Chinese Spy Fiction and Films

Since the 19th century, the spy genre has crossed national boundaries to become a global literary and cinematic form of mass entertainment. This class examines one national form, the Chinese spy novel/film and its cross-cultural translations and appropriations. We historicize the development of the spy genre in China, by interrogating how the Chinese subgenre interacts with other national traditions and by placing its development in the socio-historical context of WWI, WWII and the Cold War.We also examine the media technologies--secret codes, spy cameras, fake mustaches--that allow cinematic and literary spies to wage their hidden wars.