Asian Studies 2279
Three credit course, June 27 - August 8, 2010
Offered during the six week session.
Course Description
This is an introductory course intended for students with little or no background in Chinese studies.
It is expected, however, that each student may know something about myths of some culture, and
this will be helpful. Chinese myths may not always satisfy our expectations about what myths are or
how myths are usually presented, so a comparative approach may sometimes help bring questions into focus.
We will look at myth from a number of different perspectives, including the relationship between myth
and history, between myth and literature, and between myth and religion. We will assume a critical
stance in our study of Chinese myth at all times, in an endeavor to better understand the historical
origins and social uses of myth, and to better appreciate the roles that myths have played in Chinese
culture over the centuries. Our focus will be primarily on the earliest periods of Chinese history,
and on formative myths from the classical tradition rather than folklore and popular religion, even
though the lines dividing these areas will not always be absolutely clear.
The course is taught by Professor
Robin McNeal, Associate Professor of Chinese Literature in the
Department of Asian Studies at Cornell University. For more information regarding the content of the
course, please e-mail him at rm253@cornell.edu.
Registration
The tuition for this three credit course is $2,910. All tuition must be paid in full before the
beginning of the six week session. Students must register through the Registrar's
office at the School of
Continuing Education and Summer Sessions
B20 Day Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-2801
Telephone: (607) 255-4987
Fax: (607) 255-9697
E-mail: cusce@cornell.edu
