This blog is meant to be a space for the Austin College community to discuss issues related to China and the Chinese language. For author permissions, please write to Dr. Jennifer Thackston Johnson: jtj.at.ac –at- gmail.com. Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
这个秋天，我想多去公园散步。我在电视上看到的天气预报。下个星期的天气真不好。下个星期会下雨，下雪， 真糟糕！可是，我可以去公园滑冰。滑冰很好玩儿。冷的天气不错，但是我更喜欢暖和的天气。Texas 不但太热， 而且很不舒服。加州的天期非常好。 加州不但那么漂亮，而且有很多我的朋友。我刚才在网上找便宜的机票去加州。
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Hurray for the Beijing Olympics
Prior to this class I had never seen the Beijing opening ceremony. I had seen the Olympics and watched as China triumphed and gained the most gold metals, albeit through cheating. You have to admit the Chinese really wanted to succeed and show to the world how awesome of a country they had become.
The first chance they got to do so was at the opening ceremony. It was spectacular. The massive amount of money seemed well spent. They technology was far advanced, more so than I have ever seen before. And the numbers of people performing bordered on the obscene. 15,000 performers were placed in the show, none of them were repeated. Only in China could this be done, like director Zhang Yimou said, China definately has the man power. An example can be exhibited by the fact that man power, human power, was used to generate and move the Chinese typing blocks.
The show was truely a spectacular show, one that I believe no other country could live up to. The show instilled a Chinese national pride in me that I didn't really know existed. Yes, I am Chinese; however, I believe being born and raised in the West has brought me different ideals and values than the traditional ones brought over from the old country by my forbearers. I believe this opening ceremony and the Beijing Olympic games in general brought Chinese all over the world this same pride. However, despite being extrememly prideful that China is seeking and being granted international recognition, I can't help but remember all the totalitarian moves the government made in order to ensure the success of the Beijing Olympics. Thousands of people were displaced and forced from their homes and car driving was restricted in order to reduce air pollution. Other conflicts include the brutality with which the Chinese government used to suppress Tibetan protesters.
Sometimes I wish I was just ignorant and didn't know the whole situation of China's authoritarianism. I really do. The ceremony was beautiful, but the lenghts to achieve such a success was not justified.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Ai Weiwei's Artwork Travels, Despite Detainment
Ai WeiWei’s art is in New York but he isn’t. Ai Weiwei hasn’t been seen in over a month, since Chinese authorities took him into custody. In this article, the author talks about her interview with Ai before the Beijing Olympics. It is obvious, though frequent blogging, that Ai is adamant in his belief of freedom of speech. His art also conveys his bluntness (i.e. dropping the Han Dynasty vase; conversion of valuable antiques into works of art). As we discussed in class, much of his art represents the government’s destruction of priceless pieces of cultural sites for more modern edifices. Through his art, Ai Weiwei illustrates the facts of Chinese society, which is probably why he's being detained
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Hero
Hero is a story about a nameless, at first, hero that has slain the three most deadly assassins and because of tat granted an audience with the emperor. The emperor wants to know the whole story of how this Nameless defeated all three of these amazing martial artists.
As the hero is recounting the story I was awestruck. It seemed like I didn’t blink the entire movie. Her is one of if not the most beautiful scenic movies I have ever seen in my life. No matter where they were, dark, light, any color, it was all so breathtakingly beautiful. I in all honesty can say that every scene of this movie was picture perfect.
Though the filmography was amazing and stunningly put together the music also played a huge part in the film. The blind man playing the guzheng (I think that is what it is called) to the violins and cellos. Even the leaves in the fight between Mood and Falling Snow play music. It always set the mood for the fight about to occur.
The story cannot go without being mentioned. It holds its own against the beauty of the scenes and music. You soon realize that you cant trust anything you see or here. One story is a lie, the next a fantasy. The characters go through development as well they go from being mindless warriors to people with personalities. You get to know how they work, their bravery, love, and passions.
The way the story is told is an art style in itself. The story progresses and we see the same individuals fighting each other but in a progression of certain colors. Red symbolized chaos and passion, blur was unity and perfection, white for purity, truth, and vastness, and green for enlightenment and youth. Each relating to their story and how it pertained to what really happened.
There isn’t a bad thing I can think of about this movie. It was a treat for both Martial arts fans and general moviegoers. I cannot express how beautiful this movie is, every frame is perfect and gorgeous.
Monday, May 2, 2011
This man lives in an egg...made of grass.
http://www.switched.com/2010/12/09/dai-haifei-solar-powered-mobile-egg-house-grass/
What happens when a Chinese architect decides he is done wasting his money on the high cost of rent? He builds himself a solar-powered, bamboo egg covered in grass for $1000. Nifty! Unfortunately there is this thing called the Chinese government, and it isn't very found of Dai Haifei's new living arrangements (too environmentally friendly I assume). Haifei's mother and father considered buying their homeless son a house, but they "would have to make payments for 300 years to do so." Maybe he could move in with the old woman who lives in a shoe? Haha :)