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This module surveys the industrial patterns, aesthetics, themes and challenges of Hong Kong cinema, from its inception to the most recent years in a global context. In this process, students would be familiarized with the history and the scholarly discussion of this unique cinema. They would also be guided to understand its connection to local issues as well as its interaction with the world cinema. At the end of the module, students are expected to have not only a solid knowledge of this important part of Chinese-language films, but also a high level of media literacy to read an audiovisual text independently and critically.
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. Demonstrate a solid knowledge of Hong Kong cinema, in terms of its history, common themes and styles;
b. distinguish major theories and scholarly discussions in Film/ Cultural Studies.
c. apply evidence-based approaches to the socio-political implications of cultural artefacts in Hong Kong context; and
d. Interpret a film text independently and critically.
1. Introduction
1.1 The Ideas of “National Cinema” and “Chinese Language Films”
1.2 Early Cinema
1.3 Shanghai Connection
1.4 The Rise of Hong Kong Cinema
2. The Cantonese/ Mandarin Cinema in the 50s and 60s
2.1 The Left Camp vs. the Right Camp
2.2 Cantonese Filmmaking and Union Motion Picture
2.3 The Two Major Studios: Shaw Brothers and Cathay
3. Film Genres, Auteur Theory and Film Music
3.1 The New Martial Arts Movies, “Hero Films”, Film Noir and Musical
3.2 New Wave Cinema and Hong Kong New Wave
3.3 Films by Wong Kar-wai
4. Localization and Globalization
4.1 Nostalgia Film and Hong Kong Identity
4.2 Pan-Asian Cinema
4.3 The Non-Mainstreams: Documentaries and Independent Production
1. Participation (10%)
2. Group Presentation (20%)
3. Midterm Paper (20%)
4. Final Paper (50%)
