MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

CLS2160

Chinese literature and modernity

Gloria Davies

Synopsis This subject introduces students to twentieth-century Chinese literature and its social, political and intellectual contexts. It focuses on the issue of modernity by examining Chinese and Western cultural expectations and aesthetic values for the ways in which they condition our understanding of the `ethnic' experience. A range of literary texts in translation, mainly prose fiction dating from the 1910s to the present time, will be discussed. The approach taken is one informed by theoretical writings on third world literatures, Orientalism and postcoloniality.

Assessment Tutorial paper (1500 words): 20% + Short essay (1500 words): 30% + Long essay (3000 words): 50%

Prescribed texts

• Ba Jin Family Anchor Books, 1972
• Barme G and Jaivin L (eds) New ghosts, old dreams: Chinese rebel voices Times Books, 1992
• Hung E (ed.) Contemporary women writers in Hong Kong and Taiwan Renditions, 1990
• Jenner W J F (ed.)Modern Chinese stories OUP, 1970
• Li Ang The butcher's wife Point Press, 1986
• Lu Xun Selected stories Foreign Languages Press, 1964

Recommended texts

• Bhabha H (ed.)Nation and narration Routledge, 1991
• Chow R Woman and Chinese modernity: The politics of reading between East and West U Minnesota P, 1990
• Lau J Hsia C T and Lee L O (eds) Modern Chinese stories and novellas 1919-1949 Columbia U P, 1985
• Lee M and Syrokomla-Stefanowska A D (eds) Modernization of the Chinese past Wild Peony Press, 1993
• Spence J The gate of heavenly peace: The Chinese and their revolution, 1895-1980 Penguin, 1982
• Spivak G The post-colonial critic: Interviews, strategies, dialogues (edited by Sarah Harasym) Routledge, 1990