CHINA: HISTORIES NARRATIVES AND CULTURES

Course objectives

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 1. Knowledge and Understanding: the course will be aimed at providing students with the necessary critical and analytical tools, introducing them to the main themes and principal concepts of Humanities in China. The course will facilitate a gradual process of gaining knowledge and deepening understanding, familiarizing the students with this field of studies, its scientific vocabulary, the methodologies and the critical theories, in a comparative perspective which rejects Eurocentric approaches. 2. Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding: the course will stimulate and improve the students’ ability to apply knowledge and understanding in their study of disciplines relating to the Humanities in China in comparative perspective. Students will be asked to critically read and assess texts, analyse and comment literary and visual narratives, examine theatre plays and films applying the critical theories and the methodologies which will be elucidated and studied during the course. 3. Making judgments: Students will be sustained in the development of their knowledge and understanding capabilities to critically read the suggested bibliography and employ the theories and the materials in order to formulate coherent and autonomous judgments regarding social, artistic and cultural processes, informed by the inter-relation between aesthetics and ethics. 4. Communication skills. Particular attention will be devoted to improving students' communication skills, through oral presentations, self-narratives labs, participatory workshops and the assignment of short written essays. 5. Learning skills. The course will be delivered paying attention to develop in students the skills necessary to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.

Channel 1
FEDERICA CASALIN Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The theme of the course in 2025-2026 is “Women in Pre-Imperial and Imperial China”. The course provides an overview of the status of women from prehistory to the end of the last imperial dynasty, which fell in 1911. It focuses on the main cultural, ideological, social and political factors that influenced the status of women and how this changed over time, from substantial equality to progressive oppression. The course focuses on some of the leading women in Chinese history and culture, illustrating not only the ways in which female identity was constructed over time, but also how these constructs were accepted or contested. The educational activities will be enriched by the reading of several narratives that bear witness to the construction of a literary imagination on the subject.
Prerequisites
Standard knowledge of the correct English spelling and the ability to express oneself in English in written essays in a correct, articulated, and clear way, are considered indispensable prerequisites. Knowledge of Chinese is not required.
Books
1) Bret Hinsch (2016). Women in Imperial China. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, ISBN 978-1-4422-7165-4. 2) A small selection of literary texts provided by the teacher during the course.
Frequency
Attendance is strongly recommended. Lessons are held in the classroom; the hybrid mode (with simultaneous connection) will be applied only in case this is required by the institution in relation to specific health situations or other circumstances.
Exam mode
During the course, there will be an OPTIONAL MID-TERM TEST. The mid-term test is designed to allow students to self-assess their personal preparation. It will consist of multiple-choice questions. The mid-term test is not compulsory, but it is recommended as an opportunity to check the acquisition of knowledge and skills during the course. The FINAL EXAM consists of multiple-choice questions (written) and open-ended questions (oral). The final mark will take into account: a) the correctness of the quizzes; b) the completeness and correctness of the content of the open-ended (oral) answers; c) presentation and argumentation skills; d) knowledge of the readings done in class; d) the correctness of the presentation in English.
Lesson mode
The course consists of 42 hours of lessons. Lessons are held in person; active participation in class is encouraged. To this end, students are asked to carefully read the pages of the text that will be covered in class before each lesson, so that they can actively participate in group discussions. Even students who are unable to attend lessons are encouraged to study progressively by adhering to the activity calendar, and to participate in the mid-term self-assessment (optional).
  • Lesson code10595517
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseGlobal Humanities
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDL-OR/21
  • CFU6