Sex, Ghosts, and Cannibalism: The Chinese Short Story FYS
CEAS 156F
Fall 2023
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
WLIT 228F |
This course takes the passionate, the strange, and the peculiar--sex, ghosts, and cannibalism--as a lens through which to explore big issues in the history of Chinese literature and culture.
Focusing on short stories from the 7th to 21st centuries, we ask what fiction can tell us about the real concerns that shaped the lives of Chinese writers. How do literary depictions of sex and desire relate to social issues surrounding gender, power, and family? What do supernatural characters--hungry ghosts, lofty gods, unruly demons, seductive snakes, and fox spirits--reveal about the human world and belief systems used to make sense of unusual occurrences? What do motifs of cannibalism and related themes linked to bodies, consumption, hunger, and food tell us about the social and political changes China witnessed on its path toward becoming a modern nation-state?
As a First Year Seminar, this course is writing-intensive and is meant to equip you with the writing, reading, research, and presentation skills needed at Wesleyan. You will have numerous opportunities to write and revise your work, share your insights during class discussion, and practice the core skills of effective reading and interpretation.
All texts will be taught in English translation. No prior knowledge of China or Chinese language is required. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA CEAS |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-Lit&Cult) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYS |
| Instructor(s): Bernard,Allison Times: ...W... 09:20AM-12:10PM; Location: FEAS SEM; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 5 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 15 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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