'Opening Up' China on Screen: Chinese Cinema from Mao to Xi Jinping
This 6-week evening course will take learners on a cinematic journey through China’s “reform and opening up” era, from the end of the Cultural Revolution through to the mid-2000s.“Opening up” involved a series of economic and societal reforms to rebuild the country after the tumultuous Mao years. Each week will explore different generations of China’s cinema - beginning by setting the context with the Golden Age
and Model Revo...
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is an introduction to modern Chinese cinema, aimed at lovers of Chinese film and cinephiles alike, but also pitched to learners who have an interest in modern Chinese society, its recent history, politics, and culture. There will be a focus on both well-known and lesser-known filmmakers and be driven by specific learning outcomes for each week.
What will we cover?
Each 2-hour weekly session will have a topical focus, beginning with laying context for modern Chinese cinema with an historical overview of Chinese cinema, taking each ‘generation’ of Chinese cinema offering an exploration of prevalent themes and films, with a deep dive into a filmmaker of that generation, and their work. By the end of the 6 weeks, learners will have gained an in depth understanding of modern Chinese cinema as well as what Chinese cinema can teach us about the country’s emergence as a super-power nation. The course will look at the following:
Week one: Introduction to Chinese cinema: setting the context and the Fourth Generation.
Week two: The Rise of the Fifth Generation (part one): Looking Back.
Week 3: The Fifth Generation (part two): Global Auteurs.
Week 4: The Sixth Generation part one: DV and disaffection.
Week 5: The Sixth Generation part two: bearing witness and the urban generation.
Week 6: The New Documentary Movement – impulse filmmaking.
Films explored will include: The East is Red (Wang Ping, 1965), Yellow Earth (Chen Kaige, 1984), Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou 1991), Beijing Bicycle (Wang Xiaoshuai, 2001), Still Life (Jia Zhangke, 2008), F*** Cinema (Wu Wenguang, 2005) and Sphinx in 48km (Zhang Mengqi, 2018).
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
demonstrate a broad understanding of 20th and 21st Century Chinese history, and an in-depth understanding of how transformations at the turn of the century impacted the cultural, political and artistic landscape of cinema.
demonstrate knowledge of the Fifth Generation’s collective themes and preoccupations and an awareness of how and why their style was distinct.
demonstrate understanding of the rise of the Sixth Generation, its outlook and influences, and define what underground and independent mean in the context of Chinese cinema.
demonstrate understanding of the new documentary movement and how documentary became a medium of both protest and preservation.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing it. The course provides an introduction to Chinese cinema but is also useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge of the subject.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Classes will involve short lectures with power point and the screening of film extracts, followed by group discussion. There may be some reading and viewing expected outside of the classroom.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/opening-up-china-on-screen-chinese-cinema-from-mao-to-xi-jinping919485'Opening Up' China on Screen: Chinese Cinema from Mao to Xi Jinpinghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/exploring-film-genres-hf102-1080.jpg179179GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/World film/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in humanities228511771580210013457135721228511771580165313457<p>This 6-week evening course will take learners on a cinematic journey through China’s “reform and opening up” era, from the end of the Cultural Revolution through to the mid-2000s.<br/>“Opening up” involved a series of economic and societal reforms to rebuild the country after the tumultuous Mao years. Each week will explore different generations of China’s cinema - beginning by setting the context with the Golden Age and Model Revolutionary Operas, then deep diving into the reform era of the 1980s - 2000s spotlighting Fifth Generation films such as Chen Kaige's <em>Yellow Earth</em> (1984), Zhang Yimou's <em>Raise the Red Lantern</em> (1991), and Sixth Generation films such as Jia Zhangke's <em>Still Life</em> (2006), and films of the more recent 'urban generation' and new documentary movements.<br/>Each session will map China's evolving cinematic journey against the nation’s local and global progression into the modern super-power that it is today. </p>002925579'Opening Up' China on Screen: Chinese Cinema from Mao to Xi Jinping179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/exploring-film-genres-hf102-1080.jpgInStockEveningMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHF416179179'Opening Up' China on Screen: Chinese Cinema from Mao to Xi Jinping179116179Carol-Mei Barkeropening-up-china-on-screen-chinese-cinema-from-mao-to-xi-jinping/hf416-2526<p>This 6-week evening course will take learners on a cinematic journey through China’s “reform and opening up” era, from the end of the Cultural Revolution through to the mid-2000s.<br/>“Opening up” involved a series of economic and societal reforms to rebuild the country after the tumultuous Mao years. Each week will explore different generations of China’s cinema - beginning by setting the context with the Golden Age and Model Revolutionary Operas, then deep diving into the reform era of the 1980s - 2000s spotlighting Fifth Generation films such as Chen Kaige's <em>Yellow Earth</em> (1984), Zhang Yimou's <em>Raise the Red Lantern</em> (1991), and Sixth Generation films such as Jia Zhangke's <em>Still Life</em> (2006), and films of the more recent 'urban generation' and new documentary movements.<br/>Each session will map China's evolving cinematic journey against the nation’s local and global progression into the modern super-power that it is today. </p>0000-Available|2026-06-01 00:00:00<p>This is an introduction to modern Chinese cinema, aimed at lovers of Chinese film and cinephiles alike, but also pitched to learners who have an interest in modern Chinese society, its recent history, politics, and culture. There will be a focus on both well-known and lesser-known filmmakers and be driven by specific learning outcomes for each week.</p><p>This 6-week evening course will take learners on a cinematic journey through China’s “reform and opening up” era, from the end of the Cultural Revolution through to the mid-2000s.<br/>“Opening up” involved a series of economic and societal reforms to rebuild the country after the tumultuous Mao years. Each week will explore different generations of China’s cinema - beginning by setting the context with the Golden Age and Model Revolutionary Operas, then deep diving into the reform era of the 1980s - 2000s spotlighting Fifth Generation films such as Chen Kaige's <em>Yellow Earth</em> (1984), Zhang Yimou's <em>Raise the Red Lantern</em> (1991), and Sixth Generation films such as Jia Zhangke's <em>Still Life</em> (2006), and films of the more recent 'urban generation' and new documentary movements.<br/>Each session will map China's evolving cinematic journey against the nation’s local and global progression into the modern super-power that it is today. </p><p>Each 2-hour weekly session will have a topical focus, beginning with laying context for modern Chinese cinema with an historical overview of Chinese cinema, taking each ‘generation’ of Chinese cinema offering an exploration of prevalent themes and films, with a deep dive into a filmmaker of that generation, and their work. By the end of the 6 weeks, learners will have gained an in depth understanding of modern Chinese cinema as well as<br/>what Chinese cinema can teach us about the country’s emergence as a super-power nation. The course will look at the following:<br/> </p><ul><li>Week one: Introduction to Chinese cinema: setting the context and the Fourth Generation.</li><li>Week two: The Rise of the Fifth Generation (part one): Looking Back.</li><li>Week 3: The Fifth Generation (part two): Global Auteurs.</li><li>Week 4: The Sixth Generation part one: DV and disaffection.</li><li>Week 5: The Sixth Generation part two: bearing witness and the urban generation.</li><li>Week 6: The New Documentary Movement – impulse filmmaking.<br/> </li></ul><p>Films explored will include: The East is Red (Wang Ping, 1965), Yellow Earth (Chen Kaige, 1984), Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou 1991), Beijing Bicycle (Wang Xiaoshuai, 2001), Still Life (Jia Zhangke, 2008), F*** Cinema (Wu Wenguang, 2005) and Sphinx in 48km (Zhang Mengqi, 2018).</p><ul><li>demonstrate a broad understanding of 20th and 21st Century Chinese history, and an in-depth understanding of how transformations at the turn of the century impacted the cultural, political and artistic landscape of cinema.</li><li>demonstrate knowledge of the Fifth Generation’s collective themes and preoccupations and an awareness of how and why their style was distinct.</li><li>demonstrate understanding of the rise of the Sixth Generation, its outlook and influences, and define what underground and independent mean in the context of Chinese cinema.</li><li>demonstrate understanding of the new documentary movement and how documentary became a medium of both protest and preservation.</li></ul><p>The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing it. The course provides an introduction to Chinese cinema but is also useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge of the subject.</p><p>Classes will involve short lectures with power point and the screening of film extracts, followed by group discussion. There may be some reading and viewing expected outside of the classroom.</p><p>You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.</p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesWorld filmvirtual179179116HF416NONEMon01/06/26 - 06/07/2618:30 - 20:3018:3020:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetCarol-Mei BarkerBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Culture, history & humanities179179'Opening Up' China on Screen: Chinese Cinema from Mao to Xi Jinpingopening-up-china-on-screen-chinese-cinema-from-mao-to-xi-jinping/hf416-2526<p>This 6-week evening course will take learners on a cinematic journey through China’s “reform and opening up” era, from the end of the Cultural Revolution through to the mid-2000s.<br/>“Opening up” involved a series of economic and societal reforms to rebuild the country after the tumultuous Mao years. Each week will explore different generations of China’s cinema - beginning by setting the context with the Golden Age and Model Revolutionary Operas, then deep diving into the reform era of the 1980s - 2000s spotlighting Fifth Generation films such as Chen Kaige's <em>Yellow Earth</em> (1984), Zhang Yimou's <em>Raise the Red Lantern</em> (1991), and Sixth Generation films such as Jia Zhangke's <em>Still Life</em> (2006), and films of the more recent 'urban generation' and new documentary movements.<br/>Each session will map China's evolving cinematic journey against the nation’s local and global progression into the modern super-power that it is today. </p>0000-Available|2026-06-01 00:00:00<p>This is an introduction to modern Chinese cinema, aimed at lovers of Chinese film and cinephiles alike, but also pitched to learners who have an interest in modern Chinese society, its recent history, politics, and culture. There will be a focus on both well-known and lesser-known filmmakers and be driven by specific learning outcomes for each week.</p><p>This 6-week evening course will take learners on a cinematic journey through China’s “reform and opening up” era, from the end of the Cultural Revolution through to the mid-2000s.<br/>“Opening up” involved a series of economic and societal reforms to rebuild the country after the tumultuous Mao years. Each week will explore different generations of China’s cinema - beginning by setting the context with the Golden Age and Model Revolutionary Operas, then deep diving into the reform era of the 1980s - 2000s spotlighting Fifth Generation films such as Chen Kaige's <em>Yellow Earth</em> (1984), Zhang Yimou's <em>Raise the Red Lantern</em> (1991), and Sixth Generation films such as Jia Zhangke's <em>Still Life</em> (2006), and films of the more recent 'urban generation' and new documentary movements.<br/>Each session will map China's evolving cinematic journey against the nation’s local and global progression into the modern super-power that it is today. </p><p>Each 2-hour weekly session will have a topical focus, beginning with laying context for modern Chinese cinema with an historical overview of Chinese cinema, taking each ‘generation’ of Chinese cinema offering an exploration of prevalent themes and films, with a deep dive into a filmmaker of that generation, and their work. By the end of the 6 weeks, learners will have gained an in depth understanding of modern Chinese cinema as well as<br/>what Chinese cinema can teach us about the country’s emergence as a super-power nation. The course will look at the following:<br/> </p><ul><li>Week one: Introduction to Chinese cinema: setting the context and the Fourth Generation.</li><li>Week two: The Rise of the Fifth Generation (part one): Looking Back.</li><li>Week 3: The Fifth Generation (part two): Global Auteurs.</li><li>Week 4: The Sixth Generation part one: DV and disaffection.</li><li>Week 5: The Sixth Generation part two: bearing witness and the urban generation.</li><li>Week 6: The New Documentary Movement – impulse filmmaking.<br/> </li></ul><p>Films explored will include: The East is Red (Wang Ping, 1965), Yellow Earth (Chen Kaige, 1984), Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou 1991), Beijing Bicycle (Wang Xiaoshuai, 2001), Still Life (Jia Zhangke, 2008), F*** Cinema (Wu Wenguang, 2005) and Sphinx in 48km (Zhang Mengqi, 2018).</p><ul><li>demonstrate a broad understanding of 20th and 21st Century Chinese history, and an in-depth understanding of how transformations at the turn of the century impacted the cultural, political and artistic landscape of cinema.</li><li>demonstrate knowledge of the Fifth Generation’s collective themes and preoccupations and an awareness of how and why their style was distinct.</li><li>demonstrate understanding of the rise of the Sixth Generation, its outlook and influences, and define what underground and independent mean in the context of Chinese cinema.</li><li>demonstrate understanding of the new documentary movement and how documentary became a medium of both protest and preservation.</li></ul><p>The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing it. The course provides an introduction to Chinese cinema but is also useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge of the subject.</p><p>Classes will involve short lectures with power point and the screening of film extracts, followed by group discussion. There may be some reading and viewing expected outside of the classroom.</p><p>You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.</p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesWorld filmconfigurable
21001580World filmhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/film-studies/world-film1/2/285/1177/1580/21001/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/World film
