Course Information
Course title
 Exploring Taiwan: Film and Social Culture in Taiwan 
Semester
 106-2 
Designated for
  
Instructor
 KUO JEN-FENG 
Curriculum Number
 LibEdu1050 
Curriculum Identity Number
 H01E05000 
Class
  
Credits
 2.0 
Full/Half
Yr.
 Half 
Required/
Elective
  
Time
 Thursday 8,9(15:30~17:20) 
Remarks
 The upper limit of the number of students: 90. 
Ceiba Web Server
 http://ceiba.ntu.edu.tw/1062LibEdu1050_ 
Course introduction video
 
Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning
 Association has not been established
Course Syllabus
Please respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not copy any of the course information without permission
Course Description

In this course we look closely at several Taiwanese films over the past two decades, and through them we intend to understand what prominent phenomena and changes have been taking place in Taiwan’s social culture. Some of the films speak to the current socio-political conditions on this island; some reflect an emerging cultural trend; some indicate social problems; yet some propose alternative approaches to history. In any case, those films present themselves as various attempts to make conversations with Taiwanese society and Taiwanese people, and in this course we “read” those films as we also consider and discuss crucial social issues in Taiwan. 

Course Objective
 This course is expected to help us understand and reflect on Taiwanese social culture by not just watching but also “reading” Taiwanese films. 
Course Requirement
 Each week the students will be asked to engage the recommended readings or films, most of which will be topics of class discussion. They will be encouraged to pursue readings/films beyond the recommendations. How the students respond to the discussions will be considered their overall performance in this course. 
Student Workload (expected study time outside of class per week)
  
Office Hours
 Appointment required. 
Designated reading
 待補 
References
 Davis, Darrell. and Yueh-yu Yeh. Taiwan Film Directors: A Treasure Island. Columbia University Press, 2005.
Yip, June. Envisioning Taiwan: Fiction, Cinema, and the Nation in the Cultural Imaginary. Duke University Press, 2011.
盧非易。《台灣電影：政治、經濟、美學1949-1994》。1998年，台北，遠流。 
Grading
  
No.
Item
%
Explanations for the conditions
1. 
 Midterm presentation/paper 
30% 
  
2. 
 Final paper 
70% 
  
 
Progress
Week
Date
Topic
Week 1
 3/01  Introduction: Taiwan of the 1980 & “the economic miracle” 
Week 2
 3/08  Taiwan of the 1980s: socio-politics, movement & democratization & healthy realism
Film appreciation & discussion: Good Morning, Taipei (1979) 
Week 3
 3/15  Taiwan of the 1980s: 1) Taiwan in search of a “national” culture;
Taiwan New Cinema: the movement and key members 
Week 4
 3/22  Film Appreciation & Discussion: Terrorizers (1986) 
Week 5
 3/29  Taiwan New Cinema: aesthetics & politics
Film appreciation & discussion: Dust in the Wind (1986) & Hou Hsiao-hsien 
Week 6
 4/05  NO CLASS 
Week 7
 4/12  Taiwanese Film of the 1990s: The Decline & the Second Wave; Awards & Festivals 
Week 8
 4/19  STUDENT PRESENTATION WEEK 
Week 9
 4/26  Midterm Exam Week
Identity Politics: Ethnicity
(student presentation, cont.) 
Week 10
 5/03  Identity Politics: Feminist Movement 
Week 11
 5/10  Gender/Sexuality & LBGT Issues
Film Appreciation: Drifting Flowers (2008) and/or A Simple Talk (2016) 
Week 12
 5/17  The Rise of Documentaries in Taiwan & In Search of Social/Land Justice
Film appreciation and discussion: Sunflower Occupation (太陽．不遠, 2014) 
Week 13
 5/24  Search for a Sense of Root in Space and Time:
Westernization/Modernization and Colonial History
Film Appreciation: Viva Tonal – The Dance Age (2003) 
Week 14
 5/31  Film Appreciation: The Immortal’s Play (神戲, 2016) 
Week 15
 6/07  A Multi-racial/cultural & Immigrant Society:
Immigrant Spouses and Migrant Workers in Taiwan 
Week 16
 6/14  Film Appreciation: Hip-Hop Storm (2010) 
Week 17
 6/21  Epilogue & Trends in Taiwanese Film of This Decade 
Week 18
 6/28  FINAL EXAM WEEK: final paper due