CHI3440 - Understanding contemporary China

Leader(s): Gloria Davies

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will extend on the work completed in "Understanding Modern China" by introducing students to further aspects of the Chinese language as it is used in academic writing within the Chinese humanities. It will cover a range of key topics in the disciplines of literature, politics, history and cultural studies, as these are discussed and written about in English and Chinese. It will also examine and compare Chinese and Western styles of academic writing and research methods. Questions of translation, both linguistic and cultural, will be central to this unit.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be expected to have acquired:

1. A basic understanding of issues and themes in contemporary Chinese critical inquiry with reference to intellectual debates on: inter-cultural dialogue; the public sphere; socialist principles vs. globalisation; new theoretical developments in the Chinese humanities and social sciences;
2. Library and web-based research skills relevant to modern Chinese studies;
3. Translation skills (in accordance with the Chinese language ability of individual students) and an understanding of aspects of translation theory relevant to modern Chinese studies;
4. A good knowledge of the socio-political context of contemporary Chinese critical inquiry;
5. Skills of analysis and interpretation in the study of China through exposure to the textual sources used in this unit.

Assessment

Written work and translation project: 67%
Oral presentation and written summary (750 words): 16%; Film review (750 words): 17%

Contact hours

3 hours (1 hour lecture; 2 hour seminar)

Prerequisites

Chinese 2 or equivalent.

Prohibitions

CHI2440/4440/4449