Type of Credit: Partially Required
Credit(s)
We critically examine Western (mostly Western European and American) images of China and Taiwan. The course covers a range of images and time periods, from the ancient world to contemporary Western images in Europe and the United States. We will look at texts, visual images, and film versions.
能力項目說明
The approach taken in the course presumes that Western images of China/Taiwan are self-referential, that analysis of these stereotypes might tell us something about Western observers and commentators. Our focus is on trying to understand how images have changed over time, while attempting to understand both the how and why stereotypes and distortions occur.
Course outline: subject to change. It is important that you read the assigned course reading before class.
|
Week |
Theme of the Week |
Course Content |
Course readings |
|
February 28 |
228 Memorial Day (Holiday) |
|
|
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March 7 |
Introduction to the Course; Early Images of China (before 1600) |
PPT, class discussion |
Colin Mackerras, Western Images of China [abbreviated Western Images hereafter], chapters 1 & 2 |
|
March 14 |
Jesuits, Philosophes, and Chinoiserie |
PPT, class discussion |
François Quesnay, “Le despotisme de la Chine” (1767) & Oliver Goldsmith, “Citizen of the World” (1760-61) excerpts |
|
March 21 |
Changing Fashions: Nineteenth-Century Images of China |
PPT, class discussion |
Macartney's “Observations on China” (1794) & Rev. Arthur Smith, “Chinese Characteristics” (1894) excerpts |
|
March 28 |
Early Images of Taiwan |
PPT, class discussion |
George Psalmanazar, “An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa” (1704) excerpts; contemporary maps of Formosa |
|
April 4 |
Holiday |
|
|
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April 11 |
Early Republican China |
PPT, class discussion |
Readings to be announced |
|
April 18 |
China and Civil War |
PPT, class discussion |
Edgar Snow, “Red Star over China” (1937) excerpts |
|
April 25 |
Midterm Examination |
|
|
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May 2 |
China and World War II |
PPT, class discussion |
Time and Life magazine excerpts |
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May 9 |
Images of China, Post-1949 |
PPT, class discussion |
Western Images, chapter 6 |
|
May 16 |
Images and the Cultural Revolution, The “Intellectuals” and China |
PPT, class discussion |
Jann Myrdal, “China: The Revolution Continued,” (1970), Lorenz Stucki, “Behind the Great Wall: An Appraisal of Mao's China,” (1965), Felix Greene, “Awakened China: The Country Americans Don't Know,” (1961), Shirley MacLaine, “You Can Get There from Here,” (1975) |
|
May 23 |
Cold War Images of Taiwan |
PPT, class discussion |
Time and Life magazine excerpts |
|
May 30 |
The PRC’s Diplomatic Opening: 1970s |
PPT, class discussion |
Magazine and newspaper excerpts; visual images |
|
June 6 |
The PRC’s Economic Opening: 1978 - |
PPT, class discussion |
Time and Life magazine excerpts |
|
June 13 |
Taiwan’s Modernization, Derecognition, and Democratization |
PPT, class discussion |
Magazine and newspaper excerpts (including National Geographic); visual images |
|
June 20 |
Conflicting Images: Tiananmen, World Trade Organization, Beijing 2008; Images of Contemporary China |
PPT, class discussion |
Magazine and newspaper excerpts; visual images |
|
June 27 |
Final Examination |
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Assignments and grading criteria:
Participation and attendance: 10% (‘perfect’ attendance policy – 0 or 1 absence, regardless of cause)
Mid-term: 30%
Essay and/or class projects: 30%
Final: 30%
See syllabus