ARTS, CINEMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (CHINA)

The course is included among other integrative teachings in the Chinese language curriculum of the master degree course “Languages and Civilizations of Asia and North Africa”, but is also available as an optional course for students of other master courses at Ca’ Foscari University whose curricula are not based on the study of the Chinese language. Through screenings, discussions and analyses of films and audiovisual products of different formats, the course provides the students theoretical tools and methodology to approach the diversity of the visual languages which currently circulate in the film and art scenes. Such diversity reflects the ongoing transformation of the Chinese region and its interaction with global cultural flows and creative industries.

Students are expected to
(a) achieve a clear and in-depth understanding of major social and economic dynamics related to the production and distribution of Chinese cinema within a transnational framework, with a specific focus on documentary cinema. That includes the different levels of current film production in China and Chinese-speaking territories and the role of film festivals.
(b) master key theoretical and conceptual tools employed in the course, with particular reference to the "transnational" framework.
(c) achieve the ability to understand and discuss audiovisual products with a particular focus on those products relating to contemporary issues (i.e. documentary films, cinema discussing reality, etc.)
(d) achieve the ability to evaluate from a critical point of view cultural products of different nature within the broad realm of "audiovisual outputs".

Students are requested to have a good knowledge of English Language and a solid background in the history of Chinese civilization.
Additional requirements: willingness to work in collaborative ways with fellow students.
Attendance to classes is recommended. A limited number of make up classes can be held as distance-learning or as attendance to events and/or conferences related to the topics of the course.

The course is entitled "Images telling Reality" (Focus on Wang Bing). It focuses on filmmakers and documentary filmmakers with a specific interest towards the present and/or "reality". It deals with China including PRC, HK, Taiwan and Chinese-related audiovisual products. The nexus among the different levels of film production and distribution will be explored by means of established theoretical and analytical frameworks, in particular in relation to the concept of "transnational cinema". This will also help connect films and audiovisual works dealing with localities but talking to the international scene. This year’s course focuses on director-documentarist-artist Wang Bing against the backdrop of Chinese and international documentary cinema.

Chapters from the following books:

Elena Pollacchi, Wang Bing's Filmmaking of the China Dream. Narratives, Witnesses and Marginal Spaces. Amsterdam: AUP, 2021.
Song Hwee Lim & Julian Ward (eds.), The Chinese Cinema Book, London: BFI, 2011.
Chris Berry, Lü Xinyu, Lisa Rofel (eds.), The New Chinese Documentary Film Movement: For the Public Record, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2010.

The bibliography and filmography of the course will be regularly updated on the moodle platform.
Most of the texts will be available on the moodle platform of the course.

The exam will consist on an oral exam based on a written paper previously agreed with the teacher. Students should also work on an original research that can eventually be discussed in class. This research contributes to the final overall assessment. These requirements are valid for all the students whether attending or non-attending the course in class.

The course is structured in lectures that are mainly based on the use of audiovisual materials, including films, documentary films and audiovisual products for educational purposes. Students will have to commit themselves to the reading of abundant critical materials, mainly in English. Students' papers and teamwork activities on the course's subjects are welcome. The course may also include pre-recorded and online material.

English

Ca’ Foscari applica la Legge Italiana (Legge 17/1999; Legge 170/2010) per i servizi di supporto e di accomodamento disponibili agli studenti con disabilità o con disturbi specifici dell’apprendimento. Se hai una disabilità motoria, visiva, dell’udito o altre disabilità (Legge 17/1999) o un disturbo specifico dell’apprendimento (Legge 170/2010) e richiedi supporto (assistenza in aula, ausili tecnologici per lo svolgimento di esami o esami individualizzati, materiale in formato accessibile, recupero appunti, tutorato specialistico a supporto dello studio, interpreti o altro) contatta l’ufficio Disabilità e DSA disabilita@unive.it.

written and oral