章节大纲

  • Weekly Schedule

     (Readings should be completed before class.)

    Week 1/ Mar. 4: Introduction: Understanding China with Intercultural Perspectives

    Week 2/ Mar. 11: Chinese Mentality vs. Western Mentality (I): “Face” and Beyond

    Readings: Arthur Smith, Chinese Characteristics, Ch. 1-6.

    Week 3/ Mar. 18: Chinese Mentality vs. Western Mentality (II): Flexibility and Contextualization

     Readings: Arthur Smith, Chinese Characteristics, Ch. 7-12,

    Lin Yutang, My Country and My People, Ch. I.

     Week 4/ Apr. 1:  Chinese Mentality vs. Western Mentality (III): Group vs. Individual

     Readings: Arthur Smith, Chinese Characteristics, Ch. 13-18,

                        Lin Yutang, My Country and My People, Ch. III, IV.

     Week 5/ Apr. 15: Chinese Mentality vs. Western Mentality (IV): Survival Mechanisms

     Readings: Arthur Smith, Chinese Characteristics, Ch. 19-22,

                  Lin Yutang, My Country and My People, Ch. II.

     Week 6/ Apr. 22: Chinese Mentality vs. Western Mentality (V): Filial Piety

     Readings: Arthur Smith, Chinese Characteristics, Ch. 23-27,

                        Lin Yutang, My Country and My People, Ch. V, VI.

     Week 7/ May 6: Understanding Cultural Clashes (I)

     Discussion about the film The Joy Luck Club (I)

     Week 8/ May 13:  Understanding Cultural Clashes (II)

     Discussion about the film The Joy Luck Club (II)

     Week 9/ May 19:  Field trip (“Internship program”): Getting to know the Chinese people and their lives

     Week 10/ Jun. 10: Understanding the Chinese Spirit (I)

     Readings: Lu Hsun, Chosen Pages from Lu Hsun, pp. 1-165.

     Week 11/ Jun. 17: Understanding the Chinese Spirit (II)

     Readings: Lu Hsun, Chosen Pages from Lu Hsun, pp. 166-315.

     Week 12/ Jun. 24: Contemporary Chinese Mindset vs. the West

     Readings: Yiyun Li, Gold Boy, Emerald Girl

     Final project due.