Undergraduate Courses 2017-18

An examination of fundamental concepts and principles in the scientific analysis of human language, especially concerning speech sounds, syntax, meaning, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, language processing and history of language.

The 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.

This 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.

This course aims to introduce key cultural concepts and issues in contemporary society through appreciation of films. A wide spectrum of topics ranging from Globalization and the Third World, Gender Politics, Technology and Culture, Environmentalism and Ecology to Post-colonial cultural imaginary in Hong Kong will be covered. Works selected will include Hollywood blockbusters, Japanese animes, Third World productions, mainland Chinese as well as local movies.

For about half of recorded history, China was ruled either in part or wholly by peoples of non-Han origin. Who were these peoples? Was their interest in China conquest or economic exploitation? Were they Sinicized (hanhua) or was China Barbarized (yihua); What is the difference in rule between the peoples of Han and non-Han origin? Were the roles of women different during these conquest dynasties? Did they have greater power or less? Did these dynasties try to prevent women from obtaining power and if so, were they successful? The course will explore the history of these non-Han peoples, the dynasties they established in China, their ethnicity, the succession politics, and the roles women played during these dynasties.

Analysis of major ideas and thoughts that have shaped the western mind and the structure of western civilization. Relations between ideas and their historical context will be discussed.

This course offers a linguistic aspect for the students to get a new view of their mother tongue and help them to link to Mandarin. By studying the historical development and phonetic representation of Cantonese, students are in a better position to analyze their daily speech and help them to improve their pronunciations, as well as learning better Mandarin. [Ca][C]

The course examines the causes of the Women's Movement in China. It looks at why it began at that particular time in history - the historical events of the 19th and early 20th century both in China and the world that formed the basis for the beginnings of the Women's Movement. The course will look at the impact of the United Nations on the status of women on China Mainland and Hong Kong. The continuation of the women's movement during the republican period and its impact on the current status of women in China will be part of the study.

This course explores gender issues in Chinese literature and films. We will be reading short stories and viewing feature-length films under this topic. Texts are selected from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and span from early 20th century to 21st century. Critical issues, including feminist film theory, queer theory, spectatorship, representation, male gaze, identity and identification, will be introduced. By the end of the semester, students will be able to analyze how a literary work or film represents gender and gender relationships within the fabric of modern Chinese society.

This course explores three kinds of interactions between science and philosophy: (1) science's contribution to the resolution of philosophical problems, (2) science as a phenomenon worthy of philosophical scrutiny, and (3) philosophical problems within science.

This course discusses the nature of scientific activity and the justification of scientific knowledge. Topics to be covered include the distinction between science and non-science, the roles of falsification and paradigms, the nature of theoretical entities, causation, explanation, and laws of nature. In addition, ethical concerns such as those surrounding developments in biotechnology will be discussed. Exclusion: HUMA100L

This course will use the anthropology of Hong Kong to introduce some key concepts of the discipline and foster critical understanding of Hong Kong culture and identity. Topics include the traditional China focus and descent/ community bias of the anthropology of Hong Kong, its re-contextualization taking into account colonialism, and its critical potential given the prevalent constructions of Hong Kong identity.

This course gives students fundamental knowledge in the basic elements of western architecture and their variation in forms in different epochs and cultures, from ancient Greek temples to modern skyscrapers.

An introduction to palace women in Imperial China, how they were recruited and how they achieved and maintained power. Differences between Han and non-Han practices will also be explored. The students will be introduced to the fact that power at court oscillates between three forces: male relatives of the emperor, male relatives of the palace women, and the Bureaucracy (a fourth group that becomes strong at times is the eunuchs). Since male relatives of the emperor can usurp the throne, the emperor has to keep them under control and was forced to ally himself with relatives of Palace women. The course will look at the different practices used to control the power of palace women - such as enforced suicide by the mother of the heir-apparent in the Northern Wei and marrying women from families who had no official positions, power nor money in the Ming. Biographies of different women will be provided as illustrations.

An introduction to the history of Chinese women looking at the different influences of Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, as well as the mixture of Han and non-Han cultures. Students will look at how women lived within the Confucian framework of being assigned the role of a wife within the principles of "three obediences" and "four virtues". Lecture notes will be based on texts for women, women's writings, biographies and epitaphs. Alternative lifestyles such as those of nuns and courtesans will be explored. English translations of biographies of different women will be provided as illustrations.

A survey of the continuity and change in history from Song to Yuan, with emphasis on institutional, socio-economic, and cultural developments of the pre-modern era. [Ca][C]

This course is designed to help students better understand culture from an anthropological perspective. It will introduce students to cultural variations with real-life examples within Hong Kong, within Asia, and around the world in the context of rapid globalization today.

This course is designed to introduce to students both the historical development and narrative structure of science fiction as a unique genre within the context of the post-modernist movement. Works in English and Chinese, plus some important films will be assigned as basic study materials.

This course introduces students to the relatedness among ecology, culture and literature. Students are expected to first have a grasp of modern ecological concepts such as how ecology is different from biology, environmental politics and global crises and animal extinction etc. Then students will delve into issues within ecological ethics or "life ethics" as a way of going beyond the narrow-mindedness of environmentalism per se. Texts on cultural geography, environment and social theory, ecotheology, mythology, ecofeminism and ecotourism will be used, and they are placed alongside chosen western literary works (novels, poems, short stories) as well as cultural texts such as films, T.V. shows (including animation) for illustration. This course adopts an "intercultural studies" approach, hence "green cultural studies" both in its theory and practice, will be an important element of the course.

This course is intended for students to better understand the history, politics, society and culture in the Modern China through a series of films. Many of the films chosen are placed in historical contexts. On top of the stylistic/aesthetic characteristics of the films, we will analyze how larger topics such as Mao's communist movement, cultural revolution/post-cultural revolution, encounters with the West, economical bloom, etc. are engaged in these films. In some cases, movies are selected by their literary merit, such as Red Sorghum by Mo Yan and To Live by Yu Hua. Whenever applicable, students are expected to read the written texts together with seeing their film adaptations, and in these cases issues in adaptation such as theories on print and media cultures, modes of operation, aesthetics and representation will be discussed.

This course concerns traditional Chinese society and culture from the late Qing to the Republican eras. It will examine the social and cultural institutions and the design and underlying ideologies within these institutions.

This course will survey some of basic ideas and principles involved in various forms of human communication. It will provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts and contexts of communication. Specifically, verbal, nonverbal, persuasive, technologically mediated, and legally regulated communication is explored in interpersonal, organizational, intercultural, and mass media contexts.

This course introduces students to core concepts of morphology and major morphological processes including inflection, derivation, compounding, etc. Languages will be examined in view of morphological typology, and interaction between morphology and other linguistic components such as semantics, phonology, syntax, etc., will be studied.

This 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.

Analysis of major ideas and thoughts that have shaped the western mind and the structure of modern western civilization.

This subject enables students to acquire basic understanding of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will learn how to appreciate the relevance of religion in modern culture. They are encouraged to understand, respect and dialogue with people of other religious backgrounds.

This course introduces philosophical thought from both the Chinese and Western traditions. We will discuss six philosophers from major movements in the history of philosophy: Plato (Ancient Greece), Mencius (Classical Confucianism), Zhuangzi (Classical Daoism), Nietzsche (Existentialism), Zen (Chan Buddhism), and John Dewey. [C]

A survey of traditional and contemporary Chinese cultures and societies based on ethnographic writings that emphasize first-hand fieldwork research in local communities in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. The meaning and value systems of Chinese cultural practices are examined with reference to their particular economic, social, political and religious contexts. Exclusion: HUMA262

Writing is one of the most important cultural achievements. The course will discuss the creation, development and variations of writing, and compare different writing systems and scripts in the world. In addition, it will evaluate the writing reform in China.

General introduction to the structure of the Chinese language, with emphasis on phonology and grammar. Differences between Cantonese and Mandarin will be highlighted. Historical issues will be examined in tracing the development of modern Chinese dialects. [C]

This course introduces basic concepts in linguistics such as consonant, vowel, morpheme, concepts which help students to describe and analyze the structure of the Chinese language, with emphasis on sounds and grammar. Moreover, similarities and differences among major Chinese dialects such as Mandarin, Yue, Min, Hakka, Wu, etc, and between Chinese and other languages will be highlighted. Furthermore, characteristics of the non-Han languages spoken in the neighboring areas will be compared with those of the Chinese dialects in order to highlight the bi-directional influences between Chinese and the non-Han languages, influences which help shape these languages.

An introduction to the fundamental aspects of Classical Chinese grammar and a linguistic study of Classical Chinese texts selected from the Chinese classics in the pre-Qin era and the Han period.

An introduction to the grammar of Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua), aiming at teaching students to understand and analyze the nature and properties of its word structure and sentence structure. Differences between Mandarin and Cantonese will also be discussed.

An introductory survey course in appreciation of styles of music from around the world, including Asia, the Americas and Africa, the place where jazz originated.

An introductory course in the appreciation of western music. Course material consists of the elements of music, including music notation and basic music theory. The second part of the course covers western art music from the Middle Ages to the present. Folk music and jazz are also examined.

This course introduces masterpieces of literature from various cultural traditions around the world, with emphasis on the modern and contemporary era. Through close reading of selected celebrated texts, students will gain an appreciation of the aesthetics of different literary forms and the diverse cultural contexts in which they are produced.

This course will introduce students to methods of reading western literary texts such as short stories, poems, and plays. The emphasis will be on the forms, conventions, meanings, and cultures.

This course attempts to examine the narration of Chinese history in film from both historical and visual perspectives in light of such issues as gender and nationalism, the revolutionary aesthetics, the city and the country, nostalgia and historical imagination, and the negotiations of the Chinese modern and cultural identity in the new cinemas in the global context.

From 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.

(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.

An introduction to the fundamental aspects of film aesthetics, film history, film genres and cinema culture.

A historical description of the unfolding of literature with an emphasis on the relationship between literary form, social change and the growing self-consciousness in pre-modern China.

A study of the major works of various genres in the Chinese literary tradition examined in their historical context, with emphasis on their literary features and influences.

A historical and critical survey of modern Chinese fiction from 1917 to 1949, with emphasis on the forms of novella and short story.

A historical and critical survey of modern Chinese fiction from 1949 to the present, with emphasis on the forms of novella and short story.

A study of the origins and early development of classical Chinese poetry. Shijing and Chuci and folk songs and major poets from the Han and the Six Dynasties are examined.

A 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.

An introduction to the fundamentals of Chinese drama in both modern and pre-modern periods, with the emphasis on how to appreciate Chinese drama tradition.

A general survey of seminal texts of Chinese literature from Hong Kong.

A 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.

A study of recent Chinese history from the Revolution of 1911 to the early decades of the People's Republic, examining the interplay of imperialism, nationalism and socialism which shaped China's struggle for survival in the modern world.

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.

A survey of the rich variety of daily life in traditional China, including festivals, family, marriage, food, clothing, tea drinking, wine testing, traveling, entertainment, and folk beliefs. Their social roles and cultural meanings are examined.

A survey of the history of cultural, diplomatic, and economic relations between East Asia and the West from the 16th to the 20th century, with emphasis on China and Japan and their search for modernity.

The course examines the political, economic, and cultural relations between China and Southeast Asia from the early Ming Dynasty (1368) when large-scale official relations were established between China and Southeast Asian countries to the present time.

Analysis of major ideas and thoughts that have shaped the western mind and the structure of modern western civilization. This course will provide students with foundational and historically thematic knowledge of the transformation of the West, and to some extent the world, from its pre-modern form into its present state, politically, culturally, and socially.

This course is a survey of traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural practices in local communities based on first-hand field-site visits in Hong Kong and its vicinity in the Pearl River Delta area. Students will be trained to conduct observation and interviews in local communities. Field-site experiences and learning will be substantiated by reviewing the literature on Chinese cultures and societies based on fieldwork research. The meaning and value systems of Chinese cultural practices are examined with reference to the local economic, social, political and religious contexts in the national and global settings.

This course examines the cultural meaning and structure of diverse kinship relations and organizations. Different anthropological approaches in analyzing kinship structures and practices will be examined.

A study of the conditions and consequences of cultural contact in the particular settings of tourism, examining how the complex cultural phenomena engendered by tourism affect people's sense of life.

A study of food customs in human societies, exploring the connections between food and other socio-cultural institutions.

A 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. [Ca][C]

An introduction to the appreciation of art through selected works of architecture, sculpture, and painting from China and the West, from the ancient periods to the present day.

A 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.

This course introduces students to the masterpieces of Western Painting through an outline of chronology, painting techniques, life of the most renowned western painters and categories of painting by themes.

A historical survey of the developments of Chinese philosophy. Important philosophers, texts, concepts, and issues will be introduced and examined.

An introduction to the basic characteristics of Chinese culture and the conceptual foundation of them. Topics include Chinese philosophy and religion, political and social aspects of Chinese culture, and the problem of modernization.

Various beliefs and questions underlie 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.

This introductory course to the Chinese writing system covers the origin, classification, development, cultural implications of the Chinese script, and its adaptability to various dialects and languages. The course also studies the script reform in China, involving simplification, phoneticization and alphabetization.

Course effective Fall 2013

Course effective Fall 2013

Course effective Fall 2013

Course effective Fall 2013

Course effective Fall 2013

Course effective Fall 2013

Course effective Spring 2013

Course effective Spring 2013

Course effective Spring 2013

We are now experiencing fast developments of technoscience in the contemporary world. As everything turns electronic and hi-tech, i.e. e-mail technovisuality such as digital images and video games, e-life such as You Tube, plus the newly developed sciences such as cloning, biogenetic engineering, quantum mechanics, etc., it is only necessary and important to introduce students to the ways technoscience have impacts on culture and literature, or rather, how the two reinforce each other. Through a body of fiction, films, animations, computer mediated communication devices such as cyberspace, interactive fiction, blogs, Facebook the technological Disney, plus the whole tradition of "how we became posthuman (Hayles)" Discourse, this course will highlight the radical effects of visual culture and enchantment in the modern world, as well as the human-machine coevolution under the dialectic of projection - reciprocation on what it means to be human after all.

An investigation of the characteristics of urban culture, the process of modernisation, and the development of "local consciousness" of Hong Kong from the 1950s to the 19770s. Exclusion: HUMA134

Great empires were forged during the 16th-18th centuries from often small beginnings. The emergence of European and Manchu powers, and the expansion of the Ottoman empire during this period, brought far-reaching changes to many areas of the world whose effects are felt to this day. This course will discuss the reasons for the emergence of the above empires, and the ways in which these powers controlled the territories and peoples that they conquered.

A critical study of classical Chinese essays and poems, with a specific focus on issues related to literature, history and philosophy in ancient China. [C]

This course introduces some main ethical theories and tackles a variety of personal and social ethical issues by using critical thinking skills, sound ethical reasoning, and legal and professional codes.

The course offers students the opportunity to engage in an intensive study and discussion of significant cultural texts on the modern city. It will examine ways of reading and writing the city, and introduce a variety of literary and cultural means through which the phenomena of modernity and urbanity are represented and critiqued in both Western and Chinese contexts.

This intermediate-level course will explore the link between kinship, women and gender in China and how this aspect of culture is shaped and used by broader processes such as state formation. The course will closely re-examine earlier anthropological studies and cover in depth a few ethnic minority cases to help understand ongoing developments, key analytical issues and the politics of representation.

An introduction to the popular literature and print culture in China in the Republican period (1911-1949), with the focus on their roles in shaping the nation-building, cultural spaces, and urban subjectivity.

A critical study of major works in classical Chinese drama from the 13th to the 19th century, with emphasis on courtroom drama, scholar-and-beauty romance, and history plays, and their modern performances in different opera styles.

An examination of selected topics in relation to speech sounds, grammar and discourse in order to highlight the similarities and differences between Cantonese and Mandarin.

Intercultural communication does not just take place between people, but also within people. We are all simultaneously members of multiple 'cultures'-- not just ethnic or national 'cultures', but also gender cultures, generational cultures, professional cultures, and various 'sub-cultures'-- and in every situation we mix elements from the different cultural systems that are available to us in creative ways. These elements include ways of speaking, ways of thinking, ways of acting, expectations about social identities and relationships and ideas about learning. In a sense, every situation is 'intercultural'; each situation is a 'nexus of practice' at which different cultural trajectories converge.

The course guides students through the history, philosophy, religion and art of Buddhism by reading the Chinese Buddhist sources. Topics include introduction to Buddhism and its history, the nature of Mahayana Buddhism, definitions of Mahayana and Hinayana, composition methods of Buddhist texts, sectarian interpretations of the mind, theories on Buddha Nature, Buddhist art and its relation with Buddhist political ideology. [Pu][C]

This course aims at helping students to understand Chinese language and its logic in ancient Chinese philosophy. Topics include logical issues in Confucianism, Daoism, Logical School, Neo-Mohism, and Buddhism. [Ca][C]

A 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.

Course effective Spring 2013

Course effective Spring 2013

Course effective Spring 2013

Course effective Fall 2014

Course effective Fall 2014

Course effective Fall 2014

Course effective Fall 2014

Course effective Fall 2014

Course effective Fall 2014

Course effective Spring 2014

The structure of language helps shape the way of reasoning. This course examines the relationship between the two and the fundamental differences between modern science and traditional Chinese science.

Course effective Spring 2014

Course effective Spring 2014

Course effective Spring 2014

Course effective Spring 2014

Course effective Spring 2014

Course effective Fall 2015

Course effective Fall 2015

Course effective Fall 2015

Course effective Fall 2015

Course effective Fall 2015

This 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 diferent meanings and how culture affects the use of language will be examined in order to highlight the uniqueness of human language.

Course effective Fall 2015

Course effective Spring 2015

Course effective Spring 2015

Course effective Spring 2015

Course effective Spring 2015

Course effective Spring 2015

Course effective Spring 2015

Study of the Cantonese language, with emphasis on phonology and grammar. The course examines historical and socio-linguistic issues pertinent to the development of Cantonese in the context of Hong Kong.

This 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 semester.

An examination of the historical development of western opera, and selected western operas with their related literary texts. This course will emphasize works that are related to Asian cultures, and operas that will be performed in Hong Kong. No previous knowledge of opera is required.

A study of ideological, aesthetic and discursive practices in the literatures of women examined in their cultural, historical and critical contexts.

Major features of the gothic in literature and film - monsters, vampires, ghosts, haunted castles, etc. - will be examined in various social and historical contexts. The course aims to address the ideological complexities and cultural significance of representations of the uncanny.

A guided reading in literary classics from various cultures, with emphasis on major themes and the relationship between content and form.

A survey of representative Chinese literature in English translation from a socio-cultural perspective.

This course studies the major ideas usch as the world's origins, time and eternity, nature and beauty, war and love that have shaped human cultures. Students will be guided to look into these ideas through a critical reading of representative works from Western and Asian traditions. Special attention will be paid to the specific ways in which different literary forms help convey and reflect on the ideas. Literary forms to be discussed include myth, fiction, poetry, drama, as well as other kinds of creative writing.

A 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.

Readings in modern Chinese poetry from the May Fourth period to the present from a comparative perspective. Major poets as well as foreign authors with significant influence on the development of this genre will be the focus.

This course introduces students to the historical development of Chinese literature. Representative texts from different periods of time will be read with a focus on the lyrical tradition of Chinese literature vis-<IMG src="img/a_char.gif" align=textTop border=0>-vis the epic-tragic tradition of Western literature. This course is suitable for all to take, in particular for students who do not have any background in Chinese language.

A critical introduction to vernacular Chinese fiction. Close textual reading of selected short stories of the Ming period, with emphasis on language, structure and theme.

A study of the short story form in the West through the reading of texts selected by various topics, including the mode of representation, the theme, and the author.

This 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'.

Changes in military and economic organizations play an important role in forming the structure of human society. This course aims to examine warfare, trade and the state in Chinese history from the Spring Autumn period down to the eighteenth century. It will focus on changes in the relationship between militarization, state power and the market economy, and demonstrate how this changing relationship greatly influenced the path of Chinese history.

An examination of the historical development of basic socio-economic structures and institutions, issues of social stratification, mobility, and the interrelationship between state, economy and local society.

This course aims at unveiling some of the fundamental problems in modern Chinese historical texts and narratives from the late imperial period to early years of Socialist China.

Critical examination of Chinese history from the Han to the Tang dynasties, with particular emphasis on key historical events, institutional changes and major cultural figures.

A historical survey of the socio-cultural transformation of China 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.

This course attempts to examine Chinese cultural history through a series of discussion on common beliefs prevailed in Pre-modern Chinese everyday life, historical meanings behind these social and cultural phenomena, and the implication and significance of these beliefs observed in contemporary Chinese mindset.

An examination of major issues in the history of the Chinese Diaspora, including the socio-economic background of Chinese emigration, the adjustment of Chinese immigrants to the often discriminatory environment in their adopted countries, relationship to their motherland, and the creation of a distinct overseas Chinese culture.

This course will survey and analyze the major social and political transformations in Europe between the Enlightenment and World War I. Topics will include the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, liberalism, the 1848 revolutions, capitalism, nationalism, imperialism, urbanization, mass culture and mass politics, socialism, gender in society and politics, and the causes of World War I. Parallel to the historical narrative, the course will also examine the way that key social and political theorists sought to understand and explain Europe's transformations. Thinkers under consideration will include Voltaire, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Marx, Mill, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel and others.

An anthropological approach to the study of popular religion in South China. The relationships between popular religion and other socio-cultural institutions in South China are explored.

An anthropological survey of the meaning and nature of heritage. The cultural and social context of heritage identification and preservation will be explored.

A survey of the diversity and unity of Chinese cultures and societies. Major anthropological contributions to the understanding of Chinese socio-cultural institutions will be examined.

This course examines theories an case studies of cultural identity in the formation of human communities. Issues of kinship, locality, social stratification, ethnicity, multiculturalism, nationalism, and the expression of cultural identities will be explored.

An introduction to Taoism as a living tradition in the context of Chinese history and culture.

This course examines the dynamics of cultural interaction and choice-making. Buddhism as an Indian religion and its encounters with indigenous Chinese traditions and the outcomes of their interactions will be the foci.

This course explores the core values of Confucianism, its development within the intellectual and cultural contexts of East Asia in both traditional and modern periods, and its possible impacts on the future of the East Asian region.

An 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.

This course helps students to explore the nature of philosophical inquiry and survey various important fields, problems and issues in the discipline.

This 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. The precise issues discussed may vary from year to year, but in general, issues relating to the following areas may be considered: the environment, business, information technology, and bioethics.

A critical study of the martial arts genre of Hong Kong cinema from the 1960s to the 1990s. We will discuss the films of King Hu, Tsui Hark, John Woo, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

An examination of ancient Chinese with emphasis on the historical development of characters, sounds, words and grammar. Both syntactic and pragmatic differences between ancient and modern Chinese will be highlighted.

A socio-cultural survey of representative stories by major contemporary Taiwan writers. [C]

This course gives students basic knowledge of Western Painting from 15th century Renaissance through Baroque, Rococo, Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Realism up to Impressionism. Emphasis will be put on methodological study of Western Painting, i.e. iconographical, technical, compositional and developmental analyses of masterpieces from different countries and epoches.

How do museums relate to department stores and real-life anthropologists to Indiana Jones? Why do so many speeches begin with "Hong Kong was a fishing village"? This course explores such questions and more generally the nature and implications of memory, tradition and custom, museums, collecting and their relations to anthropology, and the agendas and strategies in displaying culture and history.

Globalization is one of the most contested concepts in social and cultural studies. This course aims to introduce the study of globalization from a variety of cultural perspectives, in dialogue with the cultural situations of Asia, the Greater China, and Hong Kong.

Buddhism contains insights into existential and spiritual problems and guides people who seek escape from suffering. In this regard, the concept of Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha) is an important part of East Asian Buddhism, involving the question, "Are all beings capable of achieving Buddhahood, or will some never be free of the cycle of suffering"? After the 3rd century A.D. this question became an issue of debate among Buddhist sects or schools. The course will guide students through a reading of the relevant sources of the topic, so as to enable them to appreciate the views of the different sects or schools.

This course will introduce students to the study of cultural heritage, an area of research that is fundamentally interdisciplinary and includes concepts and methodologies from the fields of anthropology, sociology, geography, history, and development studies.

Comparative analysis of politics, ideology and everyday life under three dictatorships. Emphasis on reading of primary sources as well as theoretical perspectives.

A study of selective topics in Chinese grammar, with emphasis on understanding the structural principles of Chinese in terms of basic human cognitive abilities and conventional imageries in conjunction with general principles of communication.

This 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. [Pu]/[Ca][C] Prerequisite: HUMA001 or HUMA144 or HUMA203 or HUMA220 or as approved by the instructor

A study of the phenomenon of inter-media adaptation of both Chinese and Western literary classics in modern visual culture.

The 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, intellextual treatises, missionary records, travelogues, creative writings, visual performance and entertainments to examine how verbal and audiovisual respresentations have shaped the Western conception of China through history. Prerequisite: HUMA012 or HUMA066 or HUMA144 or HUMA166 or HUMA203 or as approved by instructor

A close study of selected masterpieces of modern literature, mainly fiction and poetry, by Chinese and Western authors of the twentieth century.

A study of selected major poets or poet-groups with reference to their contributions to the shaping of the Chinese poetic tradition.

A study of the Chinese prose in its historical and cultural context. Works of seminal prose writers will be examined.

This is an indepth study of selected works of modern and contemporary Chinese short stories.

A study of the structure, nature and functions of various political institutions in China, from the Imperial ages to the People's Republic.

A study of the development of business in Chinese society. The cultural and economic foundations of modern Chinese business practices as well as the process of modernization of the Chinese enterprises are explored.

An 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.

Heritage 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. Prerequisite: HUMA062 or HUMA159 or SOSC137 or as approved by the instructor

The variability in human behavior explored through visual and auditory documentaries. Students will work on audio-visual projects to record and interpret cultural activities of a particular community.

As 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. Prerequisite: HUMA142 or HUMA144 or HUMA157 or HUMA283 or SOSC137 or as approved by the instructor

A critical examination of the problems of philosophical logic in ancient China with emphasis on the theses of Kung-sun Lung Tzu, Mohists, Chuang Tzu, and Hsun Tzu.

A guided study of selected Chinese philosophical classics, with emphasis on the hermeneutical issues associated with the texts.

This course aims at introducing students to the complexity and profundity of the Confucian philosophy through exposing them directly to the classics that embody it, namely the Four Books and the Five Classics.

This course attempts to explore religious Taoism by studying the selected Taoist canon. Discussion will be focused on the key concepts and fundamental doctrines of the religion.

This course concerns the major schools of Chinese Philosophy in the most formative years of the Pre-Qin period, before the unification of China in 221 BCE. Focus will be on the Confucian school beginning with Confucius, and as developed by Mencius and Xunzi, and the Daoist school as represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi. The relation between these two schools and their challengers such as the Mohists, Legalists, and Yang Zhu will be explored. We shall read and analyze English translations of selected passages from the Confucian and Daoist texts, discussing various interpretations.

A survey of Chinese history from early times to the nineteenth century, examining political, socio-economic, and cultural developments of the pre-modern era.

A close study of selected masterpieces of modern literature, mainly fiction and poetry, by Chinese and Western authors of the twentieth century.

This course will introduce to students the diplomatic history of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1976, with focuses on Sino-Russia and Sino-USA relations in the context of the Cold War. Important events and leading figures will be covered, information and evidence dug out from archives by the instructor will be presented, and critical examination and rethinking of PRC history will be introduced for discussion.

A survey of social, political and cultural changes in China, Japan, and Korea from the 1800's to the present, comparing the different paths of development the three nations have taken since the coming of the West.

An introduction to concepts and principles of human cultures and societies from the anthropological perspective, exploring the interaction between culture and society and the causes underlying their changes.

A chronological and thematic survey of Chinese visual arts from the Neolithic period to modern times, including ancient objects, painting, ceramics, gardens and architecture.

An introduction to the art of thinking with the focus on methodology. Students will be equipped with critical tools for the analysis of discursive arguments as well as the practical affairs of everyday life.

An introduction to the major philosophical traditions in China, namely, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

This course will provide a comprehensive survey of Chinese literature, including myth, poetry, prose and short stories of both the modern and pre-modern periods. The objective is to expose students to different styles of Chinese literature as well as to illustrate how social factors have shaped the development of Chinese literature. [Ca][C]

The course introduces ideas, movements, and trends in Chinese cinema from 1978 to the present. Besides feature films by established directors, independent films by younger directors will also be discussed.

This course teaches students to recognize, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in ordinary circumstances or in scientific contexts through introducing the basic concepts of deductive and inductive logic. Exclusions: HUMA071, HUMA072

A study of the formation and representation of gendered subject in the contexts of various cultural forms, including media forms such as film, TV, advertising and the Internet.

How do visual representation in film and its narrative contribute to construct urban identity and socio-historical experience? This course will explore the issue with a particular focus on the cinema of the pan-Chinese areas in the past century, with other examples drawn from European and American narrative traditions.

Assuming no previous knowledge of Chinese writing on the part of students, this course provides an introduction to Chinese writing, with emphasis on its origination, classification, and cultural implications. This course also teaches students to write some basic Chinese characters and to practise Chinese calligraphy. Exclusion: HUMA002

Through close readings of exemplary "Hong Kong Nostalgic Films", this course explores the dialectic relations of personal and collective memory, remembering and forgetting, nostalgia and modernity as well as national and cultural identities.