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AnonymousPreface to Call to Arms
Session 6
“I could not bolt out hope, for hope lies in the future”. As I was reading this moving account, I kept thinking that sometimes the world seems to be against you no matter how hard you try to change it. Lu Hsun grew up in a period of time that was different from what we expect childhood to look and feel like. I think that is why this excerpt is a little disturbing to read. From the beginning, Lu Hsun had a bright spark and was aware of what was going on around him. He understood that the medicine that was being exchanged for the family’s treasures was sub par and not helping his father. He understood that education can change your status and situation in life, so he goes to school to become a legitimate doctor, one who could’ve cured his father. After moving from this venture to literature, his idea and dream was to have a literary movement that would help change how people feel about things, change their perspective. Of course with his luck, this venture fails as well and he loses hope in himself and his contributions to society. When his old friend comes to see him, hope is restored and he is inspired to carry on with his writings. “I sometimes call out to encourage those fighters who are galloping on in loneliness, so that they do not lose heart.”
AnonymousSession 6
A Madman’s Diary
This diary’s content was unexpected and I had to keep re-reading it to make sure I was actually reading those words and content. From the beginning, it is clear that the brother is having some kind of mental breakdown. The diary is well written, but I am not sure how I would use this in any of the classes I teach. When I saw that it was a diary, I thought I could use it when I was teaching The Diary of Anne Frank, but there really is no comparison! I would not be able to use this as a teaching tool because of the maturity of my students. I could see our discussion going into many directions that would not serve any purpose.
AnonymousAdmittedly, I had to research the "Three People's Principles": nationalism, democracy, livelihood of the people. When I look at the three principles, they seem logical. You want the citizens to feel pride about their country and be patriotic, to have a voice in how the country is run and express their concerns, and in the words of one Klingon, "live long and prosper". There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, in my mind. In these speeches, Jiang is filled with national pride, going on and on about how China cannot be conquered and how "the nation as a whole did not suffer from outside oppression and the people steadily opposed aggression." He talks about how Japan failed to realize the mighty power of China's national resistance...but no one saw Mao coming. How ironic that this "pillar of the Far East" came under the grips of one man that threw the country into what one writer calls "Ten Years of Madness". I wonder, after the Cultural Revolution, is China still considered a pillar? Have they, as a nation, come all the way back from that ominous time or are they forever haunted by the period in history that some folks refuse to talk about?
AnonymousWhen I started reading this madman's diary, I wanted to know several things, especially since the names had been changed. Immediately I thought of Mao (shame on me) but then I looked at the publication date...Mao would have been 25. Would he have had enough time to develop thoughts that others would have considered "mad"? Then I wanted to know if this was based on real events, was it an actual account of some sort.
From the very beginning, readers can see the beginnings of paranoia. The diarist says that he "trod on Mr. Ku's accounts." I was confused by this phrase and looked it up. Apparently, the diarist offended or insulted someone, as if causing physical pain. The diarist is completely consumed by the thought of cannibalism after hearing the story of the man in Wolf Village and makes the connection to his own transgressions. So, I continue to wonder, why not just go and make amends? Will it not be accepted? Why put himself through the stress and turmoil of paranoia and sleepless nights? He goes so far as to accuse the dog of being in on their murderous plot! Mad indeed!
Although I don't think I will use this piece in my classroom, it think it makes for an interesting discussion about how guilt can eat away at a person and how powerful the mind truly is.
AnonymousI suppose there is a fine line between curiosity and obsession. I keep finding myself drawn to Mao's story. It really is a very compelling one. I had an opportunity to read the Peasant Movement report that he gave and there were a few things that left me concerned - not just because I know the end result of all of this (that would make me biased, wouldn't it?), but I felt like the information was being manipulated in some way.
He begins by saying that he went to the different counties and spent 32 days in fact-finding conferences in villages where he talked to experienced peasants (what does that mean, experienced peasants?). He goes on to say that the hows and whys of the peasant movement were the exact opposite of what the gentry are saying. What are the gentry saying? That's the first thing I'd like to know, and if it's the opposite, what exactly is happening. Mao wrote that he saw and heard many strange things but didn't provide any specifics. He goes on to say that the talk agains the movement must be "speedily set right" - Why? What are people saying and what is he hearing that would prompt him to say that people needed to change the way they speak about the movement?
His choice of words definitely evoke a strong feeling by those who feel that they have been oppressed: "local tyrants, evil gentry, and lawless landlords". Those words are use quite a bit in a few pages, surely stirring something within those in the peasant class. He speaks of overthrowing feudal forces and refers to Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Revolution of 1911 where Outer Mongolia declared is independence from the Qing Dynasty during the Xin hai Revolution. His wording and allusions are very calculated in order to get the response that he wants from the people... #PowerOfThePen
AnonymousI really enjoyed this class. One aspect was Prof. Dube's way of looking at Ideology.
Ideology
What is… (Describe situation & Outline the problem)*
What should be….
How do we accomplish that….
One thought was to create a lesson where we break down ideologies of the three heroes of the Revolution: Chiang Kai-shek, Mao, and Sun Yat-sen. [font=Arial]To help students access the material, one would need to create simplified texts for students, as well as a graphic organizer to fill in for each of the three. [/font]
Another idea was to compare the writings of Sun Yat-sen with Confucius.
AnonymousI really enjoyed this class. One aspect was Prof. Dube's way of looking at Ideology.
Ideology
What is… (Describe situation & Outline the problem)*
What should be….
How do we accomplish that….
One thought was to create a lesson where we break down ideologies of the three heroes of the Revolution: Chiang Kai-shek, Mao, and Sun Yat-sen. [font=Arial]To help students access the material, one would need to create simplified texts for students, as well as a graphic organizer to fill in for each of the three. [/font]
Another idea was to compare the writings of Sun Yat-sen with Confucius.
AnonymousI was really interested in the story of More or Less. I used the story in my class the next day, as it is a perfect story for Middle School students who often try to do the least amount of work possible. There is something universal about this story and I would like to co-opt it.
AnonymousThis class was particularly helpful in clarifying the conflict between the KMP and the CCP and the Communist rise to power. The notes I took will certainly be turned into a lecture. I also had a good idea of a way to simplify the Historical narrative, by creating a T chart showing the differences between the KMP and CCP.
A venn diagram might also work well. As noted in the class, the KMP and CCP are actually quite similar in various ways.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a narrative that is erudite, but simple for students who want to understand the transition of power in China.
clay dubeAll of the following are optional readings. I'll refer to them in class and, if you're interested, you are encouraged to read them and to discuss them below.
Of these stories, the most influential were Ding Ling's Diary of Miss Sophie and Ba Jin's novel Family. Lu Xun was among the giant intellects of the age and the two pieces here give you a sense of the power of his writing. Mao Dun was a longtime Communist and became Minister of Culture after 1949.