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This course employs Chinese Language Cinema as an anchoring concept to explore the relationship between contemporary cinemas from Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Over the last four decades, these two cinemas have produced some of the most important film auteurs known to the world, while also spawning impressive commercial hits in recent years. The shared cultural heritage of the two political entities manifests in the common linguistic codes spoken on screen, while the respective accents belie their divergent historical paths. This course first introduces students to the major developmental milestones of both cinemas following the 1949 founding of the PRC. It then focuses on mapping the patterns of cinematic exchanges between the two sides, which are informed by, but irreducible to, the evolving geopolitical power balance characterizing cross-strait relations. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to reflect on such theoretical issues as the relationship between culture and politics, nationalism and transnationalism, and cultural hegemony and resistance. All films have English subtitles. No knowledge of Chinese language will be necessary. 

In Chinese history, food and healing shared the same set of cosmological assumptions, all of which had to do with harmonizing the “vital energy,” “breath” or “life force” (qi 氣) of the body with the mind. The Chinese holistic approach to the concept of “well-being” by eating, taking medicine and engaging in healing arts, was to ensure that all of these activities created a healthy balance. Lectures, discussion and coursework will focus on the cultural, historical, philosophical, social, and scientific background against which the connection between food and healing has evolved through history. The course will address how this holistic approach has manifested in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan today, and form the basis of final research inquiry projects, some of which may also be applied to greater Austin locales. 

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