Fall 2020 CHIN 4090: Readings in Masterworks of Classical Chinese Fiction TTR 9:00-10:15am, Zoom, Dr. Li Guo, (
[email protected]); Office: Zoom, TTR 8:00-9:00 am Description: This upper-level content-based course is an introduCtion to traditional Chinese fiction, with a focus on masterworks from vernaCular fictional traditions. The Chinese equivalent term for fiction or novel “small talks” (小說), as scholar Lin Yutang 林語堂 proposes, suggests the rise of traditional Chinese fiCtion from vernacular traditions including chats, conversations, folk storytelling, singsong tales and oral accounts on everyday happenings by and for ordinary civilians. Through close reading and discussions of vernaCular fiction, we explore the seminal features of traditional society, including: religious and philosophical beliefs, the imperial system and dynastic Change, gender relations, notions of class, ethnicity, virtue, kinship, family, and romanCe. Key questions: How do literati scholars, women authors, folk storytellers facilitate diverse imaginings of virtue, valor, and chivalry? How do we understand intertextuality between diverse genres? How does poetry blend into fictional narratives? How does fiction engender dramatic modes, which in return inspire new tales and textual representations? How do premodern literary masterworks inspire modern and Contemporary media adaptations in film, anime, Comic books, computer games, web sites, music, theater, art, and other media? Course goals: To guide students in reading excerpts from classiCal novels as well as from late imperial biographies, short stories, fantasy tales, folklores, travelogues, and chantefable stories. To provide students methods to analyze significant details or patterns, and develop an in- depth understanding of the text’s form, craft, meanings.