Writing Across Cultures

Persepolis (2008) by Marjane Satrapi Today we will finish watching  Persepolis  (2008) by Marjane Satrapi. With the second half of class, please work on your cultural projects. From your packet of reading materials, select either a style of fiction or poetry and, using the author's style, structure, or themes write an original work inspired by the piece of writing you selected. This piece will be a required piece in your final portfolio (due in two weeks). In addition, please attach a short summary of the story or poem selection, along with an explanation of how you were inspired by the piece and how it helped you create your draft. You might discuss a theme or tone you both used, or a style or genre of writing, or identify the kinds of literary devices the author used that you "lifted" and "borrowed" from its original source. HOMEWORK: Work on your cultural project.

Your take-home test on  Red Scarf Girl  is due today by 11:59 tonight. Please turn in your test to our Google Classroom or by hand today in my in-box. Period 1: This morning, please research the culture of the country you chose. Your task is to create a short documentary (animated or live action) that discusses the unique cultural heritage of that particular country. Remember that culture can include the following: the beliefs, religion, values, philosophy, myths, stories, art, music, media, activities, language, traditions, governing or political system, architecture, food, material goods/technology, and history of a given people. Cultures include those on the inside (the rulers or Hegemony) as well as the outsiders (the marginalized, the foreigners, or sometimes the minorities) of the country. Your documentary should be between 1-5 minutes in length. You will need to write a reading script for a voice over for your documentary. Here are a few examples of what I ...

Congratulations, guys! Nice job with the coffeehouse last night. As a treat, as we finish the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , help yourself to lemonade and cookies--please keep the food/crumbs away from the computers as much as possible though. Also, a little housekeeping and prep work for the end of this course: 1. Select a country/culture from the following list to research and create a short 1-5 minute documentary (with voice-over) that examines some of the significant cultural differences of that county. Each student will also be asked to read a short piece or two from a representative writer, director, and/or poet from their chosen culture. More details will follow when we return from Memorial Day break. However, you can get started examining your chosen country's culture. Remember that culture includes the beliefs, values, philosophy, myths, stories, art, music, media, activities, language, traditions, governing or political system, architecture, food, material g...

This morning, please bring the piece(s) you are planning to perform at the Coffeehouse to the Ensemble Theater. We will rehearse our pieces, then return to our room to continue watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon . HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of Red Scarf Gir l; we will have our test/discussion on the novel on Thursday.

Today we will continue reading some contemporary Chinese writers and complete our cultural viewing as a setting/background for a short story set in China or with an appropriate cross-cultural theme. This will be one of your required assignments for your final portfolio. 2nd Period: We will begin screening the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), directed by Ang Lee . Details about the film and important director can be found at the links. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an example of a wuxia film. Wuxia is a genre of Chinese fiction involving the adventures of martial artists, often set in ancient China. Wuxia stories have existed as early as 300–200 BCE. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of fantasy literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms such as Chinese opera, films, television series and video games. It forms part of popular culture in many Chinese-speaking and Asian communities around the world, including the popularity of t...

After our discussion of Japanese filmmakers from last class's post, we'll move on to China. Let's see a brief lay of the land. As we view these films/sites, please take notes. You will be asked to set a fictional story in a Chinese setting. The material below may help you come up with ideas for your cross-cultural writing: Traditional Religion: Confucianism Lao Tzu  (& Taoism) For more information on Confucianism & the Analects, see below: Confucianism (The Analects) Mao's Little Red Book  (and an online copy of the book ) Literature: We'll read a few contemporary short stories by Chinese authors during class. See handout. Bei Dao  one of the  "misty poets"  tradition. Let's begin with some background and history to base a story in China. China Tour  (video) Current politics: Xi Jinping Why China Is Building The World's Biggest City US Trade War with China Social Credit System Should we do somethin...

We will complete our screening of the anime film  Princess Mononoke . As you watch, take note of how the film reflects the following themes and tropes/motifs: Environmentalism ( a brief history of environmentalism ) Japanese culture (particularly Shinto & Buddhism) Duality: life/death; nature/human civilization; animal/human, Technology, prosperity & wealth Disease/Curses v. health Atonement (reparation for sin; reconciliation through a savior) Gods/divinity/fate Ethics Choose 1 theme to write about, using the film as a source for your exploration/commentary. Write an "article/essay" in which you use this theme and evidence/details from the film as a way of discussing/examining the theme. Your essay counts as creative non-fiction. Akira Kurosawa  (sample films) Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo Story trailer & full film) Godzilla (trailers, 1954-1964) 10 of Japan's Greatest Directors (article) HOMEWORK: Write a story inspired by Japanese films/fi...

We will screen the anime film  Princess Mononoke . As you watch, take note of how the film reflects the following themes and tropes/motifs: Environmentalism ( a brief history of environmentalism ) Japanese culture (particularly Shinto & Buddhism) Duality: life/death; nature/human civilization; animal/human, Technology, prosperity & wealth Disease/Curses v. health Atonement (reparation for sin; reconciliation through a savior) Gods/divinity/fate Ethics Choose 1 theme to write about, using the film as a source for your exploration/commentary. HOMEWORK: If you did not yet read the two short stories by Akutagawa, please do so. Gather your ideas from the theme you chose above and be prepared to write about it next class.

Oops! Your Coffeehouse is on the 21st at 7:00, not the 15th. They moved the date some time ago, but I had an older calendar. Sorry about the confusion. Luckily, this gives you a few more days to procrastinate. Select your piece(s) to read at the coffeehouse. Each student has up to 5 minutes to present their work. This can be a combination of poetry, fiction, plays, performance/spoken poetry, non-fiction, speech, or media. If you are selecting media, you will need to have the files to us a few days before the presentation. You will still have to come up to the podium and address the audience. We will rehearse the show the days before the presentation. This morning, weather permitting, we will take period 1 to stroll through nature and collect our "narrow road to the Memorial Art gallery" to possibly inspire our writing of haiku (haibun). Your final "draft" should include a non-fiction journal-style entry describing what you did and how you did it and a haiku or tw...