Course syllabus

KOREAN 205: Korea through TV Drama and Film

SEMESTER 2, 2018

Lectures: Tuesdays 4pm - 6pm at 105-029 (Clock Tower, Room 029)

Tutorials: Thursdays 4pm - 5pm at 114-G13 (Commerce A, Room G13)

Coordinator: Dr. Hee-seung Irene Lee
Office: Room 439, Arts 2 Building (Level 4, 18 Symonds St.)
Office Hours: Thursdays 1 pm – 2 pm
E-mail: irene.lee@auckland.ac.nz

Overview:

Recent years witness the unprecedented popularity and wide spread of South Korean popular culture, which is often referred as the Korean wave or Hallyu. This brings about the increasing demand for a better grasp of meanings and impacts of the Korean wave as a distinct cultural phenomenon in relation to its effects on the global recognition of East Asian culture at large. While keeping such globalised milieu in mind, the course purposes an informed perspective on popular cultural texts as a significant gate towards more acute understanding of contemporary South Korean society.

Korean through TV Drama and Film aims a critical reading of contemporary Korean TV drama and film in order to understand the complex and multi-faceted relations between Korean history, society and its people in the context of the global popularity of Korean pop culture. The course will introduce a historical overview of South Korea since 1990s in order to investigate how popular culture reflects, represents and even provokes rapid and discursive changes in the political, economical and societal dimensions of Korean society. Korea through TV Drama and Film also aims to help students develop necessary skills for an analysis of popular media texts they encounter in everyday life.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of Korean popular culture and its place within contemporary Korean society.
• Analyse the ways in which Korean popular culture engages Korean people facing discursive changes in their modern life.
• Critically read the key features of South Korean TV dramas and films in relation to relevant historical, political, economical and social factors at work.

Assessment Summary:

1. Assignment 1: Text Analysis (20%)

The first assignment (1,000 words) requires students to write a detailed text analysis of one viewing text in relation to a chosen topic. This exercise is to develop an analytic skill in closely reading visual texts and a writing skill in the style of formal and academic essay. Students will learn 1) how to ‘read’ a viewing text in an analytic manner 2) how to ‘relate’ their reading of a viewing text to relevant socio-historical discussion 3) how to ‘structure and write’ a formal essay. Assignment questions and guidelines will be given in the beginning of the second week of the semester. All essays should use a font size bigger than 12 fonts and in double-spaced with enough marginal space for comments. Prior to submitting the hard copies of essays, students should submit their essays through Turnitin via Canvas.

2. Assignment 2: Research Essay (30%)

The second assignment (1,500 words) requires students to carry out an independent research on a chosen topic. The list of assignment topics will be given by the end of the fifth week of the semester. The research essay should contain 1) student’s own perspective regarding a chosen topic 2) a detailed text analysis to support main ideas 3) critical thinking of the topic informed by an independent research. Students are strongly encouraged to start planning the second assignment as soon as possible in order to consult with the course convenor before they begin their own research and writing. This will be a key in presenting a well-researched and insightful essay.

3. Participation Mark (10%)
The participation mark is based on ONE short review (no longer than 500 words) of the weekly viewing in ONE of the tutorials. The review has to be handed in person in one of the tutorials where discussing the reviewed texts and students need to upload an electronic copy of their reviews to the participation mark page in the assignment section on Canvas. 

4. Final Examination (40%)
The 2-hour Final Examination covers all the lectures and primary viewings and readings covered in this course.

Prescribed Texts: TBA

Viewing texts available in General Library AV short loan collection

Reading texts available on Canvas

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.