This course will explore the ways in which the city and urban life have been represented in modern Chinese literature and film. The critical issues include how metropolis and urban life are imagined; how space, time, and gender are reconfigured; and the nature of the city/country problematic. We will examine the literary and visual representations of modern cities through close analyses of the novella, short stories, films, photographs, and paintings that illuminate Chinese urbanism. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural manifestations of such Chinese metropolises as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei. All readings will be in English. Five to six films by major directors will be scheduled. |