This course is especially offered for international students and open partially to local students, as one of the 'Exploring Taiwan' course series taught in English at NTU. Delivered by four course instructors it focuses on four themes: (1) History and social change in Taiwan, (2) Religious and folk culture in Taiwan, (3) Population and gender issues in Taiwan and (4) Cinema of Taiwan.

Through in-class lecture, video screening, seminar discussion and field trips, students will go through a succinct yet thorough introduction of how the Island of Formosa becomes modern Taiwan, and look into some traditional beliefs, customs and local lives in Taiwan. They will also be led to appreciate films produced in different period and explore how various issues or events are presented in those films, as well as study Taiwan's demographic transition, marriage transformation and stalled gender relationship.