Asian New Waves in World Cinema

Catalog description

An exploration of major filmmakers, themes, and movements in post-war Asian cinema. While recognizing the significance of popular genres and commercial production, this course focuses on the dynamic emergence of Asian art films in the context of world cinema. Through film viewing, class discussion, and essay writing, students explore themes such as family, womanhood, youth, exile, violence, and memory, examining both the distinctive “Asianness” of the films and their resonances with other works of world cinema. Students learn to analyze cinematic language and styles, while taking into consideration filmmakers' responses to cultural traditions, political and socio-economic changes, and technological shifts.