The seminar introduces the problematics of national identity as rooted in a variety of narratives. The focus is China, not as a monolith but as a changing self-definition in history, literature, political thought, and religion. We examine key texts vital to China’s self-representations and self-reinventions.
The seminar is writing-intensive, to develop the skills expected for liberal learning and for successful participation in the College’s academic programs.
Learning Objectives for students to be able to
- develop the abilities, especially the writing skills, essential to critical thinking,
- interpret complex theoretical and creative texts,
- construct a coherent argument, support the argument with evidence, and defend the argument, and
- understand, appreciate, and critique cultural biases, including their own.