Contemporary History, Literature and Art of China 1 3600-8-SI1-WHLSC1

The course aims to familiarize students with key issues concerning history, literature, and art of contemporary China. Students will gain an understanding of the interconnections between phenomena traditionally studied within three distinct disciplines. Classes will be conducted in a lecture format incorporating seminar-style discussions. Material presented by the lecturers will serve as a starting point for reflection and discussion regarding historical facts and sources, works of art, and literary texts. The course will help students specify their research interests, which can be further developed in subsequent stages of their studies.

The section of the course devoted to literature will start with examining the major transformations in Chinese culture at the turn of the 20th century, driven largely by the encounter with Western military, economic and cultural power. Discussion will then turn to the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement, covering key developments in poetry, prose, and theater as well as the figures associated with them. Mao Zedong’s Talks at the Yan'an Forum will serve as the starting point for discussion on Maoist literature. Students will learn about the drastic changes in cultural and literary life following the founding of the People's Republic of China. Special attention will be paid to the Cultural Revolution, including the drama reform endorsed by Jiang Qing. Significant focus will also be placed on literary trends following Mao Zedong’s death and the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy. Participants will explore early literary attempts to come to terms with the Maoist past (such as shanghen wenxue), menglong shi, and the new wave—encompassing both avant-garde writing and root-seeking literature. Subsequent classes will cover the evolution of Chinese literature in the 1990s, including the works of Wang Shuo and the meinü zuojia as well as the later careers of avant-garde authors. Literary production of Chinese Nobel laureates will also be presented. Finally, the course will address the latest trends in contemporary literature, such as internet literature and writings of authors born in the 1980s and 1990s. Key developments in contemporary Taiwanese literature will be discussed separately.