Session 9 - Clay Dube, December 3

[Reynaldo Mangabat]

China’s Economic Reform plan under Deng Xiaoping which is both as Gradual and Pragmatic for me comes counter-productive to Mao’s revolutionary ideas. China gradually allowed/encouraged private property in the name of economic sufficiency. The sleeping giant started to wake up as another world capitalist that it is now. All the fruits of Mao’s cultural revolution are now overshadowed by the need economic sufficiency and sustainability. The next question for me is; are the economic gains worth the reforms that effectively abandoned the Mao’s classless society and abrogation of private property. 

[Kathryn Sutherland]

I too am curious to see what happens with Belt and Road projects around the world.  It is interesting to read that a lot of projects that were already in place or were  not a part of the master Belt and Road plan are being attributed to it--that One Belt, One Road is more of a brand than a unified scheme. What is clear is that this will increase the political and economic power and presence of China throughout the world. What's not clear is how China will ultimately utilize this power, and what unforseen side effects of a project of this caliber will have not just on its associated partners, but on the world.  Will power shift peacefully? Or not?

[Kathryn Sutherland]

Our last class about China was on China since 1978: Reform and Opening.  One place that we see the kind of reform and opening that has transformed China is in the film industry.  Communism takes on a much different look with movie stars. 

One news story I've been following is the rise and fall and rise (maybe?) again of China's most famous actress, Fan Bingbing.  The Verge has a primer on all that has happened so far: https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991988/fan-bingbing-disappearance-reappearance-china-tax-evasion-social-media

What I find interesting is the explanation as to why Fan Bingbing, of all of the actors, actresses, and other high profile wealthy people in China, was targetted.  She is not the only actor who has had this type of contract (1/2 is legitamate, 1/2 is under the table and therefore not taxed).  Perhaps her level of stardom is threatening to people in power.  Perhaps her gender and her self-sufficiency was threatening to people in power.  Before her disappearance this summer, she made comments that weren't in line with the communist party agenda.  She has emerged from her disappearance with an apology, a large monetary punishment, and devotion to the communist party.  Her reputation has plummeted, and the once beloved actress, touted for her beauty and charity work, has an uncertain future ahead of her.  

 

[Kim Leng]

 

Thanks for the book recommendation.  I decided to browse inside Michael Meyer’s The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed and now I’m hooked!  And so I’ve just placed the book on hold at LAPL.  The book cover with the cycle rickshaw in the foreground against the blue fencing immediately caught my attention.  Here is something that I don’t see in Los Angeles. Beijing has a cycle rickshaw which is just a step away from a man powered rickshaw that was invented around the mid 1800s.  What’s more, beyond the fence is a construction site with a crane and skyscrapers.  We see something that is modern rising behind a simple cycle rickshaw.  The cover image alone captures the title of the book.  How long will Old Beijing last with the rise of modernization and its cities full of skyscrapers?

The first couple pages of the book captured my immediate interest.  I love the immediate map of the neighborhood.  I see a noodle shop, mosque, vegetable stand, supermarket, dumplings, and more.  Then I noticed that there is a McDonald’s outside the immediately neighborhood.  When I read the first paragraph of the book, it confirmed my observation that the book cover and image captured an old way on the verge of disappearance.  Meyers wrote, “The Widow has lived in this neighborhood for most of her eighty years. She can’t imagine moving to the glassy high-rise landscape that encroaches on all sides….the Widow, like most hutong residents, will not have a choice.” This passage is a reminder that the old way is going to be gone whether the residents like it or not.

[Lindsay Reiss]

The whole issue with Fan Bingbing was so interesting to me too. Maybe she was targetted because of her immense presence. Very interesting perspective. MAybe she was making so much money the government just had to come for their tax $$$.

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