The Asian Cinema Experience: Styles, Spaces, Theory (Media, Culture and Social Change in Asia)

This book explores the range and dynamism of contemporary Asian cinemas, covering East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan), Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia), South Asia (Bollywood), and West Asia (Iran), in order to discover what is common about them and to engender a theory or concept of "Asian Cinema". It goes beyond existing work which provides a field survey of Asian cinema, probing more deeply into the field of Asian Cinema, arguing that Asian Cinema constitutes a separate pedagogical subject, and putting forward an alternative cinematic paradigm. The book covers "styles", including the works of classical Asian Cinema masters, and specific genres such as horror films, and Bollywood and Anime, two very popular modes of Asian Cinema; "spaces", including artistic use of space and perspective in Chinese cinema, geographic and personal space in Iranian cinema, the private "erotic space" of films from South Korea and Thailand, and the persistence of the family unit in the urban spaces of Asian big cities in many Asian films; and "concepts" such as Pan-Asianism, Orientalism, Nationalism and Third Cinema. The rise of Asian nations on the world stage has been coupled with a growing interest, both inside and outside Asia, of Asian culture, of which film is increasingly an indispensable component – this book provides a rich, insightful overview of what exactly constitutes Asian Cinema. This Book Explores The Range And Dynamism Of Contemporary Asian Cinemas, Covering East Asia (china, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan), Southeast Asia (thailand, Singapore, Malaysia), South Asia (bollywood), And West Asia (iran), In Order To Discover What Is Common About Them And To Engender A Theory Or Concept Of Asian Cinema. It Goes Beyond Existing Work Which Provides A Field Survey Of Asian Cinema, Probing More Deeply Into The Field Of Asian Cinema, Arguing That Asian Cinema Constitutes A Separate Pedagogical Subject, And Putting Forward An Alternative Cinematic Paradigm. The Book Covers Styles, Including The Works Of Classical Asian Cinema Masters, And Specific Genres Such As Horror Films, And Bollywood And Anime, Two Very Popular Modes Of Asian Cinema; Spaces, Including Artistic Use Of Space And Perspective In Chinese Cinema, Geographic And Personal Space In Iranian Cinema, The Private Erotic Space Of Films From South Korea And Thailand, And The Persistence Of The Family Unit In The Urban Spaces Of Asian Big Cities In Many Asian Films; And Concepts Such As Pan-asianism, Orientalism, Nationalism And Third Cinema. The Rise Of Asian Nations On The World Stage Has Been Coupled With A Growing Interest, Both Inside And Outside Asia, Of Asian Culture, Of Which Film Is Increasingly An Indispensable Component--this Book Provides A Rich, Insightful Overview Of What Exactly Constitutes Asian Cinema. This Book Explores The Range And Dynamism Of Contemporary Asian Cinemas, Covering East Asia (china, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan), Southeast Asia (thailand, Singapore, Malaysia), South Asia (bollywood), And West Asia (iran), In Order To Discover What Is Common About Them And To Engender A Theory Or Concept Of Asian Cinema. It Goes Beyond Existing Work Which Provides A Field Survey Of Asian Cinema, Probing More Deeply Into The Field Of Asian Cinema, Arguing That Asian Cinema Constitutes A Separate Pedagogical Subject, And Putting Forward An Alternative Cinematic Paradigm-- Styles. Kurosawa And Classical Style In Asian Cinema -- Satyajit Ray And The Indian Sensitivity Of Affect -- The Historical Blockbuster Style -- The Abstract Transnational Style Of Anime -- Asian Horror And The Ghost-story Style -- The 'bollywood' Style -- Spaces. Space In Asian Melodrama -- Iranian Cinema And Inward Space -- Domestic Space And The Family In South Korean Cinema -- Erotic Space In Asian Films -- Theory. The World And Asian Cinema -- Asian Cinema And Other Cinemas. Stephen Teo. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Asian Cinema Experience Styles,Spaces, theory 6 Copyright 7 Contents 10 List of figures 12 Preface 14 Acknowledgements 15 Introduction 18 Part I Styles 30 1. Kurosawa and classical style in Asian Cinema 32 2. Satyajit Ray and the Indian sensitivity of affect 52 3. The historical blockbuster style 69 4. The abstract transnational style of anime 89 5. Asian horror and the ghost-story style 109 6. The ‘Bollywood’ style 128 Part II Spaces 148 7. Space in Asian melodrama 150 8. Iranian cinema and inward space 171 9. Domestic space and the family in South Korean cinema 188 10. Erotic space in Asian films 207 Part III Theory 224 11. The world and Asian Cinema 226 12. Asian Cinema and other cinemas 240 Coda 256 Filmography 260 References 266 Index 277 Styles, Spaces, Theory