This module explores the interplay between storytelling and historical understanding. It offers an examination of popular narratives from China and the United States, spanning five centuries and two continents. Through a curated selection of novels, short stories, and anecdotes, the module will explore how fictional works reflect cultural values and shape societal perceptions. It will engage with questions of text and context: what can fictional narratives reveal about the cultures from which they emerge? In what ways do they contribute to the construction of myths about the past, and what functions do these myths serve in contemporary society?
Across two very different literary landscapes, the module will investigate and examine the shared themes and distinctive qualities that characterize the storytelling traditions of China and the United States. This module engages critically with the texts, seeking understanding of how narrative forms influence our interpretations of history and reality and how fiction can illuminate the complexities of our shared past.