TRANSLATING KUNQU

Catalog description

This course develops skills in translation between English and Chinese in the context of theatre and film. Is performance translatable? How can a translator of subtitles deal with complex cultural references while maintaining brevity and without the luxury of footnotes? Should a translation be loyal to the playwright or to the performer? Can it anticipate audience interpretations and should it guide them? Students compare translations of key works, develop translations for performances within the local community and consider the role of the translator as a mediator of meaning within a complex system of cultural production. 001802