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Molly Cowan-Johnson.
AnonymousThe Tale of Genji (Penguin Classics)
The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong: The Autobiographical Writings of a Crown Princess of Eighteenth-Century Korea
Songs of the Kisaeng : Courtesan Poetry of the Last Korean Dynasty (New American Translations, No 10)
They're all at Amazon.com, and i look foward to building my library with these books.
In addition i've been reading the 8 volume Buddha by Osamu Tezuka. It's manga (anime) style books about the history of Buddha. there are of course some liberties to the historical accuracies and there are some sugestive themes and images which might make it only appropriate to high school or perhaps edited sections for other grade levels. You can find these books at Borders or Barnes and Nobles. Amazon has them used too.
Anonymousi just got "Very Thai: everyday popular culture" by philip cornwel-smith (ISBN 974-9863-003). reasonable price. it has a lot of pictures and descriptions of the "everyday" thai culture we see in the country. This book is also very cool to show in the elementary school and up level. i've used it in 5th grade. it's hardcover and has lots of things that kids would like to know about another country: toys, street signs, school uniforms, foods, etc.
AnonymousI watched Memoirs of a Geisha for the asian film that we needed to see. While I enjoyed the movie, I feel a little confused as to what Geishas exactly are. Some argue that geishas are "Classier prostitues" while ither argue they are not prostitutes at all but entertainers. After reading reviews for Memoir of a Gesisha, I expected to see a movie depicting the entertaing geisha as opposed to the prostitute. BUt as I watched the film it is quite clear that geishas are in fact prostitutes, sure they maybe have some extra talent, but at the end of the day people are paying them for sex and their virginity which is clearly prostitution. And although it was a very god movie, and quite enjoyable, I had a problem with the fact that the man fell in love with teh child he had seen many years before. I undertand this is not so rare in other countries, but for em I couldnt truly enjoy the love story because of this situation, I just couldnt look past it. I did very much apprecite the depiction of the geishas and all tehy go through including fierce competition and different types of pain.
AnonymousI read the children's book, The Samurai's Daughter by Robert D. Sn Souci. The story is a retelling of a Japanese legend. The pictures are beautiful and the story is touching, Tokoyo is separated from her Samurai father and deals with many struggles on her journey to find him. A great example of a strong female character with an independent mind. I would recommend it for all ages.
AnonymousI would like to recommend Still Life with Rice by Helie Lee. THis is a great book that brides the Korean American experience between immigrant Korean parents and their children who might be born in the United States. Still Life with Rice is a fictional story based on Helie Lee's grandmother's journey to America. She writes about her grandmother's life Korean and the fascinated stories that she never told her American born grand daughter.
AnonymousAfter listening to the buzz about the upcoming release of the DVD, Rush Hour 3, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, from my high school ninth grade boys, I thought I would take a look at the film to decipher any 'teachable moments' from the comic stunt film. During our field study to China, it was clear that Chinese television advertisers used Jackie Chan endorsements like a dash of salt throughout their programming day. Jackie Chan, who made breaking into the U.S. Film market a personal goal, finally made a name for himself after acting and producing Shanghai Noon , Rush Hour 1 and Rush Hour 2, mostly due to his sense of comic flare with a strong physical environmental influence and his unusual choice to perform his own stunt work.
The movie is the third installment in this comic action film series and it includes, once again, the very popular African American comedian Chris Tucker. Along the same style of delivery that flavored the first two installments, slapstick and corny puns sprinkled into lively chase scenes, this plot line focuses on guarding Ambassador Han, who is about to make a major revelation about the Chinese triads, and his daughter, in the city of Paris. Amid what seemed like countless acts and punch lines centering around African American and Chinese stereotypes, a reference to the Chinese gangs, coined as triads by the British authorities in Hong Kong (due to the triangular shape of the Chinese sign for "secret society") arose as a main plot element in both text and artistic imagery - "Ah, my 'teachable moment.' " I thought.
Many of the students were drawn into the comedy and action; however, when asked just what a Chinese triad was, the classroom fell silent. As a mini cultural lesson comparing and contrasting Italian, Russian, American and Chinese gangs, I began a presentation on the creation, symbolism, purpose, initiation and practices of 'crime societies' including the Chinese triad, featured in this film.
Research shows that in the past, with the hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens coming into the U.S. from the People's Republic of China, that most of the aliens, even when caught, can escape deportation by claiming "birth control persecution." As a result, many of the United States crime investigating teams have shifted their focus to the Chinese transnational crime organization infiltration. These gangs are traffiking drugs, enabling prostitution of youths, particpating in money laundering, providing gambling rings, smuggling aliens and involved in extortion throughout China and the West. The triads, evidence reveals, were formed as resistance groups to non-Chinese invaders during the Manchu-Qing Dynasty during the seventeeth century; however, when the Qing dynasty dissolved, the gangs did not. (Bolz)
During the last 50 years, many of the triads have surfaced due to the disorganization and fragility of the Chinese nation and are operating their own illegal economies in China and in the West. One of the largest gangs, the Sun Yee On, is said to control 56,000 members worldwide (Bolz) and this is the gang that is made reference to in the Chan sequel.
The central woman figure, Kenji , who masks her shaved head bearing the names of the top members of the secret society in Chinese characters, begins as an enemy/temptress to Tucker and then becomes the very person they must protect, along with the Chinese Ambassdor Han and his daughter.
For more information on the Chinese triads, see the source for my references to the history of the triads at:
http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive_Index/Chinese_Organized_Crime_and_Illegal_Alien_Traffiking_Humans_as_a_Commodity.html. Article written by Jennifer Bolz
While you will probably get a better glimpse of Chan's sense of humor and use of physical environment from the Olympic Visa commercial at http://youtube.com/watch?v+RKAtwK1tOaE, there are two reasons to catch a glimpse of this culturally iconic film, to meet the students where their interests already are and to become familiar with one of the most popular Chinese actors and commercial spokespersons, Jackie Chan.
So, in to wrap this review up, sometimes it can be beneficial to meet the students on 'their turf' in order to engage them and take them to 'the next level.'
Anyhow...it worked well.
-Susan Pavelka Gregg
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AnonymousYimou Zhang's Academy Award nominated film features Yun Fat Chow as the Emperor Ping and Li Gong at the Emperess Phoenix during 10th century China. This visually rich epic brings the grandeur what would later be known as the Tang dynasty into full color. The symbolism in the film is clearly highlighted with the cinematographer capturing a glimpse of the dragon figure on the emperor's clock and the golden chrysanthemums that the Empress is creating daily. As the idea of heaven and earth are defined through the Emperor's words and the family's dining area, we are reminded of everyone's rightful place in the universe, not completely out of touch with the Elizabethan Golden Chain of Being. The costumes and set design are nothing less than spectacular along with the way the ceremonies are captured en masse with regard to the homecoming of the Emperor and the preparation for the upcoming festival of the golden flowers. As we learn the symbolism behind the festival, we see the contrast as the royal family's situation is put up against these ideals. This film slowly unveils the traditions, rules and pain that is endured to perpetuate the formalities of the dynasty under the Emperor. We learn of the underhandedness of the Emperor with regard to his first wife and first son. The film is a visual feast for the viewer and an understandable tale which defines the strain of secret lives and the repressive responsibilities of maintaining the outward appearance of perfection. The final scene of the film which is reminicent of a Greek tragedy, as the family kills one another off during the course of a bloody drama is graphic; however, the moment the war inside the Forbidden City has concluded, the cleaning begins and the stage is reset in all of its golden glow with fresh pots of chysanthemums to welcome the festival. Ironic, poignant and quite educational. A good film for discussing symbolism in the classroom.
AnonymousDuring the holiday season, with the host of men in my family, I was encouraged to rent the film, 3:10 to Yuma, starring Russell Crowe, Cristian Bale and Peter Fonda. To my surprise, I discovered in the first scene, that one of my former conservatory students, Logan Lerman, was featured as the son of the rancher portrayed by Cristian Bale. Boy, has he grown up. As this Western continued, I was reintroduced to several locations in Arizona where I had enjoyed many family vacations, years ago. As the film progressed, the conflict of getting Wade Biggs(Crowe) to the train in Yuma intensified with the Pinkerton investigator(Fonda), the rancher(Bale) and others working their way through the lands of the Apache and coming upon...the next surprise...the Chinese railway workers. While the director does not presume that the Calvary, cowboys, railway systems and the Wells Fargo Banks all happened at the same time, he gives himself Hollywood license to conjoin the events that helped to shape the West.
A featurette on the historical background behind the making of the film, includes information regarding the infamous Jesse James and his family, the Earp brothers, Doc Holiday, and the Chinese. So, the discovery seemed to be - One never knows where a few interesting insights can surface, even when you select the film at gunpoint.
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AnonymousWe saw clips of this film in our class and I had previously seen the film years ago, so I decided to rent the movie again. I think the film is a great one to teach about some of the major periods in the 20th century China. It goes through Pre and Post World War 2, civil war, and the cultural revolution. I really did not know much about the cultural revolution before seeing this film and it was a great visual as to what people in China actually experienced during this time. I would highly recommend this film to any social science teacher who is teaching about 20th century China. The film is rather long so clips of each section would be better served. I personally cant use this film in my chemistry class, but I can see it easily being integrated in most other language arts or social studies course. Thanks.
Anonymousin March 2008, comic book stores will be releasing a Virgin Comics Llc publication of "Buddha Story Of Enlightenment" by Deepak Chopra. While fictional, it is an interesting way to bring into the class the love of comics with some historical / cultural themes that be used as discussion points.
AnonymousI have been teaching this Akira Kurosawa film for about 6 years in my Humanities classes. I have seen several of Kurosawa's films and feel that this is his best. Maybe I am a sucker for the story, which is a spin on Shakespeare's KING LEAR. I love the way Kurosawa re-tells the Bard's story in a Japanese context.
The cinematography and direction is amazing. Kurosawa loved painting as a young man and it is evident in every shot of this film. His use of color is so carefully planned. It is no wonder that this is the one film he was given an Academy Award nomination for. The acting in the film is an obvious homage to Japanese Noh theater. The woman who plays Lady Kaede gives such a demonic performance that she puts Lady Macbeth to shame.
THE SEVEN SAMURAI is often considered Kurosawa's masterpiece, but I think people should give this film a look before making that judgement. Kurosawa has done Shakespeare before, (Throne of Blood = Macbeth), but that film pales in comparison.
AnonymousIt's interesting to see the degree of change that Kurosawa's directorship goes through via films. I do agree that his use of colors are carefully chosen -- the nuance of Japanese culture is subtlety but Kurosawa takes it one step further and brings a vibrancy that's tangible. He goes from Extroversion to introspection--his later films have deep layers of emotional complexity that is sometimes, better articulated by non-verbal means rather than dialog. Ran, in my opinion, is an extremely personal and emotional film.
AnonymousHas anyone read Beijing Girl? I recently picked it up and am about a third of the way into reading it. It is a story about a teenage girl, kind of a rebellious, coming of age story. I will elaborate when I finish.
AnonymousWhen I was grad school a teacher friend of mine put me onto an amazing anime called "Barefoot Gen". I have showed the film in both my world and united states history classes. It will give your students perspective on the bomb from the Japanese point of view. In addition, the film shows the horrible human and econological consequences of the bomb. My students, at all levels, have loved the film, and always want me to show the entire film. I have actually had some come in during lunch to watch the rest of the movie. Check it out and see what you think
AnonymousYes, the documentary is based on the book by Gavin Menzies. Zheng He's boats were three times the size of Columbus' boats which sailed to America 80 years later.