Home>Course>[CHES2005/UGEC2436] Emotional Landscapes in Contemporary China>CHES2005/UGEC2436

In this course, students will examine the emotional landscapes of contemporary China primarily through an anthropological lens while integrating insights from other disciplines such as history, cultural studies, sociology, and psychology. It explores how emotions are shaped by historical, economic, political, cultural, and social forces. By examining family life, social class, mental health, public performances of happiness, and digital interactions, students will gain insight into how emotions are constructed, expressed, and managed in various contexts.

Through case studies, personal narratives, and ethnographic accounts, students will critically analyze how emotions like happiness, shame, bitterness, and depression intersect with broader social expectations and transformations. This exploration also invites students to reflect on their own emotional experiences and the cultural underpinnings that transcend academia, potentially influencing how they think about their own ways of being in the world.