Chinese Paper Critical

Course goal: This course surveys Chinese-language documentary practices in mainland China and Taiwan since late 1980s. Weekly topics ranging from unofficial history, social engagement and folk memory to domestic ethnography and minority culture keep track of the practice of Chinese-language documentaries from its earlier stage to its latest development, questioning the developing connotation of “newness” in contemporary Chinese-language documentary films. Situated in documentary studies and East Asian studies, the course approaches documentaries at both textual and contextual levels and explores the intricate relationship among aesthetics, politics and ethics. This course is open to students interested in Chinese studies and film studies. All films carry English subtitles, and no knowledge of Chinese is required, but good writing skills are expected commentary essay/Prompt: The purpose of this assignment is to cultivate the habits of critical reading by making arguments and providing evidence. Please identify an argument from the required reading “Female First Person Documentary Practice” by Kiki Tianqi Yu with direct quotations and page numbers and discuss it in relation to Tang’s film. You’re expected to focus on the details of the film (cinematic language, elements of a documentary, camera work, shots, voice over, background music and etc.) when you discuss the article in relation to the film.