Evelyn Shih's first book project, Cold War Laugh Lines: Comic Communication in Authoritarian Taiwan and South Korea, compares the intermedia phenomenon of comic culture in two US-allied countries in Asia during the Cold War. She writes about various media, from comic strips and mass periodicals to film and literature, as a part of a comic sensorium and an emerging mode of mass communication in the mid-20th century. She is also working on a project on the topolect cinema of Taiwan, the Taiyupian; and another project on colonial travelers of Taiwan and Korea, who capture their experience within and without of Japanese empire on the Chinese continent.
CHIN 1051 - Masterpieces of Chinese Literature in Translation
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Surveys Chinese thought and culture through close reading and discussion of selected masterworks of Chinese literature in translation. Texts include significant works of poetry, fiction, and drama, as well as philosophical and historical writings from various eras. Taught in English.
CHIN 2441 - Film and the Dynamics of Chinese Culture
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021
Through studying a group of Chinese films in light of modern Chinese history and literature, students examine a series of cultural dilemmas and issues in 20th century China and develop skills in analyzing literary and filmic texts. Taught in English.
CHIN 3200 - Adv Wrtg Topics on Chinese & Japanese Literature and Civilization
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022
Provides an introduction to the academic study of Chinese and Japanese literature and culture with a focus on writing skills in English through a survey of standard academic writing conventions. Review and assessment of selected textual materials, class presentation, critique, and revision. Recommended for majors. Taught in English. Same as JPNS 3200.
CHIN 3341 - Literature and Popular Culture in Modern China
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Surveys 20th century Chinese literature and popular culture against the historical background of rebellion, revolution and reform. Emphasizes close and critical reading skills and an understanding of how aesthetic texts reflect and critically engage with historical and cultural experiences. Assignments include novels, essays, short stories, poems, plays, songs, films and scholarly articles. Taught in English. Recommended prerequisite: CHIN 1012 or CHIN 1051. Same as HUMN 3341.
CHIN 3342 - Sinophone Literature in the Contemporary World
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
A survey of Chinese literature with a focus on exiled, diaspora, colonial, and semi-colonial writers. Students will be asked to discern how Chinese literature has made an intervention in world literature and how it has engaged with the world. Emphasizes close and critical reading skills and an understanding of how aesthetic texts critically engage within historical and cultural experiences. Assignments include novels, essays, short stories, poems, plays, songs, films, and scholarly articles. Taught in English. Recommended prerequisite: CHIN 1012 or CHIN 1051.
CHIN 3343 - Chinese Science Fiction
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023
This is a survey course on Chinese science fiction in literature, comics, and film. 21st century Chinese sci-fi has recently gained prominence in world literature, and this course will introduce its genealogies going back to the 19th century. We will explore concepts such as futurism, civilizational discourse, techno-orientalism, utopian thought, dystopian critique, genre, and translation. Students will be encouraged to think in a cross-cultural context about diverse visions of the future. Recommended prerequisite: CHIN 1012.
CHIN 3371 - Topics in Chinese Film
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Offers in-depth, critical analysis of key issues in Chinese culture as represented in Chinese film. Focuses on various topics, such as specific directors, regions, representation of gender in Chinese film, historical periods, etc. Varies from year to year. Requires no knowledge of Chinese. Taught in English. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours on different topics. Recommended prerequisite: CHIN 1051 or CHIN 2441.
CHIN 3372 - Chinese Media and the Environment
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
This course works through Chinese literature and film to deal with ecological crisis and media environment from a Chinese perspective. We will ask: how do contemporary authors and filmmakers present a distinctly Chinese ecopoetics? Furthermore, how does the Chinese media ecology change the world both within and outside of China? Our methodological points of entry will include ecocriticism, environmental philosophy, animal studies, architecture and urban studies, infrastructure, sound studies, media archaeology, and spatial and information theory. Recommended prerequisite: CHIN 1012.
CHIN 5810 - Modern Literature
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Examines selected texts in various genres of Chinese literature from the May Fourth period (beginning 1917) to the establishment of the People's Republic of China (1949). Focuses on major and influential works produced in this fertile period of experimentation with Western, modernist types of literature. Texts and selections vary from year to year. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. Knowledge of Modern Chinese at the level of CHIN 4120 is required.
CHIN 5820 - Contemporary Literature
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Fall 2024
Examines selected texts in various genres of Chinese literature from 1949 (the establishment of the People's Republic of China) to the present. Focuses on major works from the very different literary worlds of Taiwan and mainland China. Texts and selections vary from year to year. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. Knowledge of Modern Chinese at the level of CHIN 4120 is required.
CHIN 5830 - History of Chinese Film
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Examines the development of narrative film in China from the early twentieth century to today, covering the major periods, styles, and themes developed in Chinese cinema. Texts and selections vary from year to year. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Knowledge of Modern Chinese at the level of CHIN 4120 is required.
CHIN 5890 - Topics in Chinese Film
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2021
Examines a specific problem or issue in Chinese film, e.g. 5th generation filmmakers, early film, genre (martial arts, melodrama, Hong Kong action, etc.), Taiwan New Cinema, Hollywood crossover. Topics vary from year to year. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Knowledge of Modern Chinese at the level of CHIN 4120 is required.
FYSM 1000 - First Year Seminar
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Provide first year students with an immersive experience in an interdisciplinary topic that addresses current issues including social, technical and global topics. Taught by faculty from across campus, the course provides students with an opportunity to interact in small classes, have project based learning experiences and gain valuable communication skills. Seminar style classes focused on discussion and projects.
JPNS 3200 - Adv Wrtg Topics on Chinese & Japanese Literature and Civilization
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022
Provides an introduction to the academic study of Chinese and Japanese literature and culture with a focus on writing skills in English through a survey of standard academic writing conventions. Review and assessment of selected textual materials, class presentation, critique, and revision. Recommended for majors. Taught in English. Same as CHIN 3200.
