ASIAN 4471 - The Appeal of Korean Film

(crosslisted) PMA 4471, VISST 4471
(GB) (CA-AS)

Spring. 4 credits.

E. Choi.

This course offers a broad overview of Korean film history, from the beginning of the twentieth century into the present, tracing the correlation between film and major historical, political and cultural events or shifts over the same period. The course will cover some major moments in modern Korean film history, and explore issues of cultural identity in the ways that the film industry has undergirded Korean cultural diplomacy. Focusing on how film narratives represent (rather than reflect) social reality, we will analyze the imagination and construction of national identity and cultural tradition (and its critique) across these films, which will follow a loose chronology by theme rather than production date. No Korean language ability is required; no background knowledge in Korean history or culture is assumed; all films are subtitled in English. Students should come away with a sense both of the development of modern Korean film and its relationship with aspects of Korean society and culture. In addition, the course will include a strong writing component; discussion and written assignments will focus both on the films themselves as well as on related critical texts. (LL)