Chinese Culture I
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the tools needed to understand 20th-century China, analysing its institutions and the historical, political and cultural developments, from the fall of the Chinese Empire to the 21st century. Initially, lectures will focus on the concept of revolution, on the relationship between State and Party, and on national identity. Then, the course will move on to explore some of the crucial issues of the reform process and the many manifestations of Chinese modernity, including the key words of Chinese politics, the goals of China's development, and the mechanisms governing the relationships between institutions and society. Reflections on these topics will focus on the correlations between ideology and cultural production, also exploring different languages.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be equipped to understand the major historical, political and cultural issues of republican China - from the beginning of the modern era to its repercussions on today's society - and to identify phenomena that played a significant role in shaping the Chinese identity. By reading translated primary sources belonging to different genres, students will come to understand how China's various social and political stages impacted on its cultural production, an understanding that will enable them to critically discuss the interrelations of power, culture and identity.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course consists of 30 lectures (60 hours) over one semester taught by the course professor ("the instructor"), organized around six different historical-political and cultural stages described as follows:
1. The first stage starts with the outbreak of the first Opium War and concludes with the end of the Nineteenth century, which witnesses the first attempts to reform the institutional structure of the Empire.
2. The second stage follows the main trajectory of the search for modernity, by approaching the fall of the Empire, the birth of the Republic of China, and the "New Culture Movement" at the beginning of the Twentieth century.
3. The third stage encompasses the "May Fourth May Movement", the construction of the Chinese Communist Party and its consolidation and interactions with the Nationalist Party, as well as the civil and international wartime scenes, up to the foundation of the People's Republic of China.
4. The fourth stage is devoted to the exploration of the developments in the national institutional set-up, ideological infrastructure, and Maoist propaganda system. Intellectual and aesthetic production from 1949 until the end of the Cultural Revolution will be addressed as well.
5. The fifth stage focuses on the political, intellectual, and cultural outcomes of the revolutionary period, from the beginning of the New Era to the post-New Era "Rupture" Movement, passing through the "Cultural fever". We will also investigate the politics of the Second and Third Generations of Chinese Communist Party leadership.
6. The last stage takes into consideration the other leaderships, the political and social challenges, as well as the cultural trends of the new millennium. At this juncture, the role of the media in China and their most current forms will be objects of discussion.
In addition to these lectures, conferences and seminars will be timely scheduled. Students are strongly advised to attend them.
1. The first stage starts with the outbreak of the first Opium War and concludes with the end of the Nineteenth century, which witnesses the first attempts to reform the institutional structure of the Empire.
2. The second stage follows the main trajectory of the search for modernity, by approaching the fall of the Empire, the birth of the Republic of China, and the "New Culture Movement" at the beginning of the Twentieth century.
3. The third stage encompasses the "May Fourth May Movement", the construction of the Chinese Communist Party and its consolidation and interactions with the Nationalist Party, as well as the civil and international wartime scenes, up to the foundation of the People's Republic of China.
4. The fourth stage is devoted to the exploration of the developments in the national institutional set-up, ideological infrastructure, and Maoist propaganda system. Intellectual and aesthetic production from 1949 until the end of the Cultural Revolution will be addressed as well.
5. The fifth stage focuses on the political, intellectual, and cultural outcomes of the revolutionary period, from the beginning of the New Era to the post-New Era "Rupture" Movement, passing through the "Cultural fever". We will also investigate the politics of the Second and Third Generations of Chinese Communist Party leadership.
6. The last stage takes into consideration the other leaderships, the political and social challenges, as well as the cultural trends of the new millennium. At this juncture, the role of the media in China and their most current forms will be objects of discussion.
In addition to these lectures, conferences and seminars will be timely scheduled. Students are strongly advised to attend them.
Prerequisites for admission
Candidates must have passed the exam in Chinese Language I and Mediation.
Teaching methods
Lectures will be both frontal and interactive, with student presentations and class discussions on specific topics.
In addition, multimedia materials will be carefully selected and presented to deepen understanding of the topics covered. Seminars and conferences with prominent figures in the Chinese cultural world will also be organized.
Participation in activities and events is considered an integral part of the study program. News and updates on events, classes and materials will be available on the ARIEL platform.
In addition, multimedia materials will be carefully selected and presented to deepen understanding of the topics covered. Seminars and conferences with prominent figures in the Chinese cultural world will also be organized.
Participation in activities and events is considered an integral part of the study program. News and updates on events, classes and materials will be available on the ARIEL platform.
Teaching Resources
For Italian students (and students who obtained their high school diploma in Italy) who attend classes:
1) Alessandra C. Lavagnino, Bettina Mottura. Cina e modernità. Cultura e istituzioni dalle Guerre dell'oppio ad oggi. Roma: Carocci editore, 2016.
2) Guido Samarani. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi. Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
3) Lu Xun. Grida. Trad. it. di Nicoletta Pesaro. Palermo: Sellerio, 2021.
For foreign students who did not obtain their high school diploma in Italy:
1) Alessandra C. Lavagnino, Bettina Mottura. Cina e modernità. Cultura e istituzioni dalle Guerre dell'oppio ad oggi. Roma: Carocci editore, 2016.
2) Guido Samarani. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi. Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
Further materials will be recommended in class. All materials used will be published on the course website in a timely manner.
For students who cannot attend classes:
1) Alessandra C. Lavagnino, Bettina Mottura. Cina e modernità. Cultura e istituzioni dalle Guerre dell'oppio ad oggi. Roma: Carocci editore, 2016.
2) Guido Samarani. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi. Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
3) Gianluigi Negro. Le voci di Pechino. Come i media hanno costruito l'identità cinese. Roma: Luiss University Press, 2022.
4) Lu Xun. Grida. Trad. it. di Nicoletta Pesaro. Palermo: Sellerio, 2021.
5) Lao She. Il ragazzo del risciò. Mondadori: Milano 2019.
1) Alessandra C. Lavagnino, Bettina Mottura. Cina e modernità. Cultura e istituzioni dalle Guerre dell'oppio ad oggi. Roma: Carocci editore, 2016.
2) Guido Samarani. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi. Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
3) Lu Xun. Grida. Trad. it. di Nicoletta Pesaro. Palermo: Sellerio, 2021.
For foreign students who did not obtain their high school diploma in Italy:
1) Alessandra C. Lavagnino, Bettina Mottura. Cina e modernità. Cultura e istituzioni dalle Guerre dell'oppio ad oggi. Roma: Carocci editore, 2016.
2) Guido Samarani. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi. Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
Further materials will be recommended in class. All materials used will be published on the course website in a timely manner.
For students who cannot attend classes:
1) Alessandra C. Lavagnino, Bettina Mottura. Cina e modernità. Cultura e istituzioni dalle Guerre dell'oppio ad oggi. Roma: Carocci editore, 2016.
2) Guido Samarani. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi. Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
3) Gianluigi Negro. Le voci di Pechino. Come i media hanno costruito l'identità cinese. Roma: Luiss University Press, 2022.
4) Lu Xun. Grida. Trad. it. di Nicoletta Pesaro. Palermo: Sellerio, 2021.
5) Lao She. Il ragazzo del risciò. Mondadori: Milano 2019.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will consist of an oral examination graded on a thirty-point scale. The discussion will emphasize the ability to make connections between the course content.
Active participation is an integral part of the learning process and, along with participation in group work, contributes to the final grade.
Active participation is an integral part of the learning process and, along with participation in group work, contributes to the final grade.
L-OR/21 - CHINESE AND SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Licandro Daniela
Professor(s)