Topics in EALC: Early Modern Chinese Drama

This course will introduce the major forms and works of Chinese drama from the 16th–18th centuries. Drama occupied a central place in the culture of the Ming and Qing dynasties, its tremendous popularity felt throughout the spaces of everyday life: from the lavish playbooks perused in the scholar’s study to the performances of household actors in wealthy residences and of itinerant troupes in the marketplace. We will read a variety of northern and southern dramas that tell of lovesick girls returning from the dead, anti-government protests in the streets, queer romances, and treks to foreign lands, paying attention to their narrative richness and complexity as well as their diverse histories of reading and performance. All readings in English and no background required.