| CODE | CHN2017 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Contemporary Chinese Literature | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will introduce students to the popular trends, subject matter, authors, and best-selling (English) translations of Chinese literature since the turn of the century. This unit proceeds by reading, discussing, and analyzing one piece of fiction (e.g. short stories, novellas, and novels) each week. Readings will be conducted in English, but discussions will include topics related to the translation of Chinese literature into other languages, such as Italian, French, Swedish, etc. Study-unit Aims: - Acquaint students with popular Chinese authors and the translators who bring their works into English; - Present the context of each work, namely its social, political, and ideological background; - Build upon students’ knowledge of Chinese popular culture along with its reception and perception when encountered via the translation process. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify and discuss China’s important social issues over the last two to three decades; - Explain the changing context of Chinese literary production and its dissemination outside of Chinese-language spheres. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically read literature written in a Chinese context and discuss the implications of it being translated into English and other languages; - Recognize and explain the dynamism of Chinese literature and its subsequent impact within world literature. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Feng Jicai, tr. Olivia Milburn. Faces in the Crowd: 36 Extraordinary Tales of Tianjin. Sinoist Books, 2020. - Han Han, tr. Allan H. Barr. This Generation: Dispatches from China’s Most Popular Literary Star (and Race Car Driver). Simon Schuster, 2012. - Jia Pingwa, tr. Howard Goldblatt. Ruined City. University of Oklahoma Press, 2016. - iang Rong, tr. Howard Goldblatt. Wolf Totem. Penguin Press, 2009. - Liu Cixin, tr. Ken Liu. The Three-Body Problem. Tor Books, 2014. - Mo Yan, tr. Howard Goldblatt, Sandalwood Death. University of Oklahoma Press, 2012. Supplementary texts: - Jie Lu, ed. China's Literary and Cultural Scenes at the Turn of the 21st Century. Taylor and Francis, 2013. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Nan Hu |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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