ASIAN 3386 - [Translating Southeast Asia Through Film]

(crosslisted)
(also VISST 3360)(GB) (CA-AS)

Spring. 4 credits.

Next offered 2014-2015. Co-meets with ASIAN 6687.

Staff.

In Western films Southeast Asia has always been portrayed as an exotic locale of romance, haunting landscapes, and “inscrutable” smiling natives. This class will explore the ways in which the countries of Southeast Asia have been portrayed in Western cinema, in juxtaposition with films produced in the countries themselves. In what ways is this exotic region constructed through Western eyes? To what degree has Southeast Asian cinema itself imitated this Occidental construct? What are the cultural themes explored by Southeast Asian filmmakers themselves? Through close analysis of the films, we will explore the process of visual translation from reality to fantasy in both the local and international contexts. Several Southeast Asian countries will be covered although there will be a concentration on Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. No background in Film Studies or Southeast Asia is required. (SC)

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