Module manager: Dr Sarah Dodd
Email: s.dodd@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
From the earliest film screening at a Shanghai teahouse in August 1896 to recent martial arts blockbusters, Chinese cinema has reflected the country's own tumultuous history, and explored questions of national and cultural identity. Focusing on the ways in which films can be both cultural and social texts, this module situates Chinese cinema within its historical, social, and cultural contexts, from its beginnings to the present day. It also encompasses transnational Chinese cinema, taking in films from Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the mainland, in order to situate Chinese cinema in its international context. No prior knowledge of Chinese language or cinema is necessary. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
To study the national and international dimension of Chinese films, and place Chinese cinema within its historical and social context, from its beginnings to the present day.
To discuss and evaluate the specifically Chinese cultural contexts of the production and exhibition of these films.
To reflect on the ways in which Chinese cinema is embedded within the global film industry and the international art house cinema circuit.
To engage with different genres in Chinese cinema (including martial arts, melodrama, action, and more), and identify key directors and themes.
To analyse and evaluate elements of film production, including cinematography, music, shot, and colour.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Evaluate Chinese cinema within its national historical and social contexts, as well as within the international film industry
2. Engage with key genres, themes, and changes within Chinese cinema, from its beginnings to the present day.
3. Recognise and engage with key ideas within Film Studies, and relate them to Chinese cinema.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Identify and analyse key arguments in the scholarly literature, evaluating their usefulness and formulating your own critical ideas and responses.
5. Recognise and reflect upon cultural contexts.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Discussion in seminars will provide the opportunity to observe students' contributions, and offer comments and feedback. Group discussions in seminars will provide peer learning and feedback. Individual feedback will be provided through regular office hours or meetings by appointment, which will also give students the opportunity to discuss in-class performance, the film-clip analysis assessment task, and the essay. Detailed individual written feedback will be provided on the two assessments.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Film clip analysis | 40 |
| Coursework | Essay | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 25/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team