Summer Program in Chinese Film History & Criticism at Beijing Film Academy

[niubi]

I recently just discovered this unique, interesting and very cool, program: 1 month, 7 professors, 8 mini-courses, and 12 credits from the University of Washington to intensively study Chinese cinema at the Beijing Film Academy (http://faculty.washington.edu/yomi/bfa-uw.html):

"The program acquaints upper-level undergraduate and M.A. students with the history of Chinese cinema, with critical terms for discussing formal, institutional and ideological concerns, and with the Asian and global contexts of Chinese filmmaking. The intensive program includes eight mini-courses by leading Western and Chinese scholars as well as meetings with Chinese filmmakers. Other activities include weekly excursions in Beijing and vicinity. All classes are taught in English, to a student body from around the world. No knowledge of Chinese language is required."

Why is this such a great deal?

1. you study with 7 important international scholars/professors in the field of cinema

2. as the program is open to students worldwide, you have an equally nice chance to commune with a diverse group of fellow students

3. you have the opportunity to meet with Chinese directors and other producers of film in China and visit production sites

4. you receive 12 credits from the University of Washington at a cost that is less than half of what you would pay as an out of state student: the fee includes tuition, room, and all activities in and around Beijing.

5. application is free

There are no doubt other benefits as well depending on your own perspective. If you have any serious interest at all in this program, immediately email the program director because the deadline for applying has passed (edit: the deadline has just been extended to March 30, but they will consider any late applicants who are serious about this wonderful opportunity (I have confirmed this with the director). Apply now!

In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I will be doing this program.

[niubi]

Here is some additional information about the program:

Students will take all eight mini-courses (Faculty information below):

1. Early Chinese cinema (Li Ershi, Beijing Film Academy)

2. Concepts in Chinese Film Criticism (Zhong Dafeng, Beijing Film Academy)

3. Studying Film Production in the PRC (Li Wei, Beijing Film Academy)

4. Chinese Cinema and the Nation (Chris Berry, University of London)

5. Cinematic Realisms (Mette Hjort, Lingnan University, HK & Aalborg University, Denmark)

6. Globalism and Contemporary Cinema (James Tweedie, University of Washington)

7. Beijing in Film (Yomi Braester, University of Washington)

8. Film and Visual Culture in Contemporary China (Yomi Braester and James Tweedie, University of Washington)

Regular lectures will take place four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday), from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm, followed by a film screening in the evening (a total of 8 mini-courses of 12 hours each).

At least once a week, an additional 2-hour class will be scheduled for meetings with film directors.

Guided excursions to locations around Beijing, ranging from tourist sites (including the Great Wall) to film locations (including the Beijing Film Studio lot). These excursions will typically take place once a week, for 5 to 8 hours, and occur on Wednesday or during the weekend.

Additional activities will include screenings at film theaters and drama performances (1-2 times a week).

To fully satisfy the course requirements, students must participate in all scheduled lectures and activities and write five 5-page papers, due on September 4.

To apply, simply send

1. A statement of purpose, explaining your interest in the program and detailing your academic background

2. A sealed letter of recommendation, by a teacher with whom you have studied, describing your academic aptitude and assessing your suitability for a study abroad program.

to the program director:

Yomi Braester, Director

Summer Program in Chinese Film History and Criticism

Department of Comparative Literature

B-536 Padelford, box 354338

University of Washington

Seattle, WA 98133-4338

U.S.A.

Faculty:

Chris Berry is Professor of Film and Television Studies at Goldmiths College, University of London. He is the author, co-editor, and translator of numersous volumes including 'Island On The Edge: Taiwan New Cinema And After', 'Chinese Films in Focus: 25 New Takes', 'Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy: The Genesis of China's Fifth Generation', 'Mobile Cultures: New Media in Queer Asia', 'Perspectives on Chinese Cinema', 'Maidenhome', 'Postsocialist Cinema in Post-Mao China; The Cultural Revolution after the Cultural Revolution ', and 'China on Screen : Cinema and Nation'. More information at http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/departments/media-communications/staff/berry.php

Yomi Braester is an Associate Processor in the Department of Comparative Literature and Program in Cinema Studies, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Washington, and director of the Summer Program. He is author of 'Witness Against History: Literature, Film, and Public Discourse in Twentieth-Century China' published by Stanford University Press. More information at http://faculty.washington.edu/yomi

Mette Hjort is Professor of Visual Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong and Professor of Intercultural Studies at Aalborg University, Denmark. She is the author, co-editor, and translator of several books including a forthcoming book 'Stanley Kwan's Centre Stage', 'The Strategy of Letters', 'Small Nation, Global Cinema : The New Danish Cinema', 'Rules and Conventions : Literature, Philosophy, Social Theory ', 'Emotion and the Arts', 'Cinema and Nation', 'The Postnational Self: Belonging and Identity', 'Purity and Provocation: Dogme '95', 'The Danish Directors', 'Food for Thought ', and 'To Destroy Painting'. More information at http://www.ln.edu.hk/philoso/cvhjort.htm

Li Ershi is a Professor of the Beijing Film Academy in the department of Screenwriting and Film Studies.

Li Wei is a graduate of the Sound department at the Beijing Film Academy and now lectures there. She also is an M.Sc. student in Film at the University of Edinburgh.

James Tweedie is an Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at University of Washington. His current book project is on European cinema of the 1980s. More information at http://depts.washington.edu/complit/people/tweedie.htm

Zhong Dafeng is the Dean of the International School at and Professor of Beijing Film Academy. He chairs the CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision/International Association of Film and Television Schools) Asia-Pacific Association (CAPA - the regional organization of the CILECT member schools in the Asia-Pacific Region). He is co-editor of Zhongguo dianying shi (History of Chinese film).