CCI1105 Romance and Heroes: Chinese Internet Literature (浪漫與英雄:中國網路文學)

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education

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This module aims at introducing Chinese Internet Literature through reading, classroom lecturing, debate, group project and team presentation. It uses outstanding cases in digital humanities to illustrate different aspects of the development of internet reading and writing as a modern way of life and business model in the market economy.

It looks at the contemporary humanistic value of internet literature in writing, reading, interaction, as being experientially unlike most of the contents of humanities in terms of substance and the way it is conducted. It examines humanities in action in current society, rather than accounting for past records. It shows to the students how basic humanistic values are carried out and performed.

By adopting ‘Romance and Heroes’ as both the conceptual tool and substantive bridge to connect cultural roots and historical background to the current developments and evolving strategies in Internet Literature, it is designed to analyze the human experience and civilizational values behind the rapid development and significant influence of internet literature on Chinese society.

From a humanistic perspective, the module focuses on introducing and discussing internet literature through academic reading, lecture, debate and projects, to illustrate various aspects of the unfolding of internet reading and writing as a modern way of life at the personal and collective levels in humanistic terms.

By the end of the study period, students should be able to grasp the background and evolution of internet literature as they relate to such issues as the formation of literary taste, cultural roots of important genres, sociological make-up of the readership, professional mentoring and nurturing of talents, managerial goals and concerns, business risks and strategies, as well as comparative and global implications of contemporary Chinese developments.

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to: 
a. Establish an educated understanding of internet literature via literary and visual classics;
b. Develop an academic knowledge of internet literature, gaining a clear vocabulary and broad understanding in digital humanities;
c. Recognize different approaches to the discussion of internet literature in humanities such as its history, philosophy, narrative style, and visual representations;
d. Reflect upon the design, management, and professional operations of internet literature in China by connecting internet literature as a humanities subject with training in communication, translation, as well as arts and social studies.