Home>Courses>East Asian Film Genres in a Globalizing World

In this course the connections between different cinemas within East Asia and between East Asia and the rest of the world will be explored from a genre perspective. Hong Kong and Korean film noir, Chinese swordplay and Japanese samurai films, horror films from Hong Kong and Japan: all are examples of the transnational circulation of genres, involving processes of both localization and globalization. Students will be invited to explore genre theory, trace complex webs of creative influences, and appreciate the sameness and difference that characterize both genre films and our globalizing world. They will also have a chance to apply this new knowledge in practice, by making a short “genre film” for screening at the end of the term.

Week 1 (9 January):                 Introduction

Week 2 (16 January):                Yojimbo (1961)

Week 3 (23 January):              Let the Bullets Fly (2010)

Week 4 (6 February):               Godzilla (1954)

Week 5 (13 February):              Once Upon a Time in China 2 (1991)

Week 6 (20 February):              The Prodigal Son (1981)

Week 7 (27 February):              Mr. Vampire (1985)

***Friday 7 March         Short Assignment due (for CHES5134 students only)***

Week 8 (13 March):                  Ringu (1998)

Week 9 (20 March):                  Dumplings – Three … Extremes (2004)

Week 10 (27 March):                 Branded to Kill (1967) (+ Essay Consultations)

Week 11 (3 April):                    Train to Busan (2016) (+ Essay Consultations)

Week 12 (10 April)                    Oldboy (2003)

Week 13 (17 April):                  Film Awards: Screen Collaborative Film Projects  

*** Friday 25 April        Accompanying Essay Due ***

CHES3102 Course Grading System:

Participation                                                                  10%

Reading Reflections                                                      30%

Collaborative film project                                               25%

Collaborative film project (intra-group evaluation)             10%

Essay accompanying film project                                   25%     

CHES5134 Course Grading System:

                        Participation                                                                  10%

                        Reading Reflections                                                      30%

                        Short assignment                                                          10%

                        Collaborative film project                                               20%

                        Collaborative film project (intra-group evaluation)             10%

                        Essay accompanying film project                                   20%

Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/.