The course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the history of Chinese culture and literature from the Tang dynasty (618-907) to the 20th century. It will highlight the developments in literary production in classical language up to the end of the imperial era and introduce the main cultural and literary phenomena of the 20th century. The course will also cover the major events following the fall of the empire, leading to the establishment of the Republic and, on October 1, 1949, the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), focusing on the production and reception of cultural products and their influence on contemporary China.
The course aims at presenting an in-depth examination of different themes and phases of the Chinese culture in its diachronic evolution, with a focus on the literary production and the different genres, highlighting the links between the typical features and major works belonging to each genre and the historical, social and cultural context, introducting the students to a guided reading of some Chinese texts produced between the 6th century C.E. and the beginning of the 20th century.
The course aims to provide an overview of the diachronic development of Chinese culture, literary genres, and the most significant works from the 5th-6th century AD to the first half of the 20th century, both in verse and prose. This will be done through guided readings of selected works presented in Italian translation. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Navigate the cultural and geo-linguistic landscape of imperial China from the Tang to the Qing dynasties, the early Republican period, and the People's Republic, highlighting the main peculiarities emerging from the analysis of iconographic, documentary, and material culture sources, and emphasizing the constituent elements of Chinese civilization;
Read the texts in their original language presented in class and explain their contents with proper contextualization;
Demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and methodological tools necessary for analyzing the historical context in which the most mature phases of Chinese civilization developed, and be able to highlight the complex relationship between modernity and traditional civilization, emphasizing crucial themes that are still essential for understanding contemporary Chinese society;
Use scientific vocabulary more familiarly to argue their reflections persuasively and effectively;
Develop a functional and adaptive learning model for evaluating the complex historical and cultural phenomena of modern and contemporary China.
Frontal teaching in person. Students will also be asked to carry out guided independent activities, like reading and watching audiovisual materials (the latter will be suggested by the module convenors).
The module consists of lectures, delivered in Italian, on the contents and themes addressed by the compulsory monographs/readings listed in the bibliography, which will be explained and analysed in-depth. Beside the wide range of selected representative texts/works, in Chinese language or in their translated version, the module makes also extensive use of multimedia and interactive materials on contemporary China. The contents are the same for both attending and non-attending students. However, non-attending students are asked to supplement the exam texts with the recommended readings indicated in the bibliography.
Mandatory texts for all students:
Additional text for non-attending students:
Further texts selection guidelines
For students with a 9 CFU program: one text of your choice from list A, or one text from list B and one text from list C.
For students with a 6 CFU program: one text of your choice from list A, or two texts from list B.
List A [It is recommended NOT to choose editions other than those indicated]
List B
List C
Ricevimento: Students’ meetings can be arranged in presence or online. Please send me an email to check and set available time and location.
Lessons start: Febraury 20th
Schedule and location
Oral interview in Italian. The students will show their ability to relate the various topics covered in the course. During the exam (with open questions, relating to the whole program including the compulsory books and the additional readings introduced during class lectures), the quality of the presentation, the correct use of the lexicon (in particular while clarifying texts of philosophical content), the critical competence will all be carefully assessed.
The students will have to demonstrate the assimilation of the main topics, to have acquired the basic knowledge of the course contents, to be able to elaborate a short speech on one or more topics, related to the mandatory monographs and/or to the additional selected readings, placing them in the Chinese and Asian historical and cultural contexts. Attendance and active participation during the lessons will facilitate the examination process.
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.
