Make-up assignments

[Anonymous]

While in Fresno, I visited an art exhibit of Hung Liu entitled “Scales of History” at the Fresno Art Museum. It was especially interesting because Hung Liu was born during Mao’s leadership and I could see so much of what we have discussed in recent weeks coming out in Liu’s art. Although born and raised in China--and became known as an artist in China, she continued her art education in America. At one point between her travels in America and China, she found old Chinese pictures from WWII era. She took to painting and recreating the pictures onto canvas. Her use of different techniques and colors further impact the meaning of the original photo.
One of these shows a photograph of a daydreaming worker. On the first canvas it featured the worker with many “thought bubbles” (circles) around her and to the right of her the portraits of Van Gogh, Picasso, and two others. On the adjoining canvas it shows the same worker with few thought bubbles and to her right it had portraits of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin. This is very thought provoking because under Communist rule--the worker cannot dream, but the previous canvas with the artists featured--showed that the worker could have imagination and thoughts of her own.
Another one of her paintings was based on a photograph of comfort women that were just freed. The picture was taken on the day of their liberation, however, one woman is very pregnant--so the idea of liberation is almost ironic. How could these women ever be freed from what happened to them--even if they didn’t have a baby? I would imagine that a part of them would always feel captive to their past trauma. On these paintings she uses her “drip” technique which “preserves and destroys” the image. When I went to her website to learn more about her I learned that she “invented a kind of weeping realism” where she shows the erosion of time, but is also making the image eternal (hungliu.com).
The museum had many of her small paintings of “My Secret Freedom” which were more impressionist and reminded me of what we learned about Mao because the paintings were of rural landscape and rural people. I became so intrigued that I researched a little more about Hung Liu’s life and found that even though she was educated at special boarding school in Beijing, she was sent for proletarian reeducation for four years in the country. I could infer that this series reflected this time in her life. I liked the impressionist style that these little paintings had.
I appreciated the art so much more because I understand a bit about the culture and the history of the artist and her subjects. I imagine that if I had seen this exhibit prior to taking this class, it would not have had nearly the impact. This will be easy to use in the classroom. Now that we have adopted Common Core-we are to use art as part of our curriculum. Students need to be able to look for symbolism and attach meaning to art, while making connections to the readings that we put with the art. Better understanding the history and philosophy of the times will help us and our students to better understand the literature.

[Anonymous]

The Rogue Artists Ensemble presented a special workshop of Kaidan Project at the Japanese Garden on December 4th. This Japanese multi-sensory story telling reveals a dark view of the dead. It was quite uncomfortable when the actors disguised as tour guides approached me to share “ghost stories”. They started asking guests if we have ever seen a ghost. Then the “tour guide” would tell a personal ghost story. As he revealed more of the experience, other characters in ghostly white makeup wearing traditional Kimonos would appear around the Japanese Garden and walk disturbingly closer to us. The characters would then act out the description of the story. Actors would pull out red scarves from their neck to symbolize blood or create eerie sounds to reveal fear. I learned that this tradition of telling Japanese supernatural tales dates back to 1660 and was also involved in Samurai Warrior endurance training. The piece included more frightening imagery but since the Rogue Artists performed during the day the experience was more bearable with puppets, masks and traditional folk artwork.

[Anonymous]

Pacific Palms presented the Life and Work Showcase of C.Y. Lee, the first Chinese American best selling author in U.S. history. He wrote the novel “Flower Drum Song” in 1950 which Rodgers and Hammerstein adapted into a Broadway musical in 1958. Mr. Lee has completed over 11 novels, screenplays and short stories throughout his career. At the age of 100, he still actively writes. I learned that the novel “Flower Drum Song” was originally titled “Grant Avenue” about immigrants living in San Francisco Chinatown. It is the basis of the musical “Flower Drum Song”, and later a movie, released in 1961, starring Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta. The story includes the clash between traditional Chinese versus modern America culture, a pre-arranged picture bride marriage and inter-generational immigrant themes. The original production was the first Broadway show to feature Asian American actors. The film was also nominated five times at the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Music Scoring of a Musical Picture and Best Sound.

[Anonymous]

I attended the Japanese American National Museum, which had a special exhibition called Uprooted: Japanese Farm Labor Camps During World War II. It consisted of photographs from Russell Lee, who worked for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) and in the Summer of 1942 went to various labor camps recording the day-to-day lives of laborers. This exhibition presented an aside (not a good word choice) to the events begun by Executive Order 9066 that interned more than 120,000 US residents of Japanese ancestry. On May 22, 1942 the War Relocation Authority offered a seasonal leave program to help increase agricultural production of sugar for the war effort. This labor program appeared to be a joint effort by various US government agencies and private companies like the Amalgamated Sugar Company. This opened the door for some to volunteer for work for pay. The camp's laborers organized themselves into work crews and were responsible for negotiating their wages with local farmers. Despite quite a few happy faces in the images, and even though these camps lacked the barbed wire and armed guards of the concentration camps, the photos revealed cramped circumstances and a lack of privacy. Moreover, notes showed that local government and locals were often politically, or even violently, opposed to the new seasonal workers. All in all, in combination with the upper floor of the museum, which discusses the long history of the Japanese experience(s) in America, this was a fascinating look into a segment of US history.

Link to Exhibition: http://www.janm.org/exhibits/uprooted/

Link to More Resources Concerning the Labor Camps: http://www.uprootedexhibit.com

[Anonymous]

During the holidays I visited the Hainan Association in San Francisco, where I learned more about the traditional cultural activities in China, including ancestor worship, Hainan bamboo dancing, Mahjong and the environmental protection campaign in Haikou. There was a traditional Mahjong table set up, a game invented in China that gained popularity and ranks among the country’s top cultural exports. Organizations have promoted it in culture festivals, demonstrations and in tournaments. Technology has also been a driving force in the game’s expansion in social media. Apps were created to allow digital tournaments with the virtual mahjong game played online against other players. The game become so popular that legislation viewed mahjong to be a form of gambling and added restrictions.
I also learned more about the Hainan environmental protection campaign that took action against industrial plants and monitored how illegal sewage were handled. Students can explore the environmental protection foundations that work to improve the lives of the communities, prevent pollution and protect our planet especially since most of the pollution is centered in China.

[Anonymous]

On a recent trip to New York I went with a friend to his favorite restaurant in Chinatown for Peking duck. The meal was rich and delightful, with the duck golden and crispy on the outside and tender and moist inside. Curious to know more about the dish, the restaurant, and the community itself, I did some research and these are some of my findings.
Appropriately named The Peking Duck House, the restaurant is situated in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown, on Mott Street. In the nearly forty years of its existence, The Peking Duck House has built its reputation on this singular dish, and has become a favorite among New Yorkers. Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch liked the Duck House so much he used it as a regular meeting place for his inner circle of friends and associates. When he passed away in 2013, his roundtable met here one last time to celebrate his life.
So what is all the fuss about a duck dish? According to food writer Andrew K. Amelinckx, “Considered one of China’s national dishes, Peking duck has inspired poetry, been a staple for the ruling class for generations, and has its own museum in Beijing.” He explains that a version of the dish appeared in print during the Yuan Dynasty (1330 AD), but some historians believe that they’ve been roasting ducks in Peking (Beijing) since the 5th Century AD. Today Peking duck is celebrated as a culinary masterpiece inside of, and outside of China, and it is the preparation of the bird which gives it this exalted status.
There are countless recipes for Peking duck, but all aim for perfectly crispy skin. Some places allow the duck to dry for a day or more, hanging in a refrigerator. Many chefs blow air into the raw bird first to loosen the skin. The Peking Duck House claims that this dish is a 24-hour process, employing both air-blowing and hanging to dry completely. When the duck is served a waiter slices it tableside and even plates it for you if you wish. It comes with a traditional pancake, hoisin sauce, and scallions, and is eaten with the hands.

[Anonymous]

To make up a missed class session I travelled from Bakersfield to the Huntington Library in Pasadena, which I had never been to. Expecting only a library, I was overwhelmed by the Huntington—it’s extensive art collections and its extraordinary gardens. Since visiting the Huntington is such a rich cultural experience, I ran out of daylight before I could see it all and I did something I have never done before—I purchased a membership to a museum. I have been back twice since that first trip, and I must say the gardens are my favorite part. There are a number of them, representing different biomes from jungle to desert, but I will focus on the Chinese Garden since this course covers East Asia.
The name of the Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library is Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園, or The Garden of Flowering Fragrance. It is one of the best examples of this type of garden outside of China. It has been carefully composed under the direction of experts from the city of Suzhou, which is famous for its gardens. The Huntington website describes the aesthetic of the Chinese Garden as:

a scroll painting, presenting a series of carefully composed scenes. New vistas are revealed as one strolls along the pathways, with a number of key elements combining to create a sense of harmony and of beauty.

The second time I visited most of the garden’s deciduous trees were bare and the ground was blanketed in red and gold leaves. It was late in the afternoon and the sun gave the entire place a warm, magical glow. In addition to its flora the garden contains a multitude of bridges, pathways, pavilions, and other decorative buildings that enhance the natural beauty of the place. It even has a Tea House that serves food, overlooking the centerpiece lake in the middle of the garden. Strolling along the paths, looking out over the lake from a beautifully crafted pavilion, or admiring the artfully posed rock sculptures that dot the landscape, one could spend hours in reflective reverie just like the Chinese scholars of old.

[Anonymous]

Extra Assignment
Chinese New Year Dance:Spring Festival

Bakersfield typically does not get recognized for its art and culture but after being involved in the USC China Institute, I have found that Bakersfield does have some offerings in the area of Asian culture. Many years ago I visited the Bakersfield Art Museum and attended an exhibit on Japanese silk art. It was an opportunity for extra credit in a college class but what I took away from the experience has stayed with me and helped me appreciate different types of art. The artwork was painted on silk cloth and the brush work was exquisite! There were many paintings of trees, flowers and other different aspects of nature. Last year I was able to attend a performance of Shen Yun and over the weekend, attended a Chinese dance exhibition at the local library.
The Chinese New Year is approaching and Grace Feng brought her dancers to the Beale Library to mark the Year of the Rooster. Over 50 dances were presented with dancers ranging from young elementary to well over 30 years of age. “Playing in the Rain” and “Dance Across China 5”, were just a couple of the dances that were highlighted in the program. The costumes were unbelievable, with the emotion and movement telling the stories of the traditional Chinese dances. One of my favorite dances that was performed was “Prairie Love’, which exhibits the Mongolian people’s passion for life. Performers hit chopsticks on their bodies in swift movements during the traditional folk dance to portray the strength and unpretentiousness of the Mongolian people. After the show, there was a qipao fashion show that highlighted the high neck, closed collar fitted dresses, and other accessories including; handkerchiefs, brightly colored ribbon, and fans.

[Anonymous]

Extra Assignment
Kern’s Vibrant Chinese Past Comes to Life

Life is interesting with all of its different twists and turns and you never know where it may take you. I never in a million years thought that I would be driving to USC and taking a class on China. In experiencing this seminar, I have become aware of the Chinese history of the community that I live in. Bakersfield has grown considerably since I was a kid and back in the day, Ming Avenue was one of the main streets. It was after I grew older that I realized the street was named for one of Bakersfield’s most prominent Chinese citizens. There were two distinct groups of Chinese which came from Canton Province, yet spoke different dialects. Those who lived in Old Chinatown spoke sam yup, and those from New Chinatown spoke say yup. Most of the Chinese from these two groups worked for Yen Ming but did not socialize after hours. The Bing Kong tong (street gang) manned the New Chinatown and the Suey Din ruled the Old Chinatown. Local law enforcement stayed out of it and let the Chinese take care of their own business, The Bakersfield Chinese population boomed but in 1913 was stricken twice with disease which almost wiped out complete families. It is noted that some families had to start over and raised second families. Bill Leong Sr., who was interviewed for this book, believes he was able to survive the outbreaks due to being smuggled along with his sister to Yen Ming’s ranch. These accounts, in addition to many others have been included in a book that was being sold at the Kern County Museum. I am hoping I can still get a copy.

[Anonymous]

This place serves as great introduction to Korea, Korean culture, language and tradition, and Rick Phillips is a great person to know if you ever want to bring your students there on a field trip. The Center sits, very unassuming, on Wilshire Blvd, a few blocks away from the LaBrea Tar Pits. The Korean Cultural Center is actually divided into two different parts. One side feels and acts like a museum with artifacts that students can look at on a tour. There is theater style seating on the third floor where you can see a short film on Korea. There is beautiful footage of the people in traditional clothing, the landscape, cities, and temples in the short film. On the main floor of the museum side, students can see what the inside of "traditional" Korean homes look like, as well as the clothing, and some of the weapons and other artifacts. The other side of the center is definitely more hands on, where students can surf the high speed internet or step into a karaoke booth and sing K-Pop or other songs. As someone who knew very little about Korea, this is a great place to start. It's a light and friendly introduction, so you won't necessarily find anything about the 38th Parallel. On the website, though, one of the "issues in focus" is "North Korea Nuclear Issues". I would definitely take my class.

[Anonymous]

After the leaked locker room style conversation that the President had, I was sure that America had become the laughing stock of the world. After accusations of foreign tampering with the election, newspapers had images of Trump with his hand up a woman's skirt and the Kremlin's hand up Trump's rear end...very embarrassing... so, I had to come see what others were saying. A few things that I heard Professor Liu say (I think that's how you spell it):

• The fact that Trump mentioned China in the debates is considered respectful. (It was like one of those, "it's just good to be nominated" kind of things.)
• The fact that the US won't be a global cop gives China an opportunity to be more assertive
• Trump becoming President is an example of a failed western democracy.

I think I'm a little concerned about China's potential aggression and their potential disregard for our new President. After watching Assignment:China - "Contradiction" where they talked about how Obama was visiting China in November 2009, but his visit was really restricted, how much more will they do that to Trump? They treated Obama that way, according to reporters, because China's economy was doing better than the US. How will they treat Trump, with him believing that China is a huge threat?

Not only that, but Trump had a telephone conversation with the President of Taiwan. Granted, she called him, but he took the call. Then he tweeted about it, not really understanding why everyone was so upset. Professor Liu contents that perhaps Trump isn't really that politically ignorant, but that he may be playing a game of chess (my words, not the professor's). This looks like these four year I will be following news and politics more closely...

[Anonymous]

The LACMA has a small, but excellent number pieces from East Asia. While the Japanese collection is the largest, I was fascinated by the Shang Dynasty Bronze-ware and the images of the Korean Scholar-Officials. Although I didn't plan this, my current geography students will be going to the LACMA on February 12. While I was there I decided that I will create several scavenger hunts. One for China, one for Korea, one for Japan, and then a couple others non-East Asian civilizations like Greece, Egypt, etc. I took notes on a variety of pieces and will create the scavenger hunts at home.

What is nice about the LACMA is the diversity of its collection, which offers the ability to truly compare and contrast various forms of art from a variety of cultures. Although I had been to the LACMA before, I never really focused on Korean or Chinese Art. I learned a lot and I took pictures of the timeline of Korean Art, and I plan to use that in my lectures on the history of Korea in World History next year.

All in all, it was a good experience, and because I was going for this class, I took notes and tried to find ways to integrate the art of the LACMA into my curriculum. I highly recommend attending museums in this manner!

[Anonymous]

The relationship between the two certainly is an interesting one filled with conflict that I suppose only the two can understand fully. Syaru Shirley Lin came to speak and I'm still not sure that I understand the relationship. It's like the Facebook relationship status - It's complicated. There is a cross-Strait economic agreement, but Taiwan has it restrictive for China. Why? My guess is that it's their attempt to control one aspect of their relationship. She also talked about how Taiwan's interdependence with China is unavoidable if Taiwan wants to reap the benefits of the growing global economy. I'm not sure I understand why, nor am I sure I understand why Taiwan seems to have a visceral response to China...ok, maybe that's too strong of a word. But, if China wants to unify, why does Taiwan fight it so hard? I think this requires a closer look at history and then an attempt to understand Taiwan's perspective. At any rate, it sounds like this problem is not going away any time soon, and it may get worse before it gets better...

[cgao]

If you have already posted your make-up assignment/s, you can leave them there. If you have yet to post, please add them to this thread.

Attached is a (very limited) list of potential events and museums you can visit for the make-up assignments. Feel free to explore other options, especially if you travel to other cities.

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