Fall 2018 - HUM 203 D100
Great Texts: Asian Thought and Literature (3)
Class Number: 9801
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Shuyu Kong
1 778 782-9219
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Prerequisites:
30 units.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to classic texts which have endured as monuments of Asian thought and literature. Readings and discussions of primary texts and their central ideas will introduce students to philosophical, literary and religious themes in a selected, major Asian tradition. Breadth-Humanities.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course will introduce The Story of the Stone (also known as Dream of the Red Chamber), an 18th century novel which has the same iconic status as Shakespeare’s dramatic works in Chinese literary history and has greatly influenced Chinese minds. It is also a great sourcebook for learning about different aspects of Chinese culture, from the family system and social relations to garden, poetry and religion, all of which find their most vivid manifestations in the novel.
Thus the course has a dual purpose: one is to introduce a master work of Chinese literature and its distinctive literary tradition; the other is to introduce aspects of Chinese civilization through the novel.
The study method is a combination of close reading, class discussions, and lectures in which some important philosophical, cultural and aesthetic themes of the novel will be introduced. In order to understand some of the religious/philosophical themes such as Confucianism, Taoism, and enlightenment, we will also read translations of Zhuang Zi and Confucian writings at the beginning of the course.
This course is for students who wish to learn about Chinese culture through interesting and accessible translated texts.
Grading
- Attendance and Participation 20%
- Online Discussion x 4 20%
- Mid-term 15%
- Group Presentation 20%
- Final Paper 25%
NOTES:
This course counts ans a elective for the Global Asia Minor
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Cao Xueqin and Gao E, translated by David Hawkes and John Minford, The Story of the Stone Vols. 1 and 5, Penguin Books
ISBN: 978-0140442939
Cao Xueqin and Gao E, translated by David Hawkes and John Minford, The Story of the Stone Vols. 1 and 5, Penguin Books
ISBN: 978-0140443721
Registrar Notes:
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