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.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Directions to CHINAXICO
我跟我的爸爸。
Blog 3
Shanghai's One Dog Policy.
Shanghai already follows the One Child Policy, and now it seems they are trying to limit the number of dogs owned by people as well. Owners must register their dogs to the authorities, those who do not will have their dogs taken from them. The article states that the Chinese will probably find a loophole through this policy, just like the limit of properties.Certain dogs, under the new laws, are banned from teh city. One of these dogs are the British bullodg, which ironically has one of the sweetest temperments among the canine family.
Taiwan and China: Frenemies?
Taiwan and China are at it again, but this time economic integration seems to be going smoothly. At least on the surface. It seems China has been claiming control of Taiwan since the dawn of time, but since Ma Yin-jeou was elected in 2008 Taiwan’s KMT party has been making considerable advances toward cooperation with the mainland. Already 15 cross-strait agreements have been solidified, and this includes the highly disputed ECFA (Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement). Recently the Economic Co-operation Committee visited Taiwan to start work on what might develop into a free-trade agreement between Taipei and Beijing.
Although there are many opposed to unification, whether politically or economically, with China, Taiwan has seen economic benefits from its dealings with the bully across the strait. Quite possibly “China hopes economic interdependence will win hearts and minds” on the island. It is interesting to note how China uses its economic power to pull strings abroad, as well as domestically. The burgeoning capitalist economy is currently the only thing keeping the Communist Party afloat in the absence of support for Communist ideology, so China has adopted this economic strategy to try and gain support from the Taiwanese.
Blog 3
司机和游客
司机：您好！您想要去哪儿？
游客：您好！请问，北京哪里最好玩？
司机：您想要做什么？吃好吃的，看故宫，还是去晚会？
游客：晚会好玩是好玩，但是我想到故宫去，跟路上我也想吃好吃的。
司机：好。我们走。您说中文说得很不错！您是哪儿来的？
游客：我是美国的华侨。父母是中国生的。
司机：您父母是哪儿生的？
游客：妈妈是上海人，爸爸是广东人。
司机：是啊？那这是您第一次来中国吗？
游客：不是。我三年前去过上海见我的表亲。但是这是我第一次来北京。
司机：非常好！我们快到故宫了。要不要吃豆腐皮？
游客：呀？豆腐皮好吃吗？
司机：当然好吃！来我们试一试吧（下车买和吃豆腐皮）。
游客：好吃，好吃！谢谢！您真认识北京！
司机：谢谢，谢谢。我们现在到故宫了.
游客：谢谢！我欠您多少钱？
司机：二十块。
游客：好。因为您很好客，所以我多给您两块。
司机：多谢，多谢。好走。
同写：何宗穎和安均奕
new campaign to help child beggars
Well, Chinese government and prime minister Wen have picked up on this success and have started a campaign to "help child beggar" (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-02/28/content_12084994.htm) . People who suspects "somebody to find any suspect who abuses, organizes, forces or exploits juveniles to beg on the streets or possible cases of child abduction" can call a hotline, and web database for missing children.
Abduction of children by child trafficker is a huge problem in China. Children are being kidnapped to beg, be a son to a son-less family, become sex workers..
In 2007, the UK newspaper, The gardian was talking to up to 190 childs being kidnapped a day (http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2007/sep/23/features.magazine77) and the government not being willing to adress the situation.
One has to wait what will happen when the excitement of the father and son reunited will go down.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Cora's Oscar Predictions
这个星期天是奥斯卡。提名是Social Network, Black Swan, Story Toy 3, the Kids are Alright, etc. 我的预测在奥斯卡是。。。Inception要赢最好摄影。因为她是小所以我觉得Hailee Steinfeld 不会赢最好女配角。我觉得Melissa Leo 会赢。我觉得最好编剧会给 the King’s Speech. 最好外国去Biutiful. Natalie Portman 会赢最好女演员。Geoffrey Rush 会赢最好男配角。Colin Firth 会绝对赢最好演员。最好动画电影会授予Toy Story 3. 最好音乐 127 Hours会授予。最好导演会去David O。 Russel。我觉得The Tempest 会赢最好服装设计因为我不要Alice in Wonderland 赢。这个年最好化妆没有意思。只三提名。但是我说，The Wolf Man。我没有看今年纪录片所以我会看赢家。最后，我觉得最好电脑会去The Social Network。我希望他们赢！
China lowers growth rate target in sustainability drive
China has decided to lower the economic growth rate goal to 7%. This change, is merely to recognize that China is looking for more sustainable growth, as the growth rate has passed the 8% goal for the past 6 years.
Considering a previous article I posted which looked at all of the problems with China's fast growth rate, it is comforting to note that the Chinese government is at least making motions to deal with this issue.
Calls for protests in China met with brutality
There were calls once again by Chinese internet-frequenters for a peaceful protest by strolling through a popular shopping area in Beijing. Once again blowing the situation out of proportion, large numbers of plainclothes security detail were sent to the area. Because they could not pick out innocent bystanders from actual protesters, they chose to target foreign media who had come instead. Many of these media members were beaten and forcibly pushed into vans; a move that was way out of hand considering that nothing had occured.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
China Education Resources' blog
Sound familiar? More and more people are using the blog as a way to communicate and share educational ideas. The China Education Resources' blog site is fast expanding and has already created educational tools and curricula for China’s kindergarten through twelfth grade system. They hope to change the current education system from the current memory-based system to a more creative thinking and interactive approach.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Not One less
When the movie first started, it is the beauty of the site amazed me. It is a golden and foggy sunlight that veils the village and its dirt alleys. There are no soundtracks but the sound of farm animals: hens, goats, donkey, and dogs. Only one car and the bus comes from time to time. At night, only the pale light of a naked light bulb cast the small teacher's room. The voices break the silence of the night accompanied by some cricket. This athmosphere, created by the light and sounds, show the fact that the village is located in a remote area. It contrasts with the city, which appear later on in the movie.
The story is about a 13 years-old teacher, Teacher Wei, who has to substitute for a month while the old school teacher is away. The movie show her first hesitant steps as a teacher. How do you teach a class of lively kids, when yourself, are not much older than twenty-six students? What do you do when two kids starts a fight? Pushed by different events, Wei transforms herself from a child-teenager to become a teacher. This change is witnessed by respectful camera shot.
The way the movie is filmed makes it not judgmental. It always keep the main protagonists in the focus: the school, teacher Wei and Zhang Huike while keeping a distance with them, which allows many details to appear without being put forward. For exemple the crumbling classroom, the worn out clothes, the bedding in the classrom. And also the fact that the children are by themselves most of the time. No parents if one, are part of the picture, adults are seen only when they come in contact with the protagonists.
Zhang Yimou talk how he made this sort of movie with a different technique than his other movie. Speaking of The story of Qiu Ju (and I think he used similar technic regarding Not one Less), he said they used a lot of non-professional actors, he also says " you can't allow for too many aesthecized and flowery image. It simply wouldn't work. Instead you have to make everything look extremely unadorned and simple" as well as " you shouldn't use a single storyboard, instead striving for a kind of improvisational inspiration". In order to have this "improvisational inspiration", some cameras were hidden in the set as well as microphones, so that spontaneous reactions could be recorded.
This way of making movie reflects clearly on the story and really show a contrast with Zhang Yimou other movies. Not only looking at the aesthetic but also at the timeline; one can see that other Yimou's movies such as To live and Red Sorghum cover long period of times, many years, but here, in Not one Less, it covers only a few weeks. So that we, as spectators have really the impression that we look at the classroom during a short period of time, it is like we share their story for a bit before splitting up and everybody will go on with their own lives. But this impression give even more power to the movie in the sense that therefore, everything that happen in the movie seems to be part of the daily routine of the people we follow. That includes the poverty and the gap between countryside and city and especially the result of those two things: a child dropping out of school to go to the city in order to work to help pay his mother's debts.
Zhang, the little boy, upon arriving in the city doesn't go back to the people he is supposed to go with. The girl in charge waits for him, but not seeing him coming, go on with her life. A child is lost in the middle of the city and it seems that it is no big deals. The family back in the countryside has no way to know he is lost. The mayor doesn't count on his return, and in the city, many people live but nobody knows him. At first I was very affraid that something terrible would happen to the kid, to be abused or being taken to slavery..anything.. but no. None of that happen. The kid wander in the market bravely, not really aware of his situation, and if he is, he adapts to it, he doesn't cry. Nobody seems to care if it is not for Teacher Wei determination to find him. At whatever cost. There is a contrast between the facts that nobody cares at first, but when the media learn about the story, it becomes the challenge of the whole city to find the kid and finally many people supports the school.
Not one Less makes one smile and cry to life. I highly recommend it.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Altered birthdates...again
Eight figure skaters from the Chinese Skating Association were accused of having altered birthdates in order to compete. Some skaters were found to be just a bit too old for the 2003 junior world championships or a tad too young for the world championships. This isn’t much of a surprise since China has been accused and found guilty several times in a variety of past competitions, including the Olympics. Their titles and medals have been stripped from them in the past as well. I recall reading how some of China’s gymnasts who competed and won several medals in the Beijing Olympics were too young to compete and stripped of their medals. I understand why China chooses to lie about their athlete’s ages: they are the ones who bring gold, glory, and recognition to their nation; but by doing so they are also highlighting the fact that they are greedy. They’re willing to break rules and ignore the consequences thus creating an unwanted image of avarice, not only for their nation but for their athletes too. I feel sorry for the athletes who are obviously talented but have to suffer humiliation, because their country decided to be greedy.
China Fires Rail Chief
The Chinese Railway Minister was abruptly fired, a rather shocking move made more so by his high ranking within the government. China's Railway project has been hailed as a grand achievement, and it's ministers sacking points to the deep seated corruption that plagues China's public works projects. With the ministry now placing special emphasis on safety and quality, many now speculate that the former minister had been cutting corners in his efforts to expand China's railways.
Activists Call for a 'Jasmine Revolution'
A relatively small but stubborn protest group is continuing to call for demonstrations in light of the events unfolding in the Middle East. Chinese authorities have responded as expected, with censorship and arrests. The protest is motivated by China's lack of reform and corruption of officials. While the Chinese censors are in full force, information is still coming. With the revolts sweeping the Middle East, it will be interesting to see if China's protest movement gains any traction, and if so, just how far is Chinese government willing to go to maintain its position?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Not One Less Review
Zhang Yimou’s films have always been heart wrenching and sad. Not One Less is a nice departure from the normal death and tragedy that ends his other films. Grant it I have only seen two of his other films, Farwell my Concubine and Hero, which both ended in death. After a bit of research you will see most of his other films follow the same pattern. So the pretty much opposite path this film takes was a relief when I got to the end to figure out that nobody died. This was a great film that I would highly recommend.
The school’s teacher, Teacher Gao is forced to take a one month leave of absence to look after his sick mother. The school, despite a seemingly happy environment, is suffering from rundown materials and a shortage of chalk. There is no one to replace him so the Mayor of the village hires a 13 year old girl, teacher Wei, to do the job. At first it seems as though she wont be able to teach the kids much, she is only thirteen not having much experience of her own. Yet despite her youthful appearance she turns out to be a harsh teacher, locking them outside until they finish copying the lesson.
When a rather unruly student Zhang goes off to the city to work in restaurants and such to make money to help pay off his mothers debts, teacher Wei’s character and strength starts to show itself. Already having lost one student to an athletic school she is determined not to loose another. After being denied a car ride to the city she gets the students involved in making enough money to get a bus ride. Bringing the class together, for one of my favorite scenes in the movie, they determine that they can work at a brick factory and move bricks for money. After figuring out how many bricks they need to move to get enough money they head off to the factory only to find it closed on account of the power being out. This doesn’t stop them and it leads to a beautiful scene where the kids all scurry around to move enough bricks. When the foramen refuses to pay them an the account that they broke most of the bricks they use their newly formed unity and strength to get the money. After more complications teacher Wei finally makes it to the City.
In the city teacher Wei goes through many hardships trying to find Zhong. Until she hears that the only way to be heard is to get a TV add. At the TV station she is forced to wait outside for two whole days thus getting the attention of the TV station manager. He invites her in and is so touched by her story that he gets her a spot on their most popular show. This is the major emotional part of the film. Teacher Wei lets her emotions pour out ultimately finding Zhong, getting back to the school, and making the city’s people aware of their situation.
The film’s ending is another touching part. The school gets donations from the people of the city, most important of which is new chalk. The credits roll over each student taking a different color of chalk and writing a character on the black board. It was a perfect ending to a great film that I would definitely recommend watching.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Not One Less; Meaningful and Fun
I liked Not One More for many reasons; it was definitely a well done piece. The film was neither a propaganda piece nor a horrible negative critic on modern China. The film simply felt real. The film didn’t push any strong ideologies or harsh despairs. It seems to be a ‘coming of age’ for the Chinese film industry. It was separated from the ideological dogma of the early propaganda films. But it was also separated from the over stylized images of suffering in such films as Farwell My Concubine, which was almost an adolescent rebellion of the strict media control.
The film wasn’t a propaganda piece rallying people behind the party. However, at the same time wasn’t a ‘look at this horrible hell hole movie’. It was definitely was a moral and documentary film. However, unlike many films which show conditions in poor part of the world this film was subtle and didn’t try to make you feel like a horrible human for the water you are drinking or a murderer for the car you are driving, as many documentaries of similar places try to do. The feel showed real people in circumstances that many Chinese can relate to, and because of its subtle nature many foreigners can also relate. The film cast was by real life villagers, most of whom had the same occupation in real life as in the movie, which gave the movie a more realistic feel. The film did a good job of both making the viewer aware of the situation in small Chinese villages and providing hope for the future. We saw a rough village, with almost no founds. But the film also showed how the people went on with their lives. The most uplifting part was the outpouring of support for the village school by ordinary people.
Filmed in 1999 the movie depicts China at the early stages of its economic boom. The conditions in the film were depicted fairly accurately. However, government censors, who worked closely with the director, cautioned against depicting China as too poor. The numbers at the end of the film stating the number of school children who dropped out of school is an official number, one that might be too low according to the director. China has recently brought more people out of poverty than any other country in the history of our planet. So the condition of small village schools has probably been slightly increased. Indeed I have seen new schools being built in micro villages with no more than 20 houses in the most remote areas of Yunnan. Many of the new schools come from privet donations, a theme showed in the movie.
Overall I believe that the film did a good job of giving a moral message, making a realistic depiction, and enjoyable to watch. The film made you aware of difficult circumstances in the villages but didn’t through it in your face. Probably, the best aspect of the film is the belief in ordinary people.
Not One Less in a Nut Shell
Not One Less Review
A little different then all the other Epics by Zhan Yimou Not One Less is still just as wonderful. The main difference with this film from the others is the setting; it is more of a modern day then his other films. That does not mean his style has changed and the feel of the film. This film covers a very important issue in modern day China that is sometimes forgotten.
Teacher Gao of Shuixian village has to leave for a month to take care of his sickly mother. The mayor finds a substitute for teacher Gao, unfortunately she does not meet the requirements for being a sub, because she is only thirteen and has not even been to high school. Sadly she is the only person that they can find to teach at the school because not every one is educated, or they are just too busy to go to such a small remote village. So Wei is stuck with the overwhelming job of teaching these kids for an entire month.
Wei is forced to grow up, and get rid of her shy and unconfident nature when one of her students goes missing. The trouble maker Zhang Huike’s mother is ill and his father is dead. This leaves him to try and make money to pay for his family’s debts at the age of 11. He goes to the city to work to try and make some money to help pay his mom’s debt. After about a day or two there he gets lost and starts to wonder and he has to start begging for food. After hearing that Zhang Huike has left school to go to the city Wei toughens up. She starts to demand more respect from the kids and starts to teach them. Wei and the kids go work at a brick factory to try and make money so that Wei can go to the City to find Zhang Huike. She teaches the kids how to do math by adding up how much money they have and how much they need to buy a bus ticket. After another three days she finally goes to the city to find Zhang Huike.
Zhang Huike and Wei both go through hard time while they are there but neither one of them complain or ever give up hope. For three days Wei wondered the city looking for Zhang Huike and; begging for food walking for miles and sleeping on the street, she never gave up hope. Zhang Huike in the city even longer the Wei was on his own also begging for food and sleeping on the street never stopped looking for a way to help his family and for a way back home. These two did some thing no American child of that age could do. They showed great determination and maturity while going through these hardships.
At the end Wei is helped by a TV station manger that helps find Zhang Huike. They are brought back to the village of Shuixian by the new agency. Thanks to the agency many donations were given to the village to help pay for school supplies and a whole new school.
Wei came back to the village a different person. She had more confidence in her self although still a little shy they village gave her the respect and treatment she deserved. Zhang Huike was also able to pay his family debts thanks to donations.
Zhang Yimou’s film addressed two major issues in China. The poverty level in the countryside and the poor education also in the county. The schools don’t even have enough money to buy an adequate amount of chalk to write on the boards. It is very clear how much help the village needed, when even the Mayor dose not have any money.
In conclusion this movie is absolutely wonderful. The Characters were all well done she cinematography was very nice; the scenery was a treat for the eyes. It also brings up very important issues that are over looked sometimes and does not undermine any one. This movie is well worth the watch
Not One Less
Internet Censorship in China
Recently, the Obama administration has outlined a $25 million program to promote "...technology that would allow people to circumvent Internet restrictions" (Jacobs 1). Presumably most us are quite aware of the Chinese governements habitual efforts to block certain material from the eyes of its citizens. Although the program was not intended to offend only China, the Chinese ministry spokeman has already issued a retort claiming that Chinese Internet users are "unrestricted," however there are a few guidlines "in accordance with the law." The ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, continued with how China is against any country who uses Internet freedom, namely the United States, as a mask for interfering in other's internal affairs and policies.
Family
"Not One Less"
From the beginning, the peasants are not treated in the typical communist social reality that was previously portrayed in every movie. The town was in disrepair and the people were laboring under misfortunate circumstances. The teacher, called away by his obligation to his sick mother, was forced to take on a substitute of obviously inferior quality. Her bleak résumé was only coupled with knowledge of a song about Mao, one that she had forgotten much of. This is reflective of not only the abysmal quality of education in post-Mao China, but also of the growing disparity between rural and urban China due to the unequal distribution of growing economic prosperity.
Midway through this movie, one realizes that the typical Fifth Generation scenes, which primarily focus on the beautiful scenery of the Chinese countryside rather than the characters, is only halfway diminished in scope. Rather than the yawn-inducing, long scenes of green hillsides and clear lakes (or not so clear!), the people are actually visibly apparent. This is a shift away from the overly-long ‘artistic' scenes in favor for a more personal and emotional image. It also reduced the length of the movie dramatically, from the emotionally-draining three-hour-long Farewell My Concubine by Chen Kaige to a much more enjoyable hour-and-a-half.
The trip to the city, however, proves to be a much different experience altogether. Rather than the hum-drum of daily life in the Chinese countryside, the city is bustling with noise and life, something which is rather alien to the poor substitute from the village. Considering she is barely a teenager and is traveling alone, this provokes a transformation from the petulant, puerile girl she was before into a stronger, more driven individual. Once she is given a purpose, that of keeping the class size to its original count, she seems to mature rather rapidly. This, coupled with the dramatic scene at the television station, radically alters the feel of the movie from uneventful to meaningful.
As a closing point, I would like to retouch upon my previous statement of Not One Less as a departure from the norm of the Chinese epic. In this movie, no one dies, no one kills themselves, there are no wars (on the physical plane), and there is little propaganda. In fact, there is even quite a happy ending, something which was a rarity in Chinese films. While it may not be a complete turnaround in nature, Not One Less can certainly be considered to be a revolutionary film in its divergence.
Monday, February 21, 2011
笨蛋的顾客
笨蛋的服务员
Blog 2
上个周末我回家。我回家的时候，我父母正在吃晚饭。我姐姐也刚回来，所以我们一起聊天儿。我们聊天儿以后，就去看电影。然后我们回家玩地產大亨。因为我和我姐姐开车很累，所以我们早睡着了。我们星期六去了達拉斯买东西。我姐姐买了一条裙子，还有两双鞋子。我买了四本书，还有一件衬衫。我妈妈一件衣服都没买。因为我爸爸和弟弟不喜欢买东西，所以没去。我们买东西以后，很累了！我们也早睡着了！星期天中午以后，我回去奧斯汀大学。我的周末很好玩儿！
安均奕
The Happiest Place on Earth...comes to Shanghai!
Article Link:
http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-11/22/content_11590060.htm
We’ve seen the socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics, but now its time for “Western cartoon figures with Chinese elements.” The Shanghai Disneyland (completion expected in 2014) will cost approximately $3.79 billion US dollars. However, all the excitement among young Mickey Mouse-obsessed students is not intimidating Liu Pingchun. Liu is the chief executive officer of China’s leading theme park developer, and he looks forward to some healthy competition that is sure to stimulate his own business by bringing more tourists to Shanghai. Additionally, where Disney can only offer park-goers a day of juvenile fantasy, Happy Valley theme parks focus on “excitement, fashion, and dynamic activities” that are sure to bring back fans well into their teen years and beyond.
I was excited to see this new development in China, but also surprised by the open arms to new Western influences. Disney characters speak to children about following their dreams, embracing their individuality, and finding happiness in freedom. Perhaps the CCP doesn’t feel threatened by Pocahontas, Mulan, and Jasmine, but these women were the rebellious idols of my childhood. But how much harm can a theme park really do to the Communist regime? We will just have to wait and see…
Tahrir Square is not Tiananmen Square
Sunday, February 20, 2011
China Raises Bank Reserve Ratios to Counter Inflation
China to Launch Mars Explorer in November
China's labor shortage
China's fuel price hike raises concerns about inflation
With the rise of international oil prices, China is trying to balance the domestic cost of oil. Demand is exceeding supply, particularly with low prices. They are raising the cost of oil in attempts to slow demand for fuel. However, the rise in prices worries many, as it may create an increase in transportation cost and other commodities.
Chinese police break up 'protests' after online appeal
A call for protesters in 12 different cities circulated the internet in China, but only one location recieved protesters. In the usual over-excitement by the Chinese government, large numbers of police enforcement were sent to all of the planned protesting locations. A few men were arrested in Shanghai, but according to one reporter, none of them carried signs or shouted slogans.
The Chinese government has also blocked the word "jasmine" online after the Tunisian protests.
China miners and black lung disease
(picture by Ming Xia on Flickr)