ReConnect China MOOC: Introduction to Chinese Popular Culture

 

Ongoing until end of 2026

Level: Basic

Language: English

Credits: 3 ECTS

Time: on-going until 18 December 2026

Organiser: The course is offered by the EU-Horizon ReConnect China –project and it is organized by the Center for East Asian Studies, University of Turku.

Contact person:  Senior university lecturer Dr Outi Luova, Center for East Asian Studies, University of Turku

Objectives: This course offers a comprehensive introduction to popular culture in contemporary China, exploring its emergence across cinema, music, television, and social media creator culture. During the course, you will explore how popular culture intersects with gender, class, national identity, and political power within the Chinese context. Additionally, you will examine Chinese popular culture as a part of cultural flows within East Asia.

By the end of this course, you will be familiar with the various forms of popular culture, the factors driving its rapid evolution, and the platformisation of cultural production in China. You will also explore key films, shows, and songs, as well as academic resources related to China’s popular culture, which will help you continue your engagement and learning beyond the course.

Content: This course is divided into five thematic modules.

  1. Development of popular culture in China
  2. Film industry
  3. TV productions and games
  4. Popular music
  5. Platformisation of cultural production

Taken as: Asynchronous online course.

The core materials consist of short (20 min) recorded lectures and slide decks that are prepared by leading European experts on China. In addition, the versatile learning materials include timelines, infographics, podcasts and open access online materials. Learners will also get acquainted with central sources of information about China, including selected Chinese webpages.

The learning experience is enriched by various types of automatically graded assignments. These encompass quizzes, drag-and-drop exercises, and branching scenarios. Moreover, each module culminates in a multiple-choice exam, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the knowledge assimilated. In order to complete the course and receive a course certificate, students need to pass all assignments and exams within the course period.

Grading: Pass/fail

Enrollment :

This is a free online course available for anyone to enroll.

The course is arranged in the DigiCampus learning platform. Sign up using manual registration, your Google password or your HAKA-credentials (students from Finnish universities or polytechnics)  on this page.

Students who hold a valid study right at a member university of the Asia Network, and self-paying students of the Asia Network, can also register to this course through the Asia Network application process. After successfully completing all coursework, their study credits will be registered in the Peppi- service at the transition between academic study period.

Information about the application period and the application process is available here.

Certificate and study credits:

Once students have successfully completed all assignments and exams, they can generate an automatic course completion certificate. The certificate is digitally verifiable.
If you wish to receive study credits for this course, please check with your university in advance to confirm whether it accepts the MOOC certificate for credit

More information about how to take MOOC-courses is available here.