KSCB172 Chinese Popular Culture of the 20th and 21st Centuries

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Blahota, Ph. D (lecturer), Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Thursday 12:00–15:40 L42, except Thu 16. 11. ; and Thu 7. 12. 12:00–15:40 L42
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KSCA001 Introduction to Chin. Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course focuses on the "popular culture" of Chinese communities in the PRC, Hong Kong and Taiwan from the early 20th century to the present. The course explores everything from literature, film, theater, and popular music to internet culture. The aim is to demonstrate how the circulation of global media forms has contributed to China's modernization and the Chinese contribution to global popular culture.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
- Identify and explain the basic features of popular culture in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
- Compare leading authors of popular literature, film and music in the Chinese context
- Interpret passages from relevant primary sources in the context of modern East Asian history
- Orally present the significance of a selected media form for China's modernization
Syllabus
  • 1. Socio-historical background of popular culture in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
  • 2. Chinese Film of the 1930s and Ruan Lingyu
  • 3. Literature of Mandarin ducks and butterflies
  • 4. Chinese Opera and Mei Lanfang
  • 5. Nostalgia for 1930s Shanghai Modernism in Post-Socialist China
  • 6. Yellow Music: Li Minghui and Nie Er
  • 7. Wartime Popular Culture: Zhang Ailing vs Yan'an
  • 8. Colonial pop culture in Manchukuo: Mei Niang and Li Xianglan
  • 9. The Cult of Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution
  • 10. Taiwanese Stars vs. Protest Song Singers: Teresa Teng, A-Mei, Cui Jian
  • 11. Hong Kong kung fu films from Bruce Lee to Jacky Chen
  • 12. Internet culture, censorship and the Wuhan Diary
  • Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Teaching methods
Lectures and coursework.
Assessment methods
Compulsory attendance without the possibility of unexcused absence (lessons 1 time every 2 weeks).
For each lesson, the student will read an assigned text (film) and write a half-page essay on what s/he found interesting (altogether 5 times per semester).
Each student will prepare and present a presentation on the selected topic at the last class on December 14.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2023/KSCB172