 0415374138
Tao, Dongfeng; He, Lei; He, Yugao (2017). Cultural Studies in Modern China. Singapore: Springer Singapore. ISBN 978-981-10-5580-5 ISBN 978-981-10-5579-9

Attending students: An oral presentation and discussion of a subject to be agreed upon with with the teacher by April 15th, 2021. The presentation, which can be made either individually or in groups (maximum 3 persons), is limited to 15 minutes for individual presentations or 30 minutes for groups, will be made in Italian or English in front of the class before the end of the course.
Non-attending students: A final written examination in Italian or English on a topic to be assigned by the instructor on the day of the exam. Knowledge texts cited in the bibliography will be required, in addition to knowledge of the content of the class lectures.

Lecture-style lessons, which will also include PPT and video presentations.
Further material will be made available on the Moodle platform.

English

The present syllabus will be valid until February 2021.

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