CHIN 243(F) Gender Issues in Traditional Chinese Literature*

How do cosmological codes and philosophical traditions inform literary texts? How is the Chinese literary tradition shaped by gender? Through readings in traditional Chinese philosophy, verse genres, prose, and fiction and discussions of such aspects of literary analysis such as genres, performance, authorship, and audience, textual representations, narrative and voice, this course will develop a knowledge of traditional Chinese literature and culture and the modes of analysis to which gender issues pertain. All readings and discussions will be in English, but students with sufficient ability in Chinese will be encouraged to do some of the readings in Chinese. Class sessions will be primarily discussions, with some informal lecture. Evaluation will be based upon class participation, a few short writing assignments, two papers, and an final exam. No prerequisites.

Hour:  SILBER