AST 206 Introduction to Asian Cinema

Asian cinematic traditions have produced some of the most famous and accomplished directors (such as Japan's Kurosawa and Ozu or India's Satyajit Ray), some of the largest audiences (Bollywood films have immense global audiences), as well as unique artistic visions and styles (the Chinese 'Fifth Generation' of filmmakers). Beyond these issues, viewing cinema also tells us much about the cultures in which those cinematic products were produced. Therefore, the films viewed also tell us much about Japan, India, China and the cultural, aesthetic, and dramaturgical traditions of those countries. To that end, students will critically view a series of Asian feature films and then provide analysis of these films via three term time 5-8 page reviews that include topics, themes, and subject matter relevant to the particular films and of relevance to their major. The work culminates in a final essay. The class is organized as a series of film viewings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with seminars Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.