Congratulations!; Crouching Tiger (conclusion); Second to Last Hurrah
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 goods/technology, and history of a given people. Cultures include those on the inside (the rulers) as well as the outsiders (the foreigners or sometimes the minorities) of the country.
Eligible countries (sign up for one--not all countries are eligible...We will only be able to cover 1/3 of this list. Pick a country you know little about so that you can learn more about it!):
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 goods/technology, and history of a given people. Cultures include those on the inside (the rulers) as well as the outsiders (the foreigners or sometimes the minorities) of the country.
Eligible countries (sign up for one--not all countries are eligible...We will only be able to cover 1/3 of this list. Pick a country you know little about so that you can learn more about it!):
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Chile
- Turkey
- Poland
- Thailand
- Phillippines
- Vietnam
- Korea
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Portugal
- Italy
- Hungary
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Switzerland
- Israel
- Ireland
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Kenya
- Iran
- Iraq
- What's the deal with the Da-zi-bao? How does protesting and propaganda work as a source of conflict or theme in the book? What works/doesn't work about this idea? Should students, for example, be able to openly criticize teachers and disobey them? Is there a teacher/institution that you have openly criticized or disobeyed personally? How might you protest/criticize these policies? Why is education often one of the ways to enact or create change in a culture? Is the media or propaganda a better tool to change our culture, rather than education? How does Ji Li react to her education in the book? What role does education play in the book and in Chinese culture during the Cultural Revolution? What seems to win out as truth for Ji Li in the end?
- How does Ji-li's attitude toward Mao change over the course of the book? What does she think of Mao when she is young and later as an adult? What qualities did Mao possess to convince people to follow him? Why might leadership skills and charisma be important to change a culture? How does one's government both govern and protect its citizens, as well as punish or ostracize members of society that do not hold the same political philosophy or are marginalized? Can you find examples of this sort of thing occurring in the book? How much power should a government have over its people? Using the book as an example of what to do or what not to do to its citizens, examine the role of government in China's culture during the Cultural Revolution. Is this culture similar or different from our own? How? Or why not?
- The Four Olds include Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas. Why aren't people allowed to follow or honor the Four Olds? Which one of these is most surprising or shocking to you? How do Ji Li or other specific main/important characters in the memoir react in the book to removing these Four Olds to create a new Republic? Do you think it's fair to search people's homes for these items or arrest people convicted of keeping the Four Olds in their beliefs or traditions? What items from your personal life do you have that might be considered a "Four Old"? If you were in Ji Li's place, would you give it up? Why or why not? Finally, how many "Olds" might we consider "giving up" to improve our own culture or society? What would these "Olds" be for us?
This open-book test is due Wednesday, May 29. It can also count for a piece in your final portfolio.
HOMEWORK: Please complete your take-home essay test (see above); Write a wuxia story or a story in which you set in China or write a story/poem that involves Chinese characters. Finally, begin researching your chosen culture. Your cultural research and project is not due yet.
Comments