The course will take as its texts feature films plus some documentaries by both Western and Southeast Asian directors to explore the following issues:
a) representation of self and other, with reference to cultural identity, ethnicity and gender.
b) nations and nationalisms (foundation myths, the significance of history, the invention of tradition, national institutions); the issue of national media cultures vs. genre films and hybridisation; globalisations vs localisation.
c) perceptions of Asia: the unit will use concepts such as Orientalism and Occidentalism to explore the representation of Asian and Western identities.

Essay (40%), Tutorial (20%), Exam (40%). Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but may expect more rigorous assessment and additional assignment work, tailored to the graduate students’ interests. Graduate students may expect a final assignment rather than an exam.

Permission of coordinator