Undergraduate Courses 2025-26
HUMA
Humanities
a) Under a policy approved by the Senate, exceptions to the general University policy stating that English is the medium of instruction will be permitted when the courses are related to the area of Chinese studies and are approved by the School of Humanities and Social Science. Courses approved to be taught in Chinese carry a [PU] or [CA] notation in the course description, which indicates the spoken language used in teaching: [PU] stands for Putonghua; and [CA] for Cantonese.
b) Courses marked with a [C] in the course description are not taught in Chinese but may require students to read materials in Chinese. Students who have difficulty reading materials in Chinese should consult the instructor concerned prior to enrolling in these courses. For undergraduate courses, alternative English reading materials may be provided.
c) Some courses may use different medium of instruction/materials, either in Chinese or English, for different sections. They will be denoted by a combination of [CA], [PU], [C] and [EN]. Students will need to check the medium of instruction/materials to be used before course enrollment.
d) Undergraduate courses marked with [BLD] or [SPO] may be offered in the mode of blended learning or self-paced online delivery respectively, subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.
e) Undergraduate courses marked with [EXP] may adopt the approach of experiential learning subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.
- HUMA 1000Cultures and Values3 Credit(s)Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThe objectives of the course are for communicative capacity building through humanities knowledge and for enrichment of values and perspectives corresponding to the mission and vision of UST, rather than for enhancement of knowledge in specific branch of humanities. Values explored in this course will be drawn from those closely related to the mission and vision of UST like humanistic concerns of others and the environment, respect of differences and justice, communicative sensitivity, complexity of humanity, potential bias and fallacy in popular perceptions, values, and stereotyping, among others. The humanities disciplinary approaches will be drawn from history, philosophy, literature, anthropology, linguistics and art. The course is offered in separate sections, each has its specific values and approach identified by the teacher.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Communicate in writing persuasively and effectively
- 2.Show a humanities perspective in communication
- 3.Question assertions related to humanities, especially cultures and values
- 4.Appreciate others' ideas and to contribute constructive feedback
- 5.Use existing empirical and logical skills to make independent judgments about personal values and priorities
- 6.Appreciate humanity in professional and daily affairs
- HUMA 1001Foundational Texts in the Humanities3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[CA] Cantonese
[EN] Taught in Eng/Chin subject to diff. offerings
[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course introduces students to foundational texts in the Chinese and Western humanities. In the process, it builds students' skills at close reading, explication and analytical writing, while expanding their understanding of Chinese and Western cultures and civilizations. The course is offered in separate sections, each has its specific values and approach identified by the teacher. Each section may use different texts, either in Chinese or English. Students should review the texts to be used in each section before registration.Intended Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate familiarity with the foundational texts of the Western and Chinese humanistic traditions
- 2.Demonstrate proficiency in close reading of literary and philosophical texts
- 3.Conceptualize the long-term development of intellectual and cultural movements
- HUMA 1009Special Topics3 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from the humanities. May be repeated for credit, if topics are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge on various topics that are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.
- HUMA 1010Introduction to Language3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1501DescriptionAn examination of fundamental concepts and principles in the scientific analysis of human language, especially concerning speech sounds, syntax, meaning, language acquisition, language processing, sociolinguistics and history of languages. Students who have taken an introductory course in linguistics in universities should not enroll in this course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify fundamental concepts in the structural analysis of language as a rule-governed and productive system of communication
- 2.Describe the systems of speech sounds in English and Chinese with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
- 3.Critique the origins of the brain’s linguistic capability in relation to aphasias, child language acquisition, and universal properties of languages around the world
- 4.Discuss the psychological or social aspects of language within the framework of contemporary linguistics
- 5.Test hypotheses, argumentation, and causal reasoning, especially with regard to linguistic phenomena
- HUMA 1030Structure of the Chinese Language3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1503Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course introduces basic concepts in linguistics and how these concepts are used to describe and analyze the structure of the Chinese language, with emphasis on sounds and grammar. Moreover, similarities and differences among major Chinese dialects, especially those between Cantonese and Mandarin, will be highlighted. Characteristics of the non-Han languages spoken in the neighboring areas will also be compared with those of the Chinese dialects in order to highlight the bi-directional influences between the two groups.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the structure of the major Chinese dialects, and by extension other languages, with the learnt linguistic concept
- 2.Identify the similarities and differences among major Chinese dialects, especially those between Cantonese and Mandarin, and those between Chinese dialects and other languages from a linguistic perspective
- 3.Articulate the complexity of the linguistic situation in China and its neighboring areas
- HUMA 1060Introduction to Mandarin Chinese Grammar3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1504Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course introduces students to basic concepts in Mandarin Chinese grammar and fundamental techniques of grammatical analysis. Differences between Chinese and English as well as between Mandarin and Cantonese will also be highlighted. Topics include word structure and sentence structure of Mandarin Chinese, and characteristics of Chinese grammar, etc.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe how grammar works using the fundamental concepts of morphology and syntax
- 2.Categorize morphemes, words, phrases, and sentences in Mandarin Chinese according to their grammatical behavior
- 3.Perform structural analysis of morphological and syntactic constructions in Chinese
- 4.Identify major similarities and differences in grammar between Chinese and English, and between Mandarin and Cantonese
- HUMA 1100Music of the World3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1631DescriptionThis course surveys various folk and traditional musics of the non-Western world using an ethnomusicological perspective which involves studying how people make, perform and consume music in their respective cultural contexts. Music cultures will be discussed individually in turn, while maintaining a cross-cultural or cross-regional perspective so as to discern underlying themes and processes common to many of them as well as differences and points of divergence that make each one unique.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Intelligently talk & write about the distinct features, performance contexts and pertinent sociocultural issues of some, if not all, of the world music cultures studied in class
- 2.Comprehend basic ethnomusicological terms and concepts; and the background information of each studied culture
- 3.Identify aurally the characters of the world music studied and discussed
- 4.Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between music and culture
- HUMA 1102Enjoyment of Classical Music3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1632Cross-Campus Equivalent CourseUCUG 1506DescriptionFrom the power and beauty of the orchestra to masterpieces of the church and concert hall, students will gain an in-depth appreciation for the history and fundamentals of Western classical music. The listening and analytical skills demonstrated will bring about a deeper understanding of music as an art form. Previous musical training, albeit helpful, is not required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate understanding and appreciation for the artform of Western classical music and its historical phases
- 2.Apply basic knowledge with regard to style, genre, form, time period, and instrumentation when listening to music
- 3.Compare and appreciate different types of music in general with the same sensitivity, regardless of style or tradition
- 4.Connect the knowledge and sensitivity assimilated in this class to wider society and other disciplines
- HUMA 1107Music and Film3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course explores the relationship between music and film, delving into the historical development of production and the dramatic function of film scores from mainstream to independent cinema. Focusing on the work of a variety of composers and film directors, the course will examine the collaborative process between these artists to achieve these goals. Prior knowledge of music and film, albeit helpful, is not required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop a deeper appreciation for the collaboration between music and film
- 2.Describe the historical and technical development of the craft of film composition
- 3.Critique the role and use of music in a film
- 4.Effectively communicate topics in music and film through writing
- 5.Develop analytical skills through the understanding of the innerworkings of the creative process
- HUMA 1108Expressive Sounds3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course explores the various ways auditive phenomena (sound, silence, noise, music) are conceived, produced, perceived, and organized by humans into meaningful (and often musical) forms and events. Beginning with basic concepts in the physical acoustics of sound, the class will then discuss how the ear functions and humans hear and perceive sound; the relationship and interaction of sounds with the environment (soundscapes); the musicalization of natural and man-made sounds; the social and cultural foundations of music (ideas about music and how these are manifested in certain musical practices); music’s transformative and persuasive power such as its use in advertising, propaganda, and as “sonic wallpaper”; culminating in case studies of music from two different regions of the students’ choice.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain sonic phenomena and the various ways they function as forms of cultural expression
- 2.Explain basic terms and concepts pertaining to various auditive phenomena as sociocultural means of expression and background information of each related case study
- 3.Identify aurally the characteristics of various examples of sonic phenomena discussed
- 4.Recognize the relationship between sound and culture
- HUMA 1150Exploration of Drawing3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1660DescriptionDrawing is a foundational form of communication extending from prehistoric times to the work of modern-day artists and designers. The creative use of lines, shapes, and textures is both a form of expression and a tool to sharpen one’s thinking and message. In this course, students will explore various types of techniques, mediums, styles, and materials, and learn concepts and history relevant to the fine arts and related industry.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply different skills of drawing
- 2.Recognize styles, compositions, and usage of color on drawings
- 3.Analyze pictures through art history
- 4.Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the art world through case studies
- 5.Appreciate how “Art” is interpreted and represented in museums and galleries
- HUMA 1154Photography3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1666DescriptionThis course provides an overview of the various forms of Photography, explores the relationship between visual communication and art. The course will examine the collaborative process between light and graphic, concepts and skills. The increasing influences of images and trends from visual media will also be discussed.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the usage of camera and lens, skills of photography
- 2.Apply photographic styles, compositions, usage of light and visual elements
- 3.Analyze photos through case studies, art history and the influences in the society
- 4.Explain the taught concepts and apply analytical skills to photography in both oral and written format
- 5.Develop a theme, interpret a concept by a series of photos
- HUMA 1155Video Art3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1667DescriptionVideo Art is an art form combined varies medium, moving images, sound, and multimedia elements. This special art form involves experimentation, concept implementation and editing. In the course, we will explore varies camera skills, and explore styles and concept. Through explorations and practices to achieve certain features and concepts of video art.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the concepts of video art, medium and development in the video field
- 2.Apply visuals and ideas in sequence to create video
- 3.Analyze video art through social media, art history and the influences in the society
- 4.Communicate, express ideas through videos
- HUMA 1156Exploration of Chinese Calligraphy3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1669DescriptionChinese Calligraphy is one of the most unique traditional art forms in Asia. This course will develop students' appreciation of various types of Chinese Calligraphy. The course provides practical writing workshops which can encourage students’ interest and experience the progress; deepen students’ understanding basic calligraphic skill and generate visual creativity. It prepares students having a better overview of Chinese culture.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain Chinese Calligraphy as a major Chinese art form
- 2.Apply knowledge and technical skills of brush work and styles of Chinese calligraphy
- 3.Analyze the development of calligraphy through Chinese art history and the influences in the society nowadays
- 4.Create a formal Chinese calligraphy artwork in a few styles and varies sizes
- HUMA 1157Introduction to Acting and Public Speaking3 Credit(s)DescriptionActing, improvisation, and public speaking are artforms at the core of many arenas of communication and human striving. Whether it is the performance that moves the hearts and minds of the audience, on stage or on screen, or the theatre of a boardroom meeting, a wedding toast, or a university lecture, the foundational skills of acting and public speaking come into play. In this course students will receive an introductory exposure to the history and techniques of modern acting and public speaking, including elements of improve, and learn how they can be used to enhance other activities as well as promote a self-awareness and mindfulness.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the history and development of modern acting
- 2.Describe the interrelationship between body, voice, and communication
- 3.Explain the techniques and exercises for acting and public speaking
- 4.Analyze the structure of scenes and speeches
- 5.Critique a performance
- 6.Coordinate team activities
- 7.Give and take direction and constructive criticism
- HUMA 1160Weiqi and Chinese Culture1 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionWeiqi has a long and profound history. In the four art forms of ancient China – Guqin, chess, calligraphy and Chinese painting, chess refers to Weiqi. As the world’s oldest chess game, Weiqi is speculated to start around the 23rd century BC and be created by Emperor Yao. This course will cover the fundamental techniques of capturing stones, common life-and-death shapes, basic joseki, and opening theory in Weiqi, as well as how to complete a full game against an opponent. By participating in this Weiqi course, students can gain insights into the origin and development trajectory of Weiqi culture, stories of prominent figures, and its implications on artificial intelligence (AI), one of the hottest topics today. Weiqi is more than a game and a cultural carrier. It is hoped that Weiqi will become one of students’ lifelong hobbies.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply the basics of Weiqi and able to complete a full Weiqi game
- 2.Apply the thinking methods of Weiqi, and cultivate positive values, outlook on life, and worldview
- 3.Recognize the origin, development trajectory, stories of prominent figures, and current status of Weiqi culture
- HUMA 1210Chinese Women on Screen3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1601DescriptionThis course approaches Chinese women as both historical and fictional figures to unravel the complicated relationship between history and visual representation. Each week revolves around a special topic and a film about Chinese women located in a specific socio-historical period. This course is in chronological order, beginning from Republican women to contemporary female immigrants in the age of globalization. The changing images of women on screen went hand in hand with major cinematic movements in history, including the left turn in the 1930s, the rise of animation, socialist filmmaking, model opera film, underground/independent filmmaking, and the cinematic globalization. The purpose of this course is to build a foundation for students from different academic backgrounds who may have little or no knowledge of Chinese culture and history. Proficiency in Chinese is a plus but not required because all reading materials and class discussion are in English.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Summarize the changing images of Chinese women as projected in cinema history
- 2.Recognize the history of Chinese cinema and major cinematic movements
- 3.Apply gender/sexuality theories to analyze films critically
- 4.Analyze the aesthetic qualities of films and changing images of Chinese woman as fictional figures in cinema history
- HUMA 1231Popular Culture of East Asia3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1602DescriptionThis course provides an overview of the various forms of popular culture in East Asia and focuses on the question of how the rise of East Asian popular culture reflects the desire for "modernity" and "modernization" in each East Asian country and affects the interactions among them. Numerous popular cultural forms - music, film, TV drama, manga/anime, novels, entertainment, food, fashion and design - in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will be examined. The increasing global fascination of or craze for East Asian popular culture and how such East Asian "soft power" has inspired and transformed the global aesthetics and popular imagination or understanding of East Asia will also be discussed.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify various popular forms of contemporary East Asian culture
- 2.Explain how the social, economic, and political factors influenced the rise of East Asian pop culture
- 3.Analyze different types of popular culture and their aesthetic value critically
- HUMA 1301World Literature and Film3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1603DescriptionThis course explores the complex interplay between literature and cinema. Selected novels, short stories and plays are analyzed in relation to their cinematic adaptations to gain an understanding of the masterpieces of world literature, and the possibilities and challenges involved in their cinematic manifestations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze literary works in terms of plot structure, setting, characterization, theme, and narrative point of view
- 2.Critically analyze films through careful examination of cinematic adaptations of literary texts
- 3.Explain the possibilities and challenges involved in the transposition of literature to film in different cultural contexts
- HUMA 1430History of P. R. China's Diplomacy, 1949-19893 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1522Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will introduce to students the diplomatic history of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 to 1989, focusing on Sino-USSR and Sino-U.S. relations in the context of the Cold War. Key events and leading figures will be covered, newly declassified archival materials will be presented, and critical examination and rethinking of PRC history will be introduced for discussion.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Discuss and evaluate the major events in China’s foreign relations since 1949
- 2.Identify themes and patterns of China’s foreign relations since 1949
- 3.Analyze primary and secondary sources critically
- 4.Conduct historical research using primary and secondary sources
- 5.Evaluate, analyze and articulate the significance of various forms of historical sources
- HUMA 1440Modern China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)MGCS 5001Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis general history course introduces students to China’s political, economic, social, and cultural life during the 19th and 20th centuries. A survey of major political, social, and cultural events and changes in China from the late-imperial period to the founding of the People's Republic of China. The course focuses on dramatic changes in China in order to review how these changes have radically reshaped Chinese society, economy, politics, and culture.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Paraphrase the most important political, economic, social, and cultural events in China in the past 200 years
- 2.Analyze the causes and significance of the important historical events in modern China
- 3.Summarize the general trends in modern Chinese history such as the rise of nationalism and Communism so that they may better understand what is happening in China today
- 4.Compare and contrast the influences of historical and revolutionary legacies to China
- HUMA 1520Modern East Asia3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1523, MGCS 5004DescriptionThis course is a survey of the history of political, social, economic, and cultural changes in East Asia (mainly China and Japan, and to some extent, Korea) from the 1800s to the 1950s. In the past two centuries, the classical civilizations of East Asia met new challenges: the disintegration of old political systems, the growth of social tensions, and the arrival of an aggressive and expanding West. This course will study the internal and external tensions that undermined the traditional orders, compelling China, Japan, and Korea to seek new political and social reforms. Special attention will be given to the revolutionary changes in society, thought, culture, and the rise of a new political order in twentieth-century China, Japan, and Korea.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate broad knowledge of major historical events and themes in modern East Asia
- 2.Develop skills to think historically and critically about history and societies
- 3.Locate, collect, organize, and analyze various forms of historical sources
- 4.Conduct oral history interviews and write oral history reports
- 5.Evaluate history as personalized and lived experiences
- HUMA 1622Science, Technology and Society: Historical and Cultural Approaches3 Credit(s)DescriptionHow science, technology, and medicine work in the present can be illuminated by a study of their recent pasts. This course is an introduction to those modern histories, presented as a series of case studies. Students will come to understand how science, technology, and medicine are entangled with society and culture. The course will discuss topics such as the invention and innovation of the telephone; the attempt to predict earthquakes; how citizen science saved birds and humans from chemical poisoning; the modern survival of ‘traditional’ Chinese medicine; shifting ideas about robots; and how and why young people invented the personal computer, among others. By the end of the course, students will have a much clearer picture of how science, technology, and medicine are co-produced socially and culturally, and be able to apply those lessons to the world we live in now.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the concept of “Social Construction of Science and Technology” and apply it to reflect on contemporary issues
- 2.Analyze important milestones and debates in the modern history of science, technology, and medicine
- 3.Critically reflect on the role of science and technology in their own lives and that of their societies
- 4.Initiate, lead, and engage in discussion about the conjunction of science, technology, medicine, and society
- HUMA 1639Marriage, Family and Kinship in Cross-cultural Perspectives3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1554DescriptionThis course examines the diverse cultural meanings and structures of kinship relations and organizations. Different anthropological approaches in analyzing the structures and practices of marriage, family and kinship will be examined.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the diverse cultural meanings and structures of kinship relations and organizations as one of the fundamental human social organizations
- 2.Analyze one’s own culture and society as well as other cultural practices in the world in terms of diverse forms of family, kinship, and marriage in the world
- 3.Identify the basic research techniques and terminologies for studying family and kinships
- 4.Practice presentation skills and to explain the key theoretical arguments on family and kinship through presentations and discussions
- HUMA 1650Appreciation of Western Art3 Credit(s)DescriptionThe course is an introduction to the appreciation of art through selected works of painting and sculpture from the West, from ancient periods to the present. Students will learn to use different approaches to understand the language of art and the complexity of artistic creation in Western culture.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the scope, diversity of themes and subject matters, central issues, major forms and styles of Western art at a fundamental level
- 2.Demonstrate an understanding of the language of art and through it a wide range of artworks and art practices
- 3.Apply the methodology of art appreciation to describe, discuss and analyze artworks in both oral and written formats
- HUMA 1660Introduction to Chinese Art3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1651Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is a chronological and thematic survey of Chinese visual art from the Neolithic period to modern times. Topics introduced include ancient Chinese bronze and jade, pottery and ceramics, Buddhist art and sculpture, calligraphy and seal carving, garden and architecture.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a verbal and analytical familiarity with the formal, material, and technical properties of different forms of Chinese art across time
- 2.Apply taught concepts and visual analysis to their appreciation of different forms of traditional Chinese art
- 3.Review and report on an exhibition of traditional Chinese art, discuss the formal, stylistic, material, and technical features of the art works, and make reasoned evaluation by relating them to what they have learned in class
- 4.Collect visual and textual data about a genre of Chinese art, discuss its formal characteristics, materials, techniques, and its meanings against the historical and cultural context of its production and circulation
- 5.Discuss and communicate their understanding of Chinese art in oral (Putonghua) and written Chinese
- HUMA 1671Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong Culture3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1661Medium of Instruction[CA] Cantonese
[EN] Taught in Eng/Chin subject to diff. offeringsReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe “culture” of a community encompasses the social and personal behaviour, language and dialects, visual and performing arts, economic activities and the ideas, beliefs, and customs of its people. As a traditional genre of performing arts unique to Hong Kong, Cantonese opera has a long history of development and is entwined to arguably all such aspects of Hong Kong culture. Set within the socio‐cultural context of Hong Kong, this course explores the genre in terms of its course of development, repertory, plots, script structure, performing techniques such as singing, acting, reciting and fencing, troupe organisation, training of artists, performing venues including theatre and the bamboo stage, and its marketing strategies, aiming at unfolding to the students how an art form is appreciated through both the aesthetical and functional perspectives. The course will be offered either in Cantonese or English subject to different offerings. Students are advised to check the medium of instruction/materials before class enrollment.Intended Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Cantonese opera
- 2.Explain how Cantonese opera is entwined with Hong Kong culture
- 3.Employ fieldwork techniques and methodology
- 4.Apply critical and analytical thinking in understanding Cantonese opera and Hong Kong culture, and in fieldwork participation
- 5.Integrate critical and analytical thinking to other art genres and academic disciplines
- HUMA 1672Studio Arts Workshops: Cantonese Opera1 Credit(s)Corequisite(s)CORE 1661, HUMA 1671Exclusion(s)CORE 1662Medium of Instruction[CA] Cantonese
[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will allow students enrolled to CORE 1661 Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong Culture to have hands-on experience of Cantonese Opera. Students will learn the four basic performance skills of Cantonese opera, namely, singing, reciting, acting and fencing. Graded DI/PA/F.Intended Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Express themselves through artistic creation using art skill(s) acquired in the workshop
- 2.Evaluate the aesthetics of Cantonese opera and performances of others and themselves
- HUMA 1673Art and Digital Culture3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1668DescriptionThis course will explore how digital technologies are transforming art production and presentation. From early photography to virtual reality, it will examine art forms at the turn of the mechanical age (e.g. photography, film) as well as artistic practices in the digital age such as virtual reality, data visualization, artificial intelligence, and NFT (Non-fungible token). Situating art and digital culture within a cross-disciplinary context, the course also considers the following key issues: how do digital technologies change our art, culture, and contemporary life? How does art in the digital age define key issues in the digital world such as privacy, copyright, and identity? How can we create art through interdisciplinary practice? Students will learn to analyze new forms of art and related technologies, and to discuss the key issues of the body, identity, and surveillance in the digital age.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe and analyze the artistic practices, ideas, and issues that address technologies
- 2.Collaborate in a group on the analysis, discussion and evaluation of artistic practices and present the findings and arguments
- 3.Produce a critical narrative to communicate ideas about art and digital culture
- HUMA 1674China in Historical Maps3 Credit(s)DescriptionUsing historical maps of China drawn by both Chinese and Western mapmakers from 1200 to 1800, the course will show students how maps can serve as windows into the past and introduce us to the worldviews of the mapmakers and their society. Through looking at the history, art and science of map making, the course will guide students to reflect on and find answers to these questions: how to look at ancient maps? How to identify and interpret place names, objects, peoples and animals depicted in the maps, and how to distinguish the real from the imaginary? Who made these maps, for whom, and for what purposes? How were the images of China produced by Chinese different from those by European cartographers?Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe and analyze the main kinds of maps from the perspectives of history, art, and science, including historical context, textual and visual features
- 2.Collaborate in groups on the analysis, discussion and evaluation of map form and content; and present the findings and arguments
- 3.Produce a critical narrative to communicate ideas about past and present geographical knowledge and data visualization
- HUMA 1675Global History of Explorations3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course explores the history of global discoveries and explorations from ancient times to the present day. Students will examine the motivations, methods, and consequences of exploration, including the impact on cultures, economies, and environments. The course will cover major events and figures, including the Age of Exploration, the Silk Road, and the voyages of Zheng He and Christopher Columbus. Students will also analyze the effects of colonialism and imperialism on indigenous populations and the global distribution of power. Through readings, discussions, and research projects, students will develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of world history. This course is designed for students seeking a broad understanding of global history and its impact on contemporary issues.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the cultural, economic, and political factors that motivated explorers throughout history, and understand the methods and technologies used
- 2.Develop a global perspective on exploration and its relevance to contemporary issues
- 3.Collaborate in groups on the analysis, discussion and evaluation of explorations and cultural encounters; and present the findings and arguments
- 4.Produce a critical narrative to communicate ideas about explorations, cultural contacts and specific cultural encounters
- HUMA 1676Marco Polo and His Book of Travels3 Credit(s)DescriptionMarco Polo is the world’s most famous traveler and we all have heard something about him and his travels to China. Marco Polo stands for the first direct contact between Europe and China in the Age of the first Eurasian Globalization under the Mongol Empire, the model of East-West exchange. Yet everything known about him comes from his book, which was written more than 700 years ago and whose reliability has been often questioned. This course will introduce students to the text, his two authors and the wider historical context surrounding the travel and its written account. At the end of the course students will have acquired a deeper understanding of cultural exchange between Europe and China in the Middle Ages as well as in later periods, and know the answers to questions such as “Did Marco Polo go to China?” and “Did Marco Polo bring spaghetti back to Europe?”.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the cultural, economic, and political factors that shaped early travel and cultural encounters between East Asia and Europe
- 2.Collaborate in groups on the analysis, discussion and evaluation of Marco Polo’s travels and cultural encounters; and present the findings and arguments
- 3.Produce a critical narrative to communicate ideas about Marco Polo’s travels and cultural encounters
- HUMA 1710The Art of Thinking in the Hong Kong Context3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1571, CORE 1572, HUMA 1720Medium of Instruction[CA] CantoneseReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims to provide a basic introduction to the art of thinking. The focus of this course is on methodology. Students will be equipped with critical tools for the analysis of arguments. Moreover, special attention will be given to the application of such tools to the practical affairs of everyday life.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and apply specialized methodological terminology
- 2.Evaluate the validity of standard logical arguments
- 3.Identify common persuasive stratagems that cannot withstand logical scrutiny and demonstrate how they weaken the arguments that employ them
- 4.Analyze and construct arguments, employing the techniques of formal and informal methods of reasoning as appropriate, together with an ability to recognize any relevant fallacies
- HUMA 1720Logic3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1571, CORE 1572, HUMA 1710DescriptionThis course is designed to provide the students with the basic knowledge of logic, so that they can apply logical techniques to analyze various problems of reasoning in ordinary language and to examine the fallacies of thinking in daily life. The course includes topics such as the basic concepts of logic, logic and language, fallacies and definitions, sentential logic, and syllogism.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Paraphrase the logical definition of argument
- 2.Distinguish valid from invalid arguments and translate sentences of ordinary language into the formal language of logic
- 3.Explain in their own words important logical terminologies such as valid, invalid, sound, unsound, consistent, inconsistent, contingent, necessary, theorem, tautology
- 4.Apply logical methods to elaborate correct reasoning, construct proofs in formal systems for sentential logic and syllogism, and apply semantic methods (truth tables, counter-models) to test for validity and related properties
- 5.Examine the sophisticated and interesting problems in philosophy through paradigmatic examples
- HUMA 1811History of Chinese Philosophy3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1574Medium of Instruction[CA] CantoneseReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims at a historical survey of the developments of Chinese philosophy. Through an introduction to the great Chinese thinkers (like Confucius and Mo Zi), the main schools of thought to which they belong (like Confucianism and Mohism), their central theories (like humanity and universal love), and some other important philosophical concepts and issues, students will be guided to explore the evolution of these philosophies against the background of Chinese history and civilization.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the philosophies of some great Chinese thinkers and their schools
- 2.Explain texts of Chinese philosophy in their originality
- 3.Demonstrate book report writing skills
- 4.Evaluate and apply the philosophies they have learnt to reflect upon their own behavior
- HUMA 1920Introduction to Moral Philosophy3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1576DescriptionThis introductory course examines various beliefs and questions underlying our moral lives. These include the relation between morality and religion, subjectivism, relativism, self-interest, the rights and wrongs of euthanasia, etc. Also, certain ethical theories claim to help us make the right moral decisions, e.g. utilitarianism. This course is a systematic exploration of such beliefs and theories, emphasizing critical thinking and reasonable justification.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recall and paraphrase various moral theories such as Utilitarianism (rightness of action based on consequences), Kantianism (rightness of action based on duty), Virtue Ethics (rightness of action based on virtue and character) and their relative merits in helping to resolve moral issues
- 2.Articulate common moral ideas and issues such as the relation between morality and religion, relativism, egoism, euthanasia, etc
- 3.Formulate their assumptions and assess the logical cogency of arguments pertaining to these ideas and issues
- 4.Critically interpret the significance of the values that are espoused
- HUMA 1921Philosophy of Science3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis is an introductory course in the philosophy of science. It will cover some classical works of the 20th century philosophy of science, including Logical Empiricism (e.g. Carnap, Hempel, and Nagel), Popper’s Falsificationism, Kuhn’s Structures of Scientific Revolution, Lakatos’ research programme, and Feyerabend’s “anything goes”. It will also examine some fundamental concepts in science. What is scientific explanation? What counts as scientific evidence? What does “probability” in science mean? Moreover, it will assess some central debates in the philosophy of science such as the scientific realism/anti-realism debate and the recent debate over scientific progress.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Evaluate the key philosophical accounts of many core topics in the philosophy of science, including epistemology of science and metaphysics of science
- 2.Write philosophically cohesive essays, where philosophical theories are explained and arguments for them critically evaluated
- 3.Discuss philosophical arguments systematically and present these to their peers
- HUMA 1922Introduction to Analytic Philosophy3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis is an introductory course in analytic philosophy. It covers some central issues in the history of analytic philosophy, including scepticism, naturalism, personal identity, free will, and the mind-body problem. It also examines some key concepts in contemporary analytical philosophy, such as knowledge, truth, meaning, and causation. It provides students with the opportunity to read some classical works by leading analytic philosophers (e.g. Russell, Quine, Austin, Lewis, Parfit, Jackson, and van Inwagen).Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Evaluate the key philosophical accounts of many core topics in the analytic philosophy, including knowledge, truth, personal identity, free will, and the mind-body problem
- 2.Write philosophically cohesive essays, where philosophical theories are explained and arguments for them critically evaluated
- 3.Discuss philosophical arguments systematically and present these to their peers
- HUMA 1930Introduction to the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces the ethical considerations surrounding the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. Topics include AI’s impact on privacy, bias, transparency, and accountability. Students will learn the ethical principles and frameworks used to guide decision-making in the field and apply them to real-world scenarios. The course will also take a comparative perspective, examining how different cultures and societies approach the ethical issues. Finally, the course explores the societal implications of AI and data science, including issues related to power, inequality, the global governance of AI and its role in shaping social policy. This course is suitable for students with and without technical and philosophical backgrounds.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate various ethical theories and their relative merits in helping to resolve ethical issues related to AI and data science
- 2.Evaluate and discuss ideas and arguments related to the ethical considerations and social implications of AI and data science
- 3.Analyze the global governance of AI and its role in shaping social policy and be able to act in society with cultural sensitivity
- 4.Create appropriate solutions to address ethical issues surrounding AI and data science
- 5.Develop effective written and oral communication skills
- 6.Develop teamwork skills, especially the ability to carry out project as part of a team and to coordinate team member activities
- HUMA 2000-2001Special Topics in Humanities3 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from the humanities. May be repeated for credit, if topics are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge on various topics that are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.
- HUMA 2010Metaphors in English and Chinese3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2501Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA comprehensive study of metaphors in English and Chinese, not only as a rhetorical device, but also as an essential tool of our ordinary language and thought. The course encompasses a wide range of diverse topics such as literary metaphors, metaphors in everyday language (about time, life, change, quantity, love, anger, etc.), and metaphors in politics, mathematics, physics, artificial intelligence, and cyberspace. The approach is interdisciplinary and comparative, and most topics are to be discussed from a cross-linguistic and cross-cultural perspective. An ordinary reading knowledge of Chinese is required for enrollment.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe how metaphor works with examples from ordinary language
- 2.Appraise and critically evaluate different approaches to the study of metaphor
- 3.Identify and categorize major types of conceptual metaphors and metonymies
- 4.Perform structural analysis of metaphors in English and Chinese in the cognitive approach
- 5.Demonstrate understanding of similarities and differences between English and Chinese in metaphorical conceptualization and expression
- HUMA 2031The Cantonese Language3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2502Medium of Instruction[CA] CantoneseReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionStudy of the Cantonese language, from the perspective of linguistics which emphasizes the scientific study of language. The course focuses on the sound and the grammatical systems of Cantonese. It also examines historical and socio-linguistic issues pertinent to the development of Cantonese in the context of Hong Kong. Students enrolling in this course are expected to have basic knowledge of Chinese.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify and articulate the structure of the Cantonese language with the learnt linguistic concepts
- 2.Analyze the structure of the Cantonese language, and by extension other languages, with the learnt skills and analytic tools
- 3.Identify and analyze the linguistic features observed in the Hong Kong variety of Cantonese that come to differentiate it from other varieties spoken in the neighboring areas
- HUMA 2032Language, Power and Identity3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course aims to stimulate students’ thinking around the complex notion of ‘identity’, challenging classic sociolinguistic and sociological approaches and introducing poststructuralist approaches. The language of individuals and/or institutions will be analysed in depth, with reference to critical theories of society, ideology and discourse. The course also aims to raise awareness of how language is used to create and maintain power through narratives of identity. Case studies will be presented, with a view to deconstructionist analysis on the role of language in producing and reproducing ostensibly stable ‘identities’ along binary lines such as masculine/feminine, Western/Asian and straight/queer. The course also investigates how humans perform other types of social difference and belonging such as ethnicity and social class.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts in the field of language and identity
- 2.Explain how diverse senses of belonging and difference relate to individual and institutional practices
- 3.Explain how beliefs about identity can promote or inhibit social justice
- 4.Critique relevant approaches to the analysis of identity
- 5.Create, confidently and critically, academic arguments within the field of language & identity
- HUMA 2033Language and Intercultural Communication3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces the fundamental themes of intercultural communication by drawing on current language and intercultural communication theory, research, and practice, to better understand communication between culturally diverse individuals. Through experiential projects and personal reflections, students will explore what it means to be an interculturally competent communicator or mediator and develop competencies necessary for interacting more appropriately and effectively in intercultural encounters. By engaging with readings, observation, analyses of critical incidents, intercultural reflections exercises, and intercultural projects, students are encouraged to become more actively engaged with intercultural interactions and to foster an ethno-relative mindset, with greater curiosity and open-mindedness. Topics include conceptions of culture and multiculturalism, the relationship between language, communication, power and context, language and cultural socialization, ‘othering’, prejudice and stereotypes, intercultural rhetoric, facework and conflict management in workplace, intercultural transition and adjustment, intercultural relationship-building, social justice, and global citizenship.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Articulate the key elements and notions in language and intercultural communication
- 2.Recognize diverse ways of communicating in different cultural situations and how communication is shaped by cultural values, norms, and beliefs
- 3.Identify productive and mindful ways to meet the challenges of intercultural communication
- 4.Assess one’s cultural self-awareness and communication style and explain why intercultural competence development is best viewed as a lifelong process
- 5.Analyze challenges and possibilities for social justice and global citizenship
- HUMA 2050Classical Chinese3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionAn introduction to the fundamental aspects of Classical Chinese grammar and a linguistic study of Classical Chinese texts selected from the classics in the pre-Qin era and the Han period, including Shijing (Book of Songs), Zuozhuan (Zuo’s Commentaries), Lunyu (Analects), Mengzi (Mencius) and Shiji (Records of the Historian). This course also teaches students to translate classical Chinese into modern Chinese and to improve Chinese communication skills, with emphasis on academic writing.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Have basic knowledge and understanding of the function words and syntax of Classical Chinese
- 2.Understand the fundamental differences in structural device and lexical/morphological mechanisms between ancient and modern Chinese language
- 3.Apply the basic principles of Classical Chinese in translating Classical Chinese texts into modern Chinese
- 4.Improve their reading and writing ability and oral communication skill in modern Chinese
- 5.Understand and appreciate better the works of the Chinese classics, especially in terms of their literary innovation, philosophical value, and cultural significance
- HUMA 2101Enjoyment of Western Opera3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2631DescriptionAn examination of the historical development of western opera, and selected western operas with their related literary texts. This course will also put some emphasis on works that are related to Asian cultures, and operas that will be performed in Hong Kong. No previous knowledge of opera is required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the development of western opera and its various themes
- 2.Identify the interrelationship between music, literature, drama and culture
- 3.Analyze the structure of scenes and critique the production quality
- 4.Illustrate their understanding of basic structure and themes of Western opera by producing a production design proposal
- HUMA 2103Introduction to Music Composition3 Credit(s)Description(1) Course Content: Through a progressive series of composition projects, students learn the organizational skill of musical composition and performances, focusing on the basics of unity and variety; promoting students' understanding of humanistic experiences, creativities and emotions. Weekly listening, reading, and composition assignments draw on a broad range of musical styles and intellectual traditions, from various cultures and historical periods. (2) Advice on the background of Students: Students are required to have the ability to sing or to play one or more musical instruments (e.g. Grade 3 in Royal Schools Music Exam or equivalent). The ability to read music and the knowledge to music notation are preferable, but not required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Enhance holistic creative thinking.
- 2.Acquire proficiency in expressing ideas through music composition.
- 3.Develop skills of appreciation and understanding of music, regardless of style.
- 4.Enhance musicianship skills.
- 5.Develop a wider and practical understanding of music theory.
- HUMA 2104Music Theory I: Introduction to Tonal Music3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2632, SISP 1709DescriptionThis course is an introduction to the fundamentals of Western music theory with an emphasis on reading and writing musical notation, ear training, and analytical listening. Students will develop an understanding of how texture, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, melodic development, and other parameters interact to create music. Examples used in the class will be drawn mostly, but not exclusively, from classical repertoire. Although prior musical training will be helpful, there are no prerequisites for the course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze music both by ear and on the score page
- 2.Read and write music with basic musicianship skills
- 3.Demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of music on a deeper level regardless of style, and of Western classical music in particular
- 4.Develop music theoretical and musicianship skills that prepare for further studies in music
- HUMA 2105Music, Drama, and Theatre3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2633DescriptionThis course will guide the students to create, produce, and perform their own musical theatre work. As musical theatre is a multi-artwork, this course would be suitable for students who are interested in language art, music, theatre, dance, and visual art. At the discretion of the instructor, an in-class or public performance would be offered during the term. No prior knowledge or experience of performing arts is required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe basic theatrical terms and concepts
- 2.Describe the development of the genre of Musical Theatre and understand the interrelationship between music, drama, and theatre
- 3.Analyze and critique the structure of scenes from a musical theatre work
- 4.Create students’ own musical theatre work to demonstrate basic vocal, acting, and other theatrical skills
- 5.Demonstrate effective team working attitude and skills to motivate other members, and to communicate orally applicable to presentation and argumentation
- HUMA 2107Introduction to Electronic Music Composition3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2634DescriptionThis course will develop students' appreciation of various types of electronic music via an open, creative environment for its composition. We will explore the nature of sound and approaches to its organization -- listening deeply to music and the world around us -- and cover theory and practice in digital audio signal processing. Since we will be working with 'concrete sound', students need not have any prior experience in music notation or composition to participate in the course. The course will culminate in an open concert-presentation of final works that students will have developed over the semester.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate appreciation of and describe the features of various types of electronic music
- 2.Apply various technologies for digitally processing audio
- 3.Creatively organize sound into coherent works of music as a means of self-expression
- 4.Demonstrate a broad understanding of electronic music’s historical development
- 5.Demonstrate an understanding of key issues in music aesthetics
- HUMA 2108Music of China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2635Cross-Campus Equivalent CourseUCUG 2500DescriptionThis course will look at various forms of Chinese music, focusing in particular on instrumental genres. Although the aim is not to present the history of Chinese music per se, the topical organization of the course will follow a more or less chronological framework as attention is drawn to certain issues and prominent characteristics of music and musical life in China from ancient times to the present. The ability to read music or knowledge of musical notation would be helpful, but not required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize and define/identify major Chinese musical terms, genres, and styles
- 2.Intelligently explain and write about the historical development, distinct features, performance contexts, and sociocultural issues pertaining to some, if not all, of the Chinese music genres and styles studied in class
- 3.Appreciate some, if not all, of the Chinese music genres and styles studied in class
- 4.Describe and analyze the significance of music within Chinese culture
- HUMA 2109East Asian Popular Music3 Credit(s)Cross-Campus Equivalent CourseUCUG 2603DescriptionThis course will look at various popular music genres in East Asia, namely, in China, Japan and Korea, and explore different popular music styles in each culture and issues related to the emergence of each one and their localized meanings. It will seek to understand how meanings are produced, mediated, negotiated, subverted, and celebrated in popular music. Through discussions based on a combination of selected readings, films/videos, and music recordings, students will not only get acquainted with popular music well beyond their own or what they normally listen to; they will also gain alternative perspectives on what constitutes "popular music" in different East Asian contexts and their significance.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Articulate in both written and verbal form, the distinct features, performance contexts and pertinent sociocultural issues of the popular music genres studied in class
- 2.Explain basic musical, ethnomusicological and critical theory terms and concepts, and the background information of each studied popular music culture
- 3.Identify aurally the characteristics of each of the popular music genres studied and discussed
- 4.Critically analyze the relationship between music and culture
- HUMA 2202The Japanese Novel3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course surveys the literary and cultural history of Japan from the Meiji period (1868-1912) up to the Second World War (1941-1945), paying a particular attention to the origins and subsequent development of the narrative form of the novel. Topics of discussion will include: the relationship between the narrative form of the novel and the imagination of the nation-state, gender and literary genre, the fragmentation of narrative in modernist writings, the demarcation between “pure” and “mass” literature, and the role of translation in constructing conceptions of Japanese literature.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize with the historical circumstances that led to the processes of literary modernization in Japan and its subsequent developments
- 2.Recall and explain the mechanics of modern literary language and narration
- 3.Apply the fundamentals of literary criticism through one’s own analysis and interpretation
- 4.Demonstrate an understanding of the perspective of the major authors of 20th century Japanese literature
- HUMA 2203Japanese Cinema3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course takes as its object of analysis the themes, stylistics, and genres of Japanese cinema through work of classic directors (Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, and Ozu) and more recent filmmakers. Discussions will cover such issues as the rise of the “pure film” movement in the early twentieth century, the impact of the postwar relationship between Hollywood and the Japanese film industry on the development of the discipline of film studies, the functions of film genre, and the globalization of Japanese cinema.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the technical development of film, from silent cinema to digital media, from the beginning of the 20th century to the present
- 2.Describe the impact of the global flows of cinematic production and circulation on the development of Japanese cinema
- 3.Explain the primary 20th and 21st century cultural concerns in Japan as depicted in cinema
- 4.Identify important directors and important film movements within Japan
- 5.Perform formal and stylistic analyses of films to become an active rather than passive viewer of cinema
- HUMA 2204Japanese Science Fiction3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course examines works of Japanese science fiction across the 20th and 21st centuries through the prism of processes of modernization, imperialism, and globalization. At its heart is the examination of a range of critical issues arising from the imbrication of science fiction with a range of key topics of interest, the rise of a planetary consciousness in conjunction with imperial utopianism, the politics of the writing of alternate histories, constructions of race and gender in post-humanist discourse, translation and techno-orientalism, among others.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain key theories and ongoing debates on the origins and definitions of the science fiction genre
- 2.Recognize important authors of Japanese science fiction and the historical and cultural contexts of the genre's development in Japan
- 3.Perform formal and stylistic analyses of specific works of science fiction
- 4.Summarize the transnational circulations and mutations of the genre's central tropes, motifs, and ideas as they travel both historically and geographically
- 5.Describe how works of science fiction engage with a range of different issues of historical and cultural concern in the present
- HUMA 2240Reading Chinese Literature: Dreams of the Red Chamber3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2601Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingMode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course is a study of one of the most famous Chinese novels, Dreams of the Red Chamber. A close reading of the novel will benefit our students in terms of their literary appreciation and writing skills.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Employ a variety of literary approaches to analyze the main themes and characters of Dreams of the Red Chamber
- 2.Identify and evaluate the philosophical meanings undergirding the novel
- 3.Illustrate the contributions of this masterpiece to the Chinese literary tradition
- 4.Apply a variety of literary approaches to write classic and stylish short stories, and evaluate the aesthetics of literary works
- HUMA 2250Modern Chinese Fiction (1917-1949)3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA historical and critical survey of modern Chinese fiction from 1917 to 1949, with emphasis on the forms of novella and short story. Several famous fictions by LU Xun, MAO Dun, SHEN Congwen, LAO She, ZHANG Ailing ,etc. will be done close-reading in the class. The course aims to enable students to analyze and appreciate the authors’ literary skills, artistic achievement, literary thought, and historical background.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the meaning of modern Chinese fictions in historical context
- 2.Critically interpret and evaluate literary works produced in modern China
- 3.Analyze the techniques and narrative characteristics of Chinese fiction
- HUMA 2260Contemporary Chinese Fiction (1949-present)3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2603Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course will describe modern Chinese fiction from 1949 to the present, a historical background of Modern Chinese thought will be explained. Some literary theory will be discussed when explaining the stories.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize and discuss the representative works of the Contemporary China
- 2.Analyze and evaluate the writers’ literary skills and artistic achievement through a close reading of the selected works
- 3.Identify and describe the major themes of the present Chinese novels
- HUMA 2300Traditional Chinese Poetry: Early Chinese Poetry3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2604Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course will describe the origins and early development of classical Chinese poetry, e.g, Shijing, Chuci, folk songs, and major poets of the Han Dynasties. The meaning of these poetry will be examined. The distinguishing aesthetic feature will be discussed.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the representative poetic works of the Early China
- 2.Explain the representative poetic works of the Early China during the Han Dynasties
- 3.Appreciate and evaluate towards the poets’ literary skills and artistic achievement
- HUMA 2310Traditional Chinese Fiction3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2605Medium of Instruction[EN] Taught in Eng/Chin subject to diff. offerings
[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA survey of traditional Chinese fiction from its formative period to the Qing through the reading of selected texts, with emphasis on the evolution of the forms and themes and their cultural implications. In this class, we study full-length fiction as well as short stories written in both vernacular and classical Chinese. Some questions we ask include: Who are the authors and the audience? What are the forms and aesthetic conventions of traditional Chinese fiction? What are the historical, political, and moral concerns of traditional Chinese fiction? The class will address these questions through historical contextualization and close reading of representative works.Intended Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain important story collection and fictions in traditional China
- 2.Discuss the backgrounds of stories of historical and cultural significance
- 3.Apply close reading of textual and visual materials
- 4.Recognize cultural texts with analytical and theoretical tools
- 5.Explain basic vocabularies and concepts in narratology
- 6.Communicate effectively in class discussion by referencing to class materials appropriately
- HUMA 2320Chinese Drama3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionAn introduction to the fundamentals of Chinese drama in both modern and pre-modern periods, with the emphasis on how to appreciate Chinese drama tradition.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand classical Chinese drama.
- 2.Understand the essence of literary creative writing.
- 3.Develop critical thinking skills in class discussions and during the process of creative projects.
- HUMA 2330Anime3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2606DescriptionWith the rise of digital culture since the late 1980s, Japanese animation, widely known as anime, has become a global phenomenon. Given its sweeping impact worldwide, we can no longer dismiss it as mere pop culture and entertainment. Indeed, anime has gradually emerged as a new field of research, dominating film histories and theories in the academia. This course offers an overview of anime by examining its histories, techniques and technologies, medium, genres, and conceptual issues. It will track anime’s early years, development, industrialization, globalization, and explosive boom in the digital age. Focusing on cinema features and TV series, this course will explore a variety of overlapping (sub)genres, such as Robot, Mecha, Cyberpunk, Apocalypse, Adventure, Supernatural, Shōjo, and Tragedy. Conceptual issues like cuteness, gender, sexuality, race, nation, environment, human-machine interaction, AI and posthumanism will be examined closely. Japanese language and knowledge are welcome but not required for this course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the history and development of anime
- 2.Explain major animators, their representative films, and the socio-historical context in which they emerged
- 3.Analyze particular animated films, identify their directors, technologies/techniques, audio-visual styles, and socio-historical condition
- 4.Use professional vocabulary to communicate ideas about animation and film
- 5.Apply critical thinking, analyze animated films informed by animation theories, and improve academic writing skills in animation studies
- 6.Develop perceptive insights of our digital society, cultivate humanitarian values, and develop a strong sense of social responsibility
- HUMA 2331Japanese Animation: Technology, Gender, and History3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course takes up the technologies and practices of spectatorship surrounding Japanese animation. By examining the works of important directors, this course will cover not only the major genres and recurrent themes of anime, but also, new media theories and other related writings on media history and fan culture.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the technological and cultural practices that underpin the development of Japanese animation
- 2.Perform formal and stylistic analyses of anime texts
- 3.Explain the practices of spectatorship vis-a-vis of Japanese animation
- 4.Demonstrate an understanding of the works of the important directors of animation in Japan
- 5.Describe the significance of Japanese animation as a transnational and transmedia cultural commodity
- HUMA 2340Between Old and New: Chinese Stories and Their Reinventions3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2607DescriptionThis course traces the transmutation and reinvention of classical Chinese stories from ancient times to present era. What are the stories told once and again in Chinese culture? Is it true that each retelling is different? Or do things stay more or less the same despite changes of time? Are there perennial themes that thread through Chinese civilization? Is this a valid question? In this course, we engage these questions by putting examples in Chinese literature and culture from the past and the present into dialogue. Taking a transmedia approach, this course brings in both textual and visual materials from history, literature, and cinema. By juxtaposing materials of relevance from different times and carried by various media, we explore continuities and discontinuities in Chinese culture as well as the possibilities and limits each historical moment offers for cultural transformation.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and discuss the perennial stories and themes in Chinese culture
- 2.Identify historical and cultural backgrounds of important adaptions of ancient stories in traditional and modern China
- 3.Explain basic vocabularies and concepts in narratology and film studies and demonstrate close reading techniques of textual and visual materials
- 4.Communicate effectively through discussing class materials and writing assignments
- HUMA 2400Approaches to Humanities in China Studies3 Credit(s)Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is designed to train students with the skills of academic research and writing in the field of humanities in general, but with special reference to arts, literature, linguistics, religion, philosophy, history, and anthropology, of China, in particular. Students’ attention will also be drawn to the inherent problems of sources and materials as textual or visual ‘evidence’, and they will be taught how to identify and to tackle with the problem of fallacy of ‘evidence’.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Use reference books and tools useful in humanities studies
- 2.Read Chinese texts independently
- 3.Conduct bibliographical and source material searches in China related humanistic studies
- 4.Translate and annotate Chinese texts into English academically
- HUMA 2420Late Imperial China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2521Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA comprehensive survey of Chinese history from the ninth down to the eighteenth century, with emphasis on developments in the economy and society, empire-building, and intellectual pursuits.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe and analyze significant political, economic, social, and cultural developments in late-imperial China
- 2.Demonstrate how change and continuity became interrelated in Chinese history
- 3.Discuss the relationship between various foreign powers and China in late-imperial period
- 4.Develop skills in reading and analyzing historical sources and to acquire a comprehensive understanding of China as a major civilization in the past millennium
- HUMA 244020th-Century China in Documentary Films3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2523DescriptionThis course presents the turbulent history of twentieth century China through documentary films. In addition to reading historical texts, students will study various films made by journalists and filmmakers of the time and in recent years. In the first half of the term, the course will cover major historical events from the 1911 revolution to 1989. In the second half, through closely studying documentary films the course will focus on several themes, including China's role in WWII, the Anti-Rightist Campaign, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the Tiananmen Incident in 1989. Some of the films are in English and some in Chinese with subtitles.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate broad knowledge of major historical events and themes in 20th-century China
- 2.Analyse historically and critically about history and films
- 3.Explain history as personalized and lived experiences
- 4.Conduct oral history interviews and write oral history report
- 5.Produce a team-based short documentary film
- HUMA 2470From Fung Shui to Mao's Villages: City Plans, Urban Politics & the Unseen World of Chinese Villages3 Credit(s)Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA historical survey of the socio-cultural transformation in Chinese cities and villages from the late-Imperial to the modern periods. The process of “modernization” as well as the persistence of tradition is studied to redress some of the stereotyped pictures of Chinese society, both rural and urban. Important topics include: continuity and change in China’s city plans and their cultural meanings, the cultural meanings and importance of cities in Imperial China, the socio-economic-politico-cultural significances of treaty port cities as beachhead of Western expansion in China, urban modernization and its socio-economic-cultural impacts on China during the warlord period and under the Nationalist regime, the salient characteristics and the reality of Chinese rural society and politic in the pre-modern and modern periods, the social and economic development and devastation of the Chinese countryside between 1800 and 1940, and how the Chinese Communist Party made revolution in the countryside before 1937.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the history of China’s cities, cosomology in city planning, urban culture and politics, and the village world in late-imperial and modern China
- 2.Elaborate China’s historical past with particular reference to city and village
- 3.Explain and discuss the history of China’s cities, urban culture, and the village world in late-imperial and modern China
- HUMA 2520History of Tea in East Asia3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2525DescriptionThis course explores the history of tea in East Asia from its origins to the present day using an interdisciplinary approach. Topics covered include the development of tea culture throughout history, tea's role as a trade commodity, the dissemination and innovation in tea production technologies, and its recent re-imagining as a traditional product. The course will be a mix of lectures and discussions.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the history of tea from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective
- 2.Synthesize and critique academic arguments based on original sources
- 3.Formulate coherent arguments using primary or secondary sources on subjects related to the course both in writing and in oral presentation
- HUMA 2588Nazism and German Society, 1914-19453 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2526DescriptionThis course surveys German history from 1914 to 1945, with a focus on the rise, rule, and destruction of National Socialism. Topics to be covered include the First World War, the Weimar Republic, the emergence of the National Socialist movement, consent and coercion in the Third Reich, the racial state, Hitler's leadership, the Second World War, and the Holocaust. In addition to mastering historical concepts and narratives, students will sharpen their abilities to read sources and write analytical essays.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Evaluate and compare the concepts and narratives necessary for understanding the history of Nazi Germany
- 2.Compose an analytical essay using textual sources, frame a thesis statement, and marshal evidence to make a point
- 3.Synthesize and evaluate historical arguments and present the conclusions orally
- HUMA 2590The Making of the Modern World: Renaissance to the Present3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course surveys the major ideas, political developments and cultural movements in European societies from the renaissance to the present, providing students with foundational and thematic knowledge of European history, as well as an understanding of the ways that European politics, culture and economy have shaped through encounters with non-European societies -- through cultural and commercial exchange, imperialism and de-colonization, Cold War rivalries and globalization.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Grasp the major ideas, political developments and cultural movements in European societies from the Renaissance to the present, as well as an understanding of the ways that European politics, culture and economy have been shaped through encounters with non-European societies
- 2.Acquire familiarity with some of the major interpretative paradigms and theories for explaining long-term change in European societies and their relationships to the rest of the world
- 3.Learn to conceptualize historical change in a comparative and long-term framework, and not simply in terms of individual events, persons and dates
- HUMA 2596History of Biology and Medicine3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course explores the past 200 years of history of biology and medicine. It is designed as an introductory course for students who have no background in the subject. Topics will include case studies from both the 19th Century and the 20th Century, with an emphasis on how the past has influenced the present. Classes will mix lectures with discussions, and students will prepare an in-depth final research presentation as well as an extended review essay of a book in the history of biology or medicine of their choosing.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Evaluate at least ten central topics in the history of biology and medicine during the modern era
- 2.Analyze and critique intellectual arguments using primary and secondary sources
- 3.Present clear and well-argued reasoning to defend or refute historical arguments about the history of biology and medicine both in writing and in oral presentation
- HUMA 2621Culture and Environment3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2551DescriptionThis introductory course aims to study the relationship between "culture" and the "environment" and the impacts of cultural mechanisms on resource management, population and health practices in different cultural settings. Some topics about human adaptive strategies, such as types of production and consumption in different societies related to horticulture, maritime, pastoralism and labor intensive agriculture will be discussed.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and discuss the interactions between environmental and cultural settings in our daily life
- 2.Elaborate socio-cultural institutions and their environment in human societies
- 3.Apply the specific topics and skills learnt in the course to discuss and relate environmental awareness
- HUMA 2623Cultural Sustainability in South China3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] Putonghua
[CA] CantoneseDescriptionIn the past decades, local societies in South China experienced significant changes and many local customs and traditions are disappearing as a result of China’s rapid urbanization and economic growth. The sustainability of local cultures has become a major concern. Culture is an important component of sustainable development, as it refers to how we understand and appreciate natural resources and each other. Cultural sustainability requires the recognition of indigenous cultural values and standards, as well as equal rights of the respective communities in policy planning and decision-making, and the engagement of the local community and members of the public. This course adopts an interdisciplinary approach to explore the concept, possibilities, and limits of cultural sustainability. Students are required to conduct field research projects in the Pearl River Delta region, in which they will meet the local residents and have personal fieldwork experience through interviewing and participant observation.Intended Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand basic terms, concepts, and theories of cultural sustainability through the study of culture and society of South China
- 2.Develop an appreciation of cultural diversity and understand the possibilities and limits of sustaining local cultures
- 3.Develop research skills for conducting fieldwork and collecting field data on human culture and society
- 4.Develop written and oral presentations skills
- HUMA 2632Chinese Culture and Society in Anthropological Perspectives3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2553, MGCS 5031Medium of Instruction[CA] CantoneseReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is a survey of traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural practices in local communities based on anthropologists’ long-term first-hand fieldwork studies in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. Basic anthropological concepts and theories about Chinese socio-cultural institutions will be examined. Major anthropological contributions to the understanding of the diversity and unity of Chinese cultures and societies will be explored.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the basic terms, concepts and theories in cultural anthropology about Chinese cultures and society
- 2.Apply anthropological perspectives to analyze socio-cultural issues in contemporary Chinese societies
- 3.Conduct ethnographic fieldwork for collecting first-hand research data in local social events
- 4.Articulate human endeavors and creative expression that constitute cultural diversity
- HUMA 2634Global History: New Anthropological Perspectives3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course takes on the broad sweep of human history from an anthropological perspective, highlighting the great social and cultural diversity of human experience. Popular accounts of global history depict human society evolving stepwise in a unilinear fashion: egalitarian hunter-gatherers gave way to hierarchical agricultural societies before the rise of cities and, later, the establishment of states. New archaeological and anthropological discoveries are now challenging such picture: the trajectory of human history, it turns out, has been much more diverse and unpredictable than previously imagined. The course will delve into anthropological phenomena that showcase this diversity, such as hunter-gatherers’ seasonality, ‘play agriculture’ in Amazonia, egalitarian cities, urban revolutions in Mesoamerica, or stranger-kings across the Pacific. These case studies, analyzed through modern anthropological theory, reveal the profound role of collective intentionality in shaping our history. They cast light on the past while also providing insights into the possibilities of the future.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Acquire comprehensive knowledge about the latest anthropological debates around the grand narratives of global history
- 2.Acquire knowledge of the variability of human social organization across the world and through time, and about the major historical shifts and transitions
- 3.Employ specific anthropological case-studies to construct broader theoretical arguments on the themes of global history
- 4.Develop critical thinking skills, particularly in relation to the debate between historical determinism and human agency
- 5.Acquire comprehensive knowledge about recent archaeological discoveries that contributed to revising grand narratives of human history
- HUMA 2635Cultural Diversity in China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2554, MGCS 5032DescriptionThis course examines diverse ethnic cultures and identities in China, and the ethnic relations between the state power and ethnic groups in historical contexts as well as the contemporary situation of the social institutions of ethnic minorities in China. The course lectures and tutorials are designed to introduce the topics to the students and to accelerate students’ intellectual development.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and discuss the historical and cultural context between the state center and its margin in China
- 2.Elaborate social-cultural institutions related to state and ethnic groups, and cultural diversity in China
- 3.Explain how the nation state is constructed and how cultural diversity is developed in contemporary China
- HUMA 2638Peoples and Cultures in Southeast Asia3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2555DescriptionThis course aims to study the cultural diversity in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and the complex historical development of majority/minority relations and the formulation of cultural identities among different peoples, as well as the dynamic relations among religion, ethnicity, tourism and modernity in this region.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain dynamic relations of ethnic identities and political geography in mainland Southeast Asia
- 2.Explain ethnicity and cultural meanings of social political relations by adopting interdisciplinary perspective on cultural diversity and a macroscopic focus on the course of state formation
- 3.Articulate one’s critical understanding of concepts of state and identity in our contemporary social life
- HUMA 2640Unofficial China: Social History 1800s-1930s3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2529Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA study of the key issues in the social history of late-Imperial and Modern China. Different aspects of ordinary people's life are highlighted in order to critically analyze the process of social change from an unofficial perspective. Topics include: violence in Chinese culture and society, conditions and situation of women, the problems of prostitution, opium smoking and gambling, workers and peasants in face of economic exploitation.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Discuss and evaluate the history of late-imperial and modern China
- 2.Appraise the socio-cultural history of late-imperial and modern China through the issues and perspectives of socio-political violence, women and gender politics, opium smoking and medical culture, prostitution and society, and working lives of urban and rural workers
- 3.Evaluate our conventional wisdom on the historical topics and issues of modern China history covered in this course
- HUMA 2660Introduction to Chinese Painting3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2651Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA survey of major monuments, schools and theories from earliest times to the twentieth century, with an introduction to the problems of connoisseurship in Chinese painting.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate verbal and analytical familiarity with the evolution of traditional Chinese painting
- 2.Apply taught concepts and visual analysis to their appreciation of Chinese painting
- 3.Review and report on an exhibition of art works, discuss the theme of the display, relate the art works to what they have learned in class, and evaluate them in terms of styles, techniques, and meanings
- 4.Collect visual and textual data about an artist, discuss his/her stylistic characteristics, evaluate his/her contribution in relation to tradition and innovation, and interpret his/her work against the cultural context
- 5.Discuss and communicate their understanding of Chinese painting in oral (Putonghua) and written Chinese
- HUMA 2661Chinese Oil Painting3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2652DescriptionThis course gives students knowledge of the development of oil painting in China. Focusing on the history of China in the 20th and 21st centuries, the course explores the social, cultural and political circumstances that favored, oppressed and directed the path of the development of Chinese oil painting in different periods of time.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Examine the social and political circumstances for the rapid growth of oil painting from late Qing Dynasty to the founding of the PRC in 1949
- 2.Analyse the relationship between the stylistic characteristics of Chinese oil painting and Communist ideologies between 1949 and 1979
- 3.Describe and discuss how Chinese avant-garde was born in the 1980s and the various art theories of the time
- 4.Evaluate the changes in the art circle after 1989 and their consequences in contemporary Chinese oil painting of the 21st century
- HUMA 2670Understanding Western Painting3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces students to the masterpieces of Western painting through an outline of chronology, painting techniques, painting genres by themes and the lives of the most renowned Western painters from ancient Greece to the mid-20th century.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the basic terminology of Western painting
- 2.Recognize the chronology and genres of Western painting from ancient Greece to the mid-20th century
- 3.Identify the stylistic characteristics of different epochs in different European countries and examine them in relation to painting techniques, material components, aesthetic theories and the socio-economic and cultural conditions of their emergence
- HUMA 2680Understanding Western Architecture3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2654DescriptionThis course gives students fundamental knowledge of the masterpieces of Western architecture and the variation in styles in different epochs and cultures, from ancient Greece to the 21st century.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Define, explain and use the basic terminology of Western architecture
- 2.Recognize the chronology and typology of Western architecture from ancient Greece to the 21st century
- 3.Identify the stylistic characteristics of different epochs in different European countries and examine them in relation to structural and tectonic systems, architectural theories, and historical, socio-economic and cultural conditions of their emergence
- HUMA 2831Metaphysics: Study of Reality and Existence3 Credit(s)DescriptionMetaphysics is the study of the fundamental and pervasive aspects of reality, such as existence, space, time, causation, objects, and properties. This course covers historical debates and contemporary discussions on the topic. The course will delve into compelling philosophical inquiries such as the existence of God, the nature of free will, the factors that determine our continuity of identity, the potentiality of time travel, and the enigmatic mind-body problem.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Acquire comprehensive knowledge of metaphysical issues in the history of philosophy
- 2.Acquire the ability to critically examine philosophical issues
- 3.Acquire the ability to demonstrate close reading and analytical thinking skills through writing a philosophy paper
- 4.Obtain the ability to formulate philosophy arguments
- 5.Acquire the ability to answer to fundamental metaphysical questions and be able to evaluate and apply metaphysical theories they have learned to reflect upon their value system and behavior
- 6.Acquire the ability to evaluate the intellectual development of philosophy throughout history
- HUMA 2832Philosophy of Mind3 Credit(s)DescriptionPhilosophy of mind specifically explores the intricate issues surrounding the relationship between the mental and the physical, as well as delves into the nature of consciousness. This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamental and enduring problems in the philosophy of mind. Some of the inquiries we will tackle include: What constitutes a mind and its constituent elements? How does the mind operate? What is the correlation between minds and brains? How do minds perceive and represent the external world? What defines the concept of self? What characterizes consciousness and subjective experiences?Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Obtain comprehensive knowledge of classical and contemporary philosophical discussions related to the mind
- 2.Acquire the ability to construct well-formulated philosophical arguments
- 3.Acquire the ability to critique the intellectual evolution of philosophy throughout history
- 4.Explain how the mind works from philosophical perspectives
- 5.Acquire skills in close reading and analytical thinking to deeply analyze philosophical texts and ideas and be able to evaluate and apply the philosophies they have learned to reflect upon their value system and behavior
- 6.Examine the historical development of the philosophy of mind to showcase cross-cultural understanding
- HUMA 2840Buddhism and the Chinese Intellectual Tradition3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2571Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will introduce the basic ideas of Buddhism, the main schools of Buddhism in China and their historical development. A number of Chinese Buddhist philosophical terms and some works written by Chinese monks and scholars will be selected for explanation and discussion. This course examines the dynamics of cultural interaction and choice-making with an emphasis on Buddhism as an Indian religion and its encounters with indigenous Chinese traditions and the outcomes of their interactions.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate the basic techniques acquired in class via writing/producing an academic report
- 2.Explain key concepts of the spirit, development, and basic doctrines of Chinese Buddhism
- 3.Compare and contrast different theories in Chinese Buddhism and evaluate their significances
- 4.Evaluate and apply Chinese Buddhist philosophy to reflect upon different aspects of life and behavior
- HUMA 2911Buddhism: Origin and Growth3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2572DescriptionAn examination of the historical, religious and philosophical foundation of the Buddhist tradition in India and exploration of the history of Buddhism as a world religion with an emphasis on the basic doctrines and philosophy of Buddhism.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Critically, comparatively, and interculturally analyze Buddhist forms of experience, interpretation, and argumentation as presented in the course readings
- 2.Explain and communicate the role and significance of Buddhist thought and practice in their own perspective and from diverse points of views of other cultures
- 3.Develop a well-informed approach to address key questions in Buddhist philosophy
- HUMA 2921Ethical Theories and Contemporary Issues3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2573, HUMA 200NDescriptionThis course introduces students to the ethical theories of deontology (or the ethics of duty), utilitarianism (or the ethics of consequences), and virtue ethics (or the ethics of character). This is followed by an examination of their application to selected contemporary moral issues. In general, issues relating to the following areas may be considered: the environment, business, information technology, and bioethics. The precise issues discussed may vary from year to year.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain ethical theories and how they are applied to the understanding of contemporary moral issues
- 2.Analyze some critical moral issues relating to the environment, bioethics, and information technology
- 3.Reflect upon and articulate these issues through the rational tools of philosophical analysis
- HUMA 2930What am I? Personal Identity and the Self from a Philosophical Perspective3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2574DescriptionMost of us have a special interest in what will happen to ourselves. If you learn that someone will win a one-million lottery tomorrow, you feel happy for them. If you are then told that the someone is you, a new set of emotions arises. What am I? The course discusses the possibility of life after death, the existence of a soul, the possibility and desirability of immortality, abortion, and euthanasia. These discussions greatly affect how one chooses one's religion and perceives the value of life. We will read classical and contemporary theories of the self, personal identity, afterlife, death, and will explore the relation between the self and its environment, the basis of (non)egoistic future concerns and responsibilities. By looking at different approaches and various (Eastern and Western) philosophical and religious traditions to answering fundamental questions, we learn to develop the habit to think in a critical way.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate the ability to understand cross‐cultural issues about the self in the history of philosophy
- 2.Critically examine issues surrounding the relationships between what we are and our persistence conditions
- 3.Demonstrate close reading and analytical thinking skills
- 4.Formulate arguments in the format of an academic essay
- 5.Justify contextually about oneself: “What should I do? What are my responsibilities?”
- 6.Evaluate critically about oneself: “Are my future egoistic concerns justified? Is my belief about afterlife justified?”
- HUMA 3000Special Topics2-3 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from the humanities. May be repeated for credit, if topics are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge on various topics that are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.
- HUMA 3030Language, Communication and Culture3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3501DescriptionThis course explores human language in relation to the communicative functions which it serves and the cultural context in which it is used. Issues such as how human language is distinct from other communication systems, how language is used to convey different meanings and how culture affects the use of language will be examined in order to highlight the uniqueness of human language.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the differences between language and other forms of communication systems
- 2.Articulate the central role played by culture in the process of communication
- 3.Apply what is learnt to analyze the central role played by culture in the process of communication
- HUMA 3050Psychology of Language3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3502DescriptionThis course will focus on the psychological processes of language use. It includes an introduction to basic linguistic and psychological models and examines the biological foundations of language. Psycholinguistic issues in language comprehension and language production will be discussed. Over the course of the semester, it covers research areas such as speech perception and production, word recognition, sentence processing, and language in the brain.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the major theories and models of language processing
- 2.Evaluate the theoretical debates of a scientific study of linguistics
- 3.Communicate effectively findings of a psycholinguistics study through speaking and writing
- 4.Evaluate objectively research designs and tools used by a psycholinguistics study
- 5.Evaluate language phenomenon from an empirical perspective
- HUMA 3060Language and Migration3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3503DescriptionThis course aims to stimulate students' thinking and broaden their knowledge about language in relation to migration in the contemporary multilingual world. This is a world which is a product of mobility of people, information and products across physical and virtual boundaries. Languages themselves are changed through migration. Within a context of linguistic diversity, language is central to the organization of institutions, access to information, the exchange of goods and the ability to communicate. Students will investigate how language is used by migrants in areas including health, education, the law and employment. They will explore how language practices are shaped by face-to-face and mediated encounters and by the constraints of political and institutional contexts. Key questions are: What languages and forms of communication get used, when, why and where? What linguistic factors enable and limit access for migrants to services and resources? What are the consequences?Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Summarise key concepts in the field of language and migration
- 2.Explain how language use in diverse societies relates to interaction and institutional practice
- 3.Explain how beliefs about language use can promote or inhibit social justice
- 4.Critique relevant approaches to the analysis of language use in contexts of mobility
- 5.Create, confidently and critically, academic arguments within the field of language and migration
- HUMA 3102Making Chamber Music A2 Credit(s)DescriptionThrough weekly coaching sessions and public performances, students will learn all facets of chamber music making at a high level. Students will also learn team-building skills and develop attentiveness to partners in an ensemble. This is a course for students who are highly motivated, and sufficiently trained and experienced in classical music performance. Enrollment in the course requires instructor's approval based on audition outcome.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Learn to interpret and perform western classical chamber music repertoire through guidance in a small classroom setting
- 2.Evaluate and critique performances of their peers by listening and observing other chamber ensembles
- 3.Discover and express their own creativity through hands on coaching sessions
- 4.Develop team-building skills and attentiveness to others through interaction with fellow ensemble members in class and performance
- HUMA 3103Making Chamber Music B2 Credit(s)DescriptionThrough weekly coaching sessions and public performances, students will learn all facets of chamber music making at a high level and expand their repertoire on their instrument. Students will also learn team-building skills and develop attentiveness to partners in an ensemble. This is a course for students who are highly motivated, and sufficiently trained and experienced in classical music performance. Enrollment in the course requires instructor's approval based on audition outcome.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Learn to interpret and perform western classical chamber music repertoire through guidance in a small classroom setting
- 2.Evaluate and critique performances of their peers by listening and observing other chamber ensembles
- 3.Discover and express their own creativity through hands on coaching sessions
- 4.Develop team-building skills and attentiveness to others through interaction with fellow ensemble members in class and performance
- HUMA 3104Music Theory II: Fundamentals of Harmony and Counterpoint3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course will cover the technical and analytical tools of harmony and counterpoint, concentrating on functional tonality which forms the basic grammar of European art music, roughly from the late seventeenth to the late nineteenth century. Students without prerequisite but with prior background in music theory may seek instructor's approval for enrollment in the course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Produce and analyze four-part choral-style writing adhering to the rules of traditional tonality
- 2.Understand the concept of modulation in tonal music through theory assignments
- 3.Assimilate the basics of harmony and counterpoint through regular theory writing assignments
- 4.Develop a deeper understanding of western art music repertory and creativity through an exploration of principles of music theory
- 5.Develop collaborative working skills through the learning and production of course examples of these materials
- HUMA 3105Making Choral Music3 Credit(s)DescriptionBy studying and performing pieces from the historical spectrum of classical choral masterpieces, students will gain an in-depth and hands on appreciation for the history and artistry of Western music. The performance practicum and analytical skills demonstrated will bring about a deeper understanding of music as an art form. Students will both research and perform these works to gain a unique appreciation for the music. Previous musical training, albeit helpful, is not required.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop a deeper appreciation of classical choral music through a historical survey
- 2.Gain a basic understanding of vocal technique through practice and performance
- 3.Understand music theory fundamentals through analysis of specific works
- 4.Apply analytical skills from this course to other disciplines through creative thinking
- 5.Show a proper team working attitude and the skills to motivate other members
- 6.Perform a concert of choral works with correct understanding of style and group vocal technique
- HUMA 3107Electronic Music Composition II3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course develops students’ craft, creativity and technical skills in working with live electronics in the production of sound. Using significant repertoire as points of reference, the course explores techniques for using software to manipulate and create sound in contexts such as live instrumental performance (including combinations of acoustic instrument plus electronics), sound installation, and sound sculpture. The course will culminate in an open concert presentation of final works that students will have developed over the semester in consultation with the instructor. Approval of the course instructor is needed for students to enroll in this course. Students should have prior experience with electronic music. Prior experience with instrumental composition will also be beneficial.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Organize sound creatively into coherent works of music for a live performance or sound installation context as a means of self-expression
- 2.Apply various technologies for controlling and processing audio in a live performance or sound installation context
- 3.Facilitate rehearsals and performance of works that use live electronics
- 4.Demonstrate knowledge of key works and historical trends in the field of electronic music
- 5.Demonstrate a deepened understanding of key issues of aesthetics in electronic music
- HUMA 3150Independent Study in Creative Arts1-2 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course will allow students the opportunity for focused study and practice in music, creative writing, and video/visual arts on an individual basis. The course may be repeated for credit if covered topics are different each term. Enrollment in the course requires approval from the course instructor.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Acquire in-depth creative arts skills
- 2.Approach creative arts projects from new perspectives
- 3.Develop creative arts ideas and practice into full-length compositions, extended performances, creative writing samples, or visual/video art works
- 4.Develop a unique style of creative expression by working with an instructor/practitioner to develop a unique style of creative expression
- 5.Develop further understanding of arts-related projects
- 6.Expand understanding of the creative process
- HUMA 3201Animation: A Global Perspective3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course examines the history and development of animation as both an art form and an industry around the world. It covers early experiments with animation, the transition to sound and feature film, and the rise of the classical Hollywood studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, the Fleischers, UPA, and MGM. This course will extend to other countries or regions, such as Canada, Russia, Germany, Czech, Japan, China, and Hong Kong. In addition, this course will track the development of technology and techniques of animation, such as rotoscoping, pixilation, cel animation, stop‐motion animation, puppet animation, silhouette animation, limited animation on TV, direct animation, and computer animation. This course aims to establish a foundation for students from different academic backgrounds who might be unfamiliar with animation studies.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Articulate and discuss the development of animation as both an art form and an industry
- 2.Recognize major animators, their representative works, and the socio-historical context in which they emerged
- 3.Analyze particular animated works, identify their directors, animation technology/techniques, their visual styles, and socio-historical condition
- 4.Apply theoretical film vocabularies to discuss animation
- 5.Evaluate animation studies critically in the academic writing format
- HUMA 3202Chinese Creative Writing: Reading Literary Classics and Writing Essays3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingMode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course introduces selective Western and Chinese literary classics and basic literary theories, and provides students with a forum for extended practice in the art of creative writing. It is designed for students who have little or no previous experience writing literary texts in a particular genre. Introductory workshops introduce students to a variety of technical and imaginative concerns through exercises, readings, and discussions. In addition to weekly reading literary classics, this course will especially focus on writing literary essays in Chinese.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Learn to interpret and write literary essays through guidance in a small classroom setting
- 2.Understand the essence of literary creative writing by reading world literary classics and Chinese literary classics
- 3.Discover and express their own creativity in the genre of literary essays through hands on coaching sessions
- HUMA 3203Chinese Creative Writing: Reading Literary Classics and Writing Novels3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingMode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course introduces selective Western and Chinese literary novels, and provides students with a forum for extended practice in the art of creative writing. It is designed for students who have little or no previous experience writing literary texts in a particular genre. Introductory workshops introduce students to a variety of technical and imaginative concerns through exercises, readings, and discussions. In addition to weekly reading literary classics, this course will especially focus on writing literary novels in Chinese or cross the boundaries of the genre.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Learn to interpret and write literary novels through guidance in a small classroom setting
- 2.Understand the essence of literary creative writing by reading world literary classics and Chinese literary classics
- 3.Discover and express their own creativity in the genre of fiction through hands on coaching sessions
- HUMA 3204Chinese Creative Writing-Reading Literary Classics and Writing3 Credit(s)Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will introduce selective Western and Chinese literary classics and basic literary theories. Through discussing literature's relationships with nature, religion, politics, morality, self, culture, arts, philosophy, and history, this course not only ushers students into the fundamental literary world, but also aims at cultivating students' inner poetics ("beautiful soul"), aesthetic judgment ("bright eyes") and integrity of personality, and enhancing student's creative writing ability.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Interpret and write short fictions through guidance in a small classroom setting
- 2.Understand the essence of literary creative writing by reading world literary classics and Chinese literary classics
- 3.Discover and express their own creativity in the genre of short stories through hands on coaching sessions
- HUMA 3205Technologies of Passion: Self and Love in Chinese Literature3 Credit(s)Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionEmbracing Foucault's notion of "technologies of the self", this course studies how passion, as mediated through and formed by our sense of self and what we love, constitutes itself through collections of practices in Chinese literature during premodern period. In the context of this course, "technologies" should be understood as the operations and cooperation of politics, ethics, and religions through which passions for the self and other is formed and expressed. Together, the class investigate the literary transformations and ramifications of two perennial themes - love and the self - in Chinese literature across temporal and generic boundaries. How is "selfhood" philosophized, lyricized, and narrated? How is "love" represented, assessed, and contested? We examine how one's understanding of subjectivity, imagination of gender and sexuality, and knowledge of historical changes are mediated through diverse "technologies" in which explorations of the self and articulations of romantic engagement intertwine.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Enhance their understanding of traditional Chinese literature across generic boundaries
- 2.Practice their close reading skills and learn to historicize the texts under discussion
- 3.Practice their critical thinking skills and analytical writing skills
- 4.Have an opportunity to collaborate with each other and engage in team work
- HUMA 3210Traditional Chinese Poetry: Tang and Song Poetry3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3602Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA guided critical study of the representative works of the major shi and ci poets in the Tang and Song periods, with emphasis on the development of the various poetic styles.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize and comprehend the representative poetic works of the Tang and Song dynasties
- 2.Analyze and appreciate the poets’ literary skills and artistic achievement through a close reading of the selected works
- 3.List and describe the major themes of the Chinese lyric tradition in the Tang and Song dynasties
- HUMA 3220Modern Chinese Poetry3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3603Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course will introduce students to the history of modern Chinese poetry from the early twentieth century to the contemporary era. Major poets and aesthetic styles will be the focus of the class. In addition to developing their abilities in aesthetic appreciation, students will have opportunities to have hands-on experience in writing poems in Chinese, translation, and engaging in creative multi-media poetry projects.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and appreciate the representative poetic works written in the modern and contemporary time
- 2.Demonstrate historical knowledge of the major literary terms, schools and aesthetic concepts
- 3.Develop critical thinking abilities and writing skills to express feelings and ideas through writing poems
- 4.Integrate poetry and art into everyday life practices through critical reflection and linguistic engagement
- HUMA 3250Independent Cinema in Contemporary China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3604DescriptionSince the June Fourth Movement in 1989, underground/independent cinema has emerged as an alternative film culture in contemporary China. Distanced from the state-controlled film industry and often regarded as a counter culture against mainstream ideologies, independent cinema is frequently banned in China and screened abroad at international film festivals. As a symbol of both media democracy and secrecy, it provides us with a unique window to understand the diversified culture and society full of clamorous voices in post-1989 China. This course explores the histories, aesthetics, styles, contents, techniques, and technologies of independent cinema in contemporary China. It will be students-oriented and conducted through forms of seminars and discussions. Unlike traditional courses that are based on uni-directional lectures, readings, exams, and papers in a fixed classroom, this experimental course encourages students to venture outside and engage more with our society. It is a non-conventional, open, and democratic course that puts students in direct contact with our rapidly changing world.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the history and development of independent cinema in contemporary China
- 2.Identify and discuss the major independent filmmakers, their representative works, and the socio-historical context in which they emerged, technology/techniques they applied, and their audio-visual styles
- 3.Apply a professional film vocabulary to discuss independent cinema
- 4.Evaluate our society critically with perceptive insights
- 5.Evaluate independent cinema in China critically in the academic writing or video essay format
- HUMA 3410Special Topics in Pre-Imperial to Middle Imperial China3 Credit(s)DescriptionAn examination of specific social, political, economic or cultural issues of various periods from pre-imperial times to the middle period of Chinese history. Topics may vary. May be repeated for credits, if topics are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge on various topics that are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.
- HUMA 3430Reading Modern Chinese History Historically3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3521Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course introduces students to a series of socio-political historical events in late-Qing and the Republican periods. More importantly, it introduces some of the essential skills in identifying the fundamental problems and narratives in modern Chinese history texts from the late Qing to the 1940s. Topics covered are traditional and modern Chinese historiographies, the Opium War, the Taiping Rebellion, Sun Yat-sen and the legend of the 1911 revolution, the impact of western imperialism on China, warlordism, the peasant revolutions of the 1920s and 1930s.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the major problems of historical representations in official Chinese history textbooks and nationalistic/ patriotic historical writings as well as read and assess historical materials, in particular official Chinese history textbooks, critically
- 2.Appraise the socio-political history of modern China from the Opium War to the Chinese Communist revolution
- 3.Evaluate our conventional wisdom on the historical topics and issues of modern China history covered in this course
- 4.Demonstrate communication skill
- HUMA 3610Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology3 Credit(s)DescriptionAn exploration of a sub-field or topic in cultural anthropology. Basic concepts and issues will be examined with a focus on current research and theory. Topics may vary. May be repeated for credits, if topics are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge on various topics that are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.
- HUMA 3630Community and Cultural Identity3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course examines theories and case studies of cultural identities and the formation of human communities. Issues on kinship, locality, social stratification, ethnicity, multiculturalism, nationalism, and heritage in the expression of cultural identities and sense of belonging will be explored. Students are required to engage in community services for enhancing learning of related issues.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe multi-disciplinary theories and concepts, as well as folk meanings, of community in the constantly changing world and Hong Kong society
- 2.Analyze how people create, maintain, and use cultural identities in various communal contexts, cultivating sense of belonging and membership while affirming communal boundaries
- 3.Apply ethnographic research method in research projects to appreciate local agency of community building and revitalization
- 4.Define and explain problems of cross-cultural misunderstanding and exclusion
- HUMA 3660Tradition & Modernity: Chinese Ink Painting in 20th Century3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3651DescriptionThis course surveys the major developments of Chinese ink painting from the late 19th century to the present, focusing on her interaction with foreign cultures, debate over continuity and reform, search for modernity, and adaptation to the political, social, and cultural transformations in different historical periods. Discussions will give equal attention to techniques, stylistic analysis, and interpretations in historical and cultural contexts. In content, this course complements what is not covered by CORE 2651/HUMA 2660 at a more advanced level.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a verbal and analytical familiarity with the transformation of Chinese ink painting in the twentieth century
- 2.Apply taught concepts and visual analysis to their appreciation of Chinese ink painting
- 3.Review and report on an exhibition of art works, discuss the theme of the display, relate the art works to what they have learned in class, and evaluate them in terms of styles, techniques, and meanings
- 4.Collect visual and textual data about an artist, discuss his/her stylistic characteristics and interpret his/her work against the cultural context
- HUMA 3680Contemporary Architecture: The Pritzker Prize Winners3 Credit(s)DescriptionThe course introduces students to contemporary architecture through the study of the works of the winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. It will cover the foundation and awarding criteria of the Prize, and the monographic studies of its winners from its establishment in 1979 to the present. Architectural styles and works of the awardees and the most recent trends in architectural design and technology will be covered as well.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the most important architectural trends and styles around the world and the reasons for their rise and decline in the 20th and 21st centuries
- 2.Identify the most representative works, styles and the contributions to architectural movements of the Pritzker Prize winners in the contemporary world
- 3.Work in a team to apply the knowledge of architectural trends, stylistic design and characteristics to research into the works of one of the Pritzker Prize Winners, and describe, discuss and analyze them in both oral and written formats
- HUMA 3800Guided Studies in Chinese Philosophical Classics3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3571Medium of Instruction[CA] CantoneseReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course is a guided study of selected Chinese philosophical classics, with emphasis on the hermeneutical issues associated with the texts. The related Chinese philosophers are introduced to the students, including Mencius, Xunzi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Mozi, Gongsun Longzi and Wang Yang-ming. Topics include: “the basis of li (rites)”, “the rectification of names”, “the four beginnings”, “the four metaphors”, “evil nature”, “ineffable Dao”, “the butterfly’s dream”, “the fish’s happiness”, “white horse is not horse”, “the immutability of things”, “the impure nature of Buddhas”, “embracing the six qualities” and “the questions on Great Learning”.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain basic concepts in the selected Chinese philosophical classics
- 2.Examine hermeneutical implications of the selected Chinese philosophical classics
- 3.Reflect and formulate the argument and worldview of different philosophers
- 4.Evaluate the significance of traditional values in the context of modern life
- HUMA 3810Taoism and the Chinese Tradition3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3572Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is an introduction to Taoism as a living tradition in the context of Chinese history and culture. It is a living tradition since some of its important ideas like “the soft can conquer the hard” and “not to show one’s intelligence to the fullest extent” are still present in the attitude of life of the Chinese people. To enable students to learn and appreciate the insights of Taoism directly, some scholarly researches and especially the primary texts of the Laozi and Zhuangzi will be introduced.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi
- 2.Evaluate and apply the idea of the Taoist philosophy they have learnt to relate to their lives and behavior
- 3.Use appropriate academic writing style and format to discuss the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi
- HUMA 3900Philosophical Inquiry into the Modern World3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3574DescriptionThis intermediate course will introduce students to basic philosophical methods and concepts in order to help them to explore the nature of philosophical inquiry and survey various important fields, problems and issues in the discipline. The change from the Aristotelian world-view, to the Copernican Revolution, and the present Darwinian Revolution, i.e., from a religious and teleological (purposive) view to a non-teleological view, is outlined in the class.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Critically analyze philosophical forms of experience, interpretation, and argumentation as presented in the course readings
- 2.Comparatively analyze philosophical forms of experience, interpretation, and argumentation as presented in the course readings
- 3.Explain and communicate the role and significance of modern European thought and practice in their own perspective and from diverse points of views of other cultures
- HUMA 4000Special Topics1-4 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from the humanities. May be repeated for credits, if topics are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge on various topics that are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.
- HUMA 4020Language and Literature in Modern China3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)CORE 1501 OR CORE 3501 OR HUMA 1010 OR HUMA 1440 OR HUMA 3030Medium of Instruction[CA] Cantonese
[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims at an analysis of how modern China's views on culture, conceptions of beauty, modes of thinking and world outlook were affected by both language and literature. Through an in-depth analysis of literary works, students will arrive at a better understanding of the relationship between classical and vernacular Chinese, the formation of Modern Chinese, and the influence of different varieties of Chinese on various genres.Intended Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the formation process and overall development of modern Chinese language and literature.
- 2.Understand some important distinctions between Classical Chinese (literary language) and Modern Chinese (vernacular), mainly in terms of grammatical structure.
- 3.Understand the influence of European and American literary works on Chinese literature.
- 4.Enhance familiarity with important works by comtemporary outstanding writers.
- 5.Understand the relationship between the Chinese language and Chinese characters.
- 6.Understand the formal differences between regulated verse and modern poetry.
- 7.Enhance the ability to appreciate and analyze literary works from various perspectives, including thought and art.
- 8.Strengthen language expression skills and improve writing ability.
- HUMA 4220Verbal and Visual Representation of China3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)CORE 2651 OR CORE 3501 OR HUMA 1440 OR HUMA 1660 OR HUMA 2660 OR HUMA 3030DescriptionThe West's cognizance of Chinese people and society has been informed by mixed sentiments of idealism, ignorance, and fear, giving rise to a fragmented vision of China as what it always was: exotic, fascinating, potentially dangerous, and practically misconceived. This course covers a wide range of critical and imaginative texts including language manuals, linguistic translations, intellectual treatises, missionary records, travelogues, creative writings, visual performance and entertainments to examine how verbal and audiovisual representations have shaped the Western conception of China through history.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Track the development of verbal and visual representation of Chinese around the world.
- 2.Familiar with major representative works related to this topic and the socio-historical context in which they emerged.
- 3.Be able to sharpen critical thinking, analyze particular literary or filmic works, and enhance academic writing skills in novel and film studies.
- HUMA 4221Chinese Classics and Their Reworking in Various Media Around the Globe3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course exposes students to excerpts from four Chinese prose classics arranged according to genre and chronology: the Zhuangzi, a Master text from the Warrring States Period; the Records of the Three Kingdoms (San guo zhi), a standard history from the early Six Dynasties; Xuanzang’s Great Tang Records on the Western Regions (Da Tang xiyu ji), a travel account from the Tang dynasty; and short stories from the Extensive Gleanings of the Reign of Great Tranquility (Taiping guangji), an anthology from the Song dynasty. The course also explores the ways these premodern Chinese texts had been translated, reworked, and transformed into new media such as novels, mangas, anime, computer games or horror movies around the globe. By familiarizing with these narrative complexes, students will learn about the global impact of premodern Chinese literature and some of the basic ideas and methods from media and translation studies.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze premodern Chinese literary texts
- 2.Recognize important themes of premodern Chinese classics
- 3.Identify these themes in a global context
- 4.Detect differences in various receptions of the Chinese classics
- 5.Recognize, compare, and assess the historical and media contexts of the classics and their reworkings (f.e. difference between a Ming novel and contemporary TV series)
- 6.Summarize, analyze, and evaluate secondary scholarship on media studies
- 7.Analyze and evaluate different media and their distinct properties
- 8.Develop research presentations for their peers
- HUMA 4250Masterpieces of Modern Literature3 Credit(s)DescriptionA close study of selected masterpieces of modern literature, mainly fiction and poetry, by Chinese and Western authors of the twentieth century.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop in-depth analysis skill.
- 2.Examine how the modernist techniques and post-modern writing help convey an author’s thoughts and feelings.
- 3.Compare how an author’s religious and cultural background has affected his/her intellectual perception and aesthetic treatment of a particular theme.
- 4.Use textual evidence to formulate and communicate their ideas in a critical and effective manner.
- 5.Identify, discuss, and define some of the key theories of major literary and cultural critics and theorists.
- HUMA 4520History of US-China Relations3 Credit(s)DescriptionAn examination of the formation and development of political, economic, and cultural relations between China and the United States from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze and evaluate the political, social, and cultural dimensions of U.S.-China relations from the late 18th to the late 20th century, identifying key patterns and transformations.
- 2.Critically assess competing interpretations and scholarly debates on major events and themes in the history of U.S.-China relations.
- 3.Evaluate and interpret primary and secondary sources to construct well-supported historical arguments.
- 4.Conduct independent historical research using appropriate methodologies and a wide range of primary and secondary sources.
- 5.Communicate historical analysis effectively through well-structured, source-based writing and short film productions.
- HUMA 4530History and the Future3 Credit(s)DescriptionCan knowledge of the past help to predict the future? What kinds of lessons can be learned from history? What is the value of history for life, anyway? This course investigates both the philosophical and practical issues associated with studying the past in order to make judgments about the future. The course adopts an interdisciplinary perspective that draws from history, philosophy, political science, sociology, grand strategy, psychology, and physics. Readings include Thucydides, Han Fei, Hegel, Clausewitz, Weber, Arendt, and Nietzsche, as well as contemporary literature on chaos theory, comparative politics, historical sociology, and cliodynamics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand canonical arguments about the value of history
- 2.Gain competence in reading theoretical and philosophical texts
- 3.Write a well-organized exegetical paper
- 4.Possess the confidence to tackle a research topic
- 5.Develop proficiency in oral debate and discussion of texts
- HUMA 4531Eichmann and Evil3 Credit(s)DescriptionThe SS (Schutzstaffel) officer Adolf Eichmann played a central role in the logistical management of the Holocaust, the mass murder of European Jews during the Second World War. Arrested by the Mossad in Argentina in 1960, brought to Israel for trial, and ultimately sentenced to death, Eichmann’s name has become a byword for evil. This course examines how philosophers, historians, and film makers have used Eichmann’s case to try to understand totalitarianism and the nature of moral choice in modern times.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the history of the Holocaust and the central issues of its scholarship
- 2.Analyze the different interpretations of Adolf Eichmann’s agency and motivations
- 3.Conceptualize important topics in modern political and social thought, such as totalitarianism and “the banality of evil”
- 4.Extract and adjudicate arguments from multiple sources, compare them, and evaluate them
- 5.Develop proficiency in oral debate and discussion of texts
- 6.Write a well-organized exegetical paper
- HUMA 4610Heritage in Cross-cultural Perspective3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)HUMA 2590 OR SOSC 2290DescriptionHeritage and traditions have always been the targets of preservation and negotiations. Cases from different cultures will be surveyed to examine the meaning, composition, and the socio-cultural significance of heritage.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the meanings of heritage in the constantly changing world and Hong Kong society.
- 2.Illustrate the measures of heritage preservation in Hong Kong and will be able to evaluate these measures.
- 3.Practise the ethnographic research method and apply it in the research project.
- HUMA 4620Geopolitics3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course surveys the history of modern geopolitical thinking and its relation to world politics over the past two centuries. What is the relationship between state power and the mastery of geographic space? How does geography both constrain and facilitate the ambition of states? Is geography destiny? Students will read some of the classics of modern Western geopolitical thought, alongside critical commentary and historical contextualization, and consider their relevance for understanding contemporary global affairs.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Acquire familiarity with the central themes and arguments of modern geopolitical thought
- 2.Develop familiarity with key geopolitical events and trends in the past two centuries
- 3.Gain experience reading and discussing theoretical texts
- 4.Acquire proficiency in writing analytical essays
- HUMA 4650Western Painting: From Renaissance to Impressionism3 Credit(s)DescriptionThe course is an in-depth study of the styles and characteristics of Western painting from 1400 to 1900, running from Renaissance through Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism and Realism up to the dawn of Modern art, Impressionism. Students will be introduced to the methodological studies of the subject area, i.e. iconographical, technical, compositional and developmental analyses of the masterpieces from different countries and epochs, and will have the chance to apply their knowledge to a small scale research of a relevant topic.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Know the most important Western painters and their works from 1400 to 1900
- 2.Understand the cultural background and values of the creation of the artworks of the same period
- 3.Analyse the stylistic characteristics of each epoch according to the methodology of art history
- 4.Work in team to research in a chosen topic, and organize and present their findings in a presentation and a report
- 5.Reflect and express their views on the presentations of their classmates
- HUMA 4700Confucianism in a Global Context3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)CORE 2521 OR HUMA 2420 OR HUMA 1440 OR SOSC 2290DescriptionAs the key to some of the secrets that underlie the contemporary success of the East Asian region, Confucianism has now been recognized as a "living" tradition that has indeed moved into the Western world along with the East Asian Diaspora, making it very much an active participant in the larger global community. This course is designed to introduce the growth and developments of Confucianism as a major intellectual tradition not only in East Asia, but also in the global age of today.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the historical development of Confucianism, including its origins in ancient China, reformulations during the Song and Ming periods, and adaptations in Korean and Japanese cultures.
- 2.Analyze the evolution of Confucianism in the modern period, focusing on its impact in both China and the West.
- 3.Explain the fundamental principles of Confucianism, recognizing its significance as a major religious and philosophical tradition.
- HUMA 4801Classical Chinese Philosophy3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 3821Exclusion(s)CORE 3573DescriptionThis course examines the intellectual development of early Chinese by focusing on four major schools: Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, and Legalism. This course will introduce representative philosophers in ancient China, such as Confucius, Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Hanfeizi, and Mencius. We will explore their thoughts in ethics, human nature, metaphysics, and self-cultivation. We will read translations of major texts with commentaries and interpretations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the main concepts in Chinese Confucian, Mohist, Daoist, and Legalist philosophy
- 2.Identify the basic structure, hidden assumptions, and fallacies involved in the arguments of the philosophers
- 3.Compare the ideas and arguments put forward by the philosophers
- 4.Describe and appreciate the intellectual development of Chinese culture
- 5.Address and incorporate the variety of metaphysical and ethical questions and insights developed by ancient Chinese thinkers
- 6.Demonstrate close reading and analytical thinking skills
- 7.Formulate arguments in the format of an academic essay
