China’s Lang, Media, Pop Culture in Global Context

Catalog description

Since the launch of a sweeping liberalization policy in 1978, Chinese society has experienced numerous dramatic changes, many of which can be perceived in mass media and popular culture. In this course, we will explore the following questions: What is contemporary Chinese popular culture? How does popular culture relate to media, the state, social change, public spaces, individual freedom, national identity, gender and sexuality, and globalization in Chinese society? And how does contemporary Chinese popular culture influence people’s everyday lives? Adopting a unique language perspective, the course offers opportunity to look at how language is functioned in all the processes. Students will learn and apply various approaches to analyzing language use in media and understanding popular culture in comparative perspective, using a variety of authentic materials drawn from everyday life in Chinese society. Students will become familiar with various aspects of language, media, and popular culture through required readings, viewings, lectures, group discussions and writing activities. No prerequisite knowledge of Chinese language or Chinese popular culture is required.