| Course Name |
(中) 生態環境電影專題(8001) |
| (Eng.) Seminar on Eco-cinema |
| Offering Dept |
International Doctoral Program in Taiwan and Transcultural Studies |
| Course Type |
Elective |
Credits |
3 |
Teacher |
Liew Zhou Hau |
| Department |
International Doctoral Program in Taiwan and Transcultural StudiesPh.D |
Language |
English |
Semester |
2025-FALL |
| Course Description |
This class explores a series of visual texts (feature films, documentaries, and photography) that represent the environment. By close-reading and analyzing these texts, we will attempt to develop what may be conceptualized as "planetary aesthetics," while paying attention to the specificies of the visual medium. Some of the issues we discuss include the relationship between geography and visuality, colonial representations, sensory ethnography and forms of life, science fiction, planetary blockbusters, and contemporary art. We will also practice analyzing visual texts together in class. As this is a PhD level class, there will be opportunities for students to give input and shape the syllabus based on their interest and research projects. |
| Prerequisites |
|
self-directed learning in the course |
Y |
| Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%) |
Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives |
| Course Objectives |
Competency Indicators |
Ratio(%) |
Teaching Methods |
Assessment Methods |
1) Practice analyzing visual texts.
2) Develop frameworks for understanding the relationship between visuality and the environment.
3) Discuss future research projects. |
|
|
| Exercises |
| Discussion |
| Lecturing |
|
| Attendance |
| Oral Presentation |
| Assignment |
|
| Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule |
| Week |
Course Content |
| Week 1 |
Introduction |
| Week 2 |
Geography, visuality, and imperialism
James Ryan, Picturing Empire: Photography and the Visualization of the British Empire
John Thompson, Samuel Bourne (Travel photography) |
| Week 3 |
Representing the planet
Tiago de Luca, Planetary Cinema |
| Week 4 |
Visualizing extraction
Goodyear short film, ”Conquering the Jungle” (1930)
Selected clips from colonial archives |
| Week 5 |
Afterimages of extraction
Nadine Chan, Rainforest Hermeneutics in the Military Training Film
Sim Chi Yin, One Day We’ll Understand (2015-present) |
| Week 6 |
Visualizing extraction
Student choice of texts |
| Week 7 |
Midterm break and assignment |
| Week 8 |
Recap week |
| Week 9 |
Science fiction and the planetary
Denis Villeneuve, Dune (2021) |
| Week 10 |
Landscape and the ”resource genre”
Mati Diop, Atlantics (2019) |
| Week 11 |
Waste ecologies
Wang Jiuliang, Plastic China (2016) |
| Week 12 |
Seeing landscape
Chi Po-lin, Beyond Beauty - Taiwan from Above (2013) |
| Week 13 |
Special lecture |
| Week 14 |
Sensory ethnography and forms of life
Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel, Leviathan (2012) |
| Week 15 |
Planetary blockbusters
Michael Mann, Blackhat (2015) |
| Week 16 |
Student presentations
Final papers due
Final papers due |
self-directed
learning |
|
|
| Evaluation |
Attendance and participation (20%)
Presentations (20%)
Midterm assignment (25%)
Final paper (35%) |
| Textbook & other References |
| David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction |
| Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website |
|
| Office Hours |
| By appointment. Please email to setup a meeting. |
| Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL) |
| 11.Sustainable Cities and Communities 14.Life Below Water 15.Life On Land | include experience courses：N |
|