HIST4049 · History

Farewell to Revolution: Post-Mao China through Film

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Fulfills the LAMA requirement for History Majors and Minors This seminar explores post-socialist China (1978-present) through its cinematic representation. Throughout the semester, we will view prominent films made in post-Mao era by art-house directors (such as Jia Zhangke) and blockbuster creators (such as Feng Xiaogang) and discuss how Chinese lived through and reflected back on the dramatic changes of the reform era. We will ask: How do contemporary Chinese remember the socialist revolution? What kind of future do they envision for themselves after China embraced global capitalism? How do varied filmmakers address the issues of gender and class inequality, family, ethnicity, modernity, and the nation through film?