Hell on Earth?

Course Schedule

WEEK ONE: LU XUN AND HIS FICTION

Mon. Jan. 4 Introduction--Literature and Literati in Traditional Chinese Society /China around the turn of the 19th Century/ Lu Xun
 

Tues. Jan. 5 The early fiction of Lu Xun--Addressing China 's Ills through Literature

• Preface to Cheering from the Sidelines in Diary, pp. 21-28
• "Diary of a Madman" in Diary, pp. 29-41
• "Kong Yiji" in Diary, pp. 42-48
• "Medicine" in Diary, pp. 49-58

Movie: New Year Sacrifice

Wed. Jan. 6 Lu Xun's Character Types--The Benighted Peasant, and the Victimized Woman

• "A Passing Storm" in Diary, pp. 77-88
• "Ah-Q--The Real Story" in Diary, pp. 101-172
• "New Year's Sacrifice" in Diary, pp. 219-241
• "Divorce" in Diary, pp. 377-389

Thurs. Jan. 7 Lu Xun's Character Types--Traditional Literati and the Ineffectual Intellectual

• "Hometown" in Diary, pp. 89-100
• "Soap" in Diary, pp. 264-278
• "Mourning the Dead" in Diary, pp. 338-362

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE SATURDAY JAN. 9, 12:00 NOON

WEEK TWO: MAY 4 MOVEMENT LITERATURE UNTIL 1945

Mon. Jan. 11  The Influence of the West--Romance and Decadence

• Yu Dafu, "Sinking" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 31-55
• Ding Ling, "Miss Sophia's Diary" in I Myself Am a Woman,  pp. 49-81 (Online Reserve)
• Poetry by Xu Zhimo in Columbia Anthology, pp. 499-501

Tues. Jan. 12 Critiques of Traditional China (Small  Group Discussions #1)

• Mao Dun, "Spring Silkworms" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 56-73
• Lai He, "The Steelyard" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 103-109
• Ba Jin, "Dog" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 110-115
• Wu Zuxiang, "Young Master Gets His Tonic" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 147-160
• Poetry by Wen Yiduo in Columbia Anthology, pp.502-504

Movie: Family

Wed. Jan. 13 China in the 30s and 40s-- Foreign Aggression and Competition, Internal Strife

• Lao She, "An Old and Established Name" in Columbia Anthology, pp.74-81
• Wu Zhuoliu, "The Doctor's Mother" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 184-194
• Poetry by Dai Wangshu in Columbia Anthology, pp.510-512
• Poetry by Ai Qing in Columbia Anthology, pp.516-521

Movie: The Lin Family Shop                                                                         

Thurs. Jan. 14 Women Writers and the Female ExperienceI (Small Group Discussions #2)

• Xiao Hong, "Hands" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 161-173
• Eileen Chang "The Golden Cangue" in Modern Chinese Stories and Novellas, pp. 530-559 (Online Reserve)
• Ding Ling "When I was in Xia Village" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 132-146

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE SATURDAY JAN. 16, 12:00 NOON

WEEK THREE: TAIWAN AND THE PRC AFTER 1949

Mon. Jan. 18 The Taiwan Experience--Emigre and Nativist Writers

• Bai Xianyong, "Winter Nights" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 210-223
• Huang Chunming, "His Son's Big Doll" in The Drowning of an Old Cat pp. 37-60 (Online Reserve)
• Wang Zhenhe, "An Oxcart for a Dowry" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 232-250

Tues. Jan. 19 Mainland China after the founding of the PRC and during the Cultural Revolution (Small Group Discussions #3)

• Wang Ruowang, "A Visit to his Excellency: A Five-Minute Movie" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 204-209
• Hua Tong, "Yan'an Seeds" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 251-261
• Chen Ruoxi, "The Tunnel" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 301-314
• Ba Jin, "Remembering Xiao San" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 691-702
• Wen Jieruo, "Living Hell" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 703-709

Movie: Hibiscus Town

Movie: Good Men, Good Women

Thurs. Jan. 21 The Taiwan Experience--Modernity (Small Group Discussions #4)

• Chen Yingzhen, "My Kid Brother Kangxiong" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 204-209
• Wang Wenxing, "Flaw" in Columbia Anthology 1st. ed., pp. 235-245 (Online Reserve)
• Li Ang, “Curvaceous Dolls” in Columbia Anthology, pp.  262-274
• Yuan Qiongqiong, "Tales of Taipei" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 349-355

WEEK FOUR: THE 80S AND 90S

Mon. Jan. 25 Women Writers and the Female Experience II

• Tie Ning, "Octday" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 429-438
• Wang Anyi, "Granny" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 462-469
• Can Xue, "Hut on the Mountain" in Columbia Anthology, pp. 262-274
• Ai Bei, "Green Earth Mother" in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused,  pp. 182-196

• Wang Meng, "Tales of New Cathay" in Columbia Anthology, pp.285-288
• Li Rui, "Electing a Thief" in Columbia Anthology, pp.321-324
• Han Shaogong, "The Leader's Demise" in Columbia Anthology, pp.337-348
• Li Xiao, "Grass on the Rooftop" in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused, pp. 130-155
• Ge Fei, "Remembering Mr. Wu You" in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused, pp. 236-243

Movie: The Blue Kite

• Liu Heng, “Dogshit Food” in Columbia Anthology, pp.416-428
• Cao Naiqian, “When I Think of You Late at Night There’s Nothing I Can Do” in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused, pp. 197-205

Movie: Yellow Earth

Thurs. Jan. 28 Lu Xun's Legacy and Course Wrap-up

• Mo Yan, "The Cure" in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused, pp. 172-181
• Bi Feiyu, "The Ancestor" in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused, pp. 215-228
• Wang Xiangfu, “Fritter Hollow Chronicles” in Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused, pp. 296-314

Detail from a piece of traditional Chinese furniture