Module description
This module explores 'popular' cinemas of East Asia, in particular Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. We will focus on popular genres: (1) crime/policier (2) family drama (3) anime and (4) monster/zombie films in relation to their production circumstances, distribution and reception. Further we will discuss the film style and individual authorship of such directors as Kurosawa Akira, Johnnie To, Bong Joon-ho, Ozu Yasujiro and Kore-eda Hirokazu. Throughout the module, the cultural aspects of popular cinema will before grounded - that is, how issues of historical specificity, local identity, and family and gender relations are dealt within the popular imagination.
Films that will be discussed may include but are not limited to: Stray Dog (Kurosawa, 1949), PTU (To,2003), and Memories of Murder (Bong, 2003); Nobody Knows (Kore-eda, 2004); The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Hosoda, 2006) and Ghost in the Shell (Oshii, 1995); and Train to Busan (Yeon, 2016).
Assessment details
- Participation by entering discussion questions through KEATS (10%)
- Online Test 24 hour window (30%)
- Essay 2000 words (60%)