[Celeste Modster]

Final Reflection

The Gender and Generation in East Asia Seminar was eye opening for me. I was able to uderstand more fully the relevance and evolution of cultural perspectives and influences as it relates to gender and generation throughout history and contemporary societies. Each session yielded information useful for weaving into lessons in my classroom across many academic disciplines. The sharing of culture through the lens of East Asian History, Literature and Arts has provided a plateform for discovery, comparison and contrast in my Art, Health and Life Skill courses. I believe that the process of sharing culture allows those engaged to better understand their own culture and to appreciate those features of cultural evolution that are both different and in common with their own.  

Using the movie Crazy RIch Asians as a springboard for analysis was a very fun and engaging choice.  It introduced gender and generational practices through a very contemporary lens. When I first saw the movie, I was entertained completely without having any idea that the  underlying subject of gender roles and generational influences were interwoven into the storyline. Watching the movie as a part of this course, illuminated the roles and relationships specific to cultural norms in East Asian history and contemporary society.   

Althought the amount of material to be covered over a short time seemed overwhelming at times, I appreciate the wealth of resources and the opportunity to glean from experts, information worth continuing to study with my students. The conversations and interactions in each session gave me content which I can easily incorporate into a lesson. The esssential questions helped me to process much of what I was learning.

I found that I was personally aligned with some of the principles taught through the various ideologies. I could relate to ideologies and practices that were taught to me by my African American family. I found that I was aligned with certain ideals because of my Catholic upbringing as well. Good WIfe, Wise Mother was the example that my mother personified in our household. The ideals of Filial obligation for example is what you do out of love and respect in my African American family.  Ban Zhao’s Ideas emerging from Confucionism and Daoism. Seven Lessons For Women and 12 Chapters On Cultivation of Virtue reminded me of the chapters of Kalial Gibran’s The Prophet. In Western culture to be virtuous is to be kind and giving, wise and true. Paralleling experiences.

Some highlights for me were the discussions of Professor Lynne Miyake Differentiated DIsourses, Spaces and Influences: The Gender of Classical Japan. I’d like to explore cultural similarities and differences using Anime and story telling. Gender Identification by content, inferrence and mood is currently an evolving discussion in our classrooms and would be interesting to discuss the similarities and differences between the East and the West. Using Robin Wang’s resources from her discussion of What Makes a (Chinese) Woman Beautiful, I would ilike to explore the meaning of beauty with my students and how the meanings either differ or resinate. It will be interesting to discover whether the idea of Filial Obligation is a thread that runs through the cultures and traditions of my students who have varying ethnic backgrounds.

Connecting through the sharing of our history and our stories is how I intend to incorporate all that I’ve learned during this Seminar, with my students. I believe it is important to contunue learning about cultural similarities and differnces without passing judgement on norms and ideologies. It is important to continue looking at how cultures influence each other and how often times cultural practices mirror each other. Learning about the origin of idologies and practices opens doors to great discovery and appreciation.

 

[Celeste Modster]

Studying the life of Ban Zhao as a famous female figure in Chinese history and examining her within the Patriarchal Order of the period creates a great opportunity for comparing and contrasting gender and generational experiences cross culturally. Professor Dube's selection of the Movie Crazy Rich Asians allows a look at contemporary settings that I believe are relateable to my students when axamining the traditional role of women in families. I often think of the number of hats the matriarchal figures in a home assume and while honoring a patriarchael order. Ban Zhao, the historian, scholar, writer, politician, powerhouse also filled maintained selfless devotion to her family and the Emperor.

Using the Movie Crazy Rich Asians could be a great springboard for exploration and discussion of Ban Zhao's Lesson's For Woman, Ban Chao, Ca. 45-116. Are this lessons relevant and relateable in society today? Taking a look at our Grandmother's and Mothers, What lessons have been passed down through the generations? Are there similarities? 

I find the topic intreging and want to know what my studnets think.

[Celeste Modster]

Hey there Nichole,

Just wanted to share that Newsela is a great teaching tool for building and strengthening literacy across curriculums. We are using it in our classrooms daily now for the 2nd year. Enjoy!

[Celeste Modster]

Final Reflection

The Gender and Generation in East Asia Seminar was eye opening for me. I was able to uderstand more fully the relevance and evolution of cultural perspectives and influences as it relates to gender and generation throughout history and contemporary societies. Each session yielded information useful for weaving into lessons in my classroom across many academic disciplines. The sharing of culture through the lens of East Asian History, Literature and Arts has provided a plateform for discovery, comparison and contrast in my Art, Health and Life Skill courses. I believe that the process of sharing culture allows those engaged to better understand their own culture and to appreciate those features of cultural evolution that are both different and in common with their own.  

Using the movie Crazy RIch Asians as a springboard for analysis was a very fun and engaging choice.  It introduced gender and generational practices through a very contemporary lens. When I first saw the movie, I was entertained completely without having any idea that the  underlying subject of gender roles and generational influences were interwoven into the storyline. Watching the movie as a part of this course, illuminated the roles and relationships specific to cultural norms in East Asian history and contemporary society.   

Althought the amount of material to be covered over a short time seemed overwhelming at times, I appreciate the wealth of resources and the opportunity to glean from experts, information worth continuing to study with my students. The conversations and interactions in each session gave me content which I can easily incorporate into a lesson. The esssential questions helped me to process much of what I was learning.

I found that I was personally aligned with some of the principles taught through the various ideologies. I could relate to ideologies and practices that were taught to me by my African American family. I found that I was aligned with certain ideals because of my Catholic upbringing as well. Good WIfe, Wise Mother was the example that my mother personified in our household. The ideals of Filial obligation for example is what you do out of love and respect in my African American family.  Ban Zhao’s Ideas emerging from Confucionism and Daoism. Seven Lessons For Women and 12 Chapters On Cultivation of Virtue reminded me of the chapters of Kalial Gibran’s The Prophet. In Western culture to be virtuous is to be kind and giving, wise and true. Paralleling experiences.

Some highlights for me were the discussions of Professor Lynne Miyake Differentiated DIsourses, Spaces and Influences: The Gender of Classical Japan. I’d like to explore cultural similarities and differences using Anime and story telling. Gender Identification by content, inferrence and mood is currently an evolving discussion in our classrooms and would be interesting to discuss the similarities and differences between the East and the West. Using Robin Wang’s resources from her discussion of What Makes a (Chinese) Woman Beautiful, I would ilike to explore the meaning of beauty with my students and how the meanings either differ or resinate. It will be interesting to discover whether the idea of Filial Obligation is a thread that runs through the cultures and traditions of my students who have varying ethnic backgrounds.

Connecting through the sharing of our history and our stories is how I intend to incorporate all that I’ve learned during this Seminar, with my students. I believe it is important to contunue learning about cultural similarities and differnces without passing judgement on norms and ideologies. It is important to continue looking at how cultures influence each other and how often times cultural practices mirror each other. Learning about the origin of idologies and practices opens doors to great discovery and appreciation.

 

[Celeste Modster]

Thank you for a great experience in learning this summer. I appreciated meeting and sharing in this experience with everyone. Wishing everyone an amazingly enlightening school year!

Peace!

Celeste Modster

[Celeste Modster]

I appreciate You Jin's short stories as a teacher because she reminds me of the importance of meeting our students where they are. The boy with the golden hair is a personification of the children that we often serve and the value that each brings. For every child that enters our classrooms with a chip on their shulder, there is a back story that reveals their disposition. Sometimes it is just a matter of reerving our judgement, watching and listening. I will share this story with my classes asking them for their perspective on tolerance and empathy.

I'd also like to engage them in conversations about constructive criticism and raising better teachers. I have found that I relate more easily with my male students. How can I be more attentive and responsible to female students who are displaying unfavorable behaviors?

It will be interesting to share the cultural origin of these stories and to discuss how students respond to life experiences in universal ways.

 

 

[Celeste Modster]

I will forever treat my words with the care I would give my pets! I loved You Jin's relationship development in this story. Not only will I be able to relate this short story to my students but I will be able to share the analogy of words as pets. I believe it will be a great way to engage my students in falling in love with the power of words. I can's wait to share with them!

[Celeste Modster]

I will forever treat my words with the care I would give my pets! I loved You Jin's relationship development in this story. Not only will I be able to relate this short story to my students but I will be able to share the analogy of words as pets. I believe it will be a great way to engage my students in falling in love with the power of words. I can's wait to share with them!

[Celeste Modster]

Nurse Wng Rui exemplifies the character of so many women in the world looking for Mr. Right. So many women like Wang Rui, abandon their dreams in the pursuit of a happy marriage and a happy family life.  Reading this article pointed out to me the challenge for individual autonomy and couples in the reform-era in China. Wang Rui and her husband had to collaborate to create the Middle Class famiy that they desired to have. The roles of the Good Husband/Provider and the Good Wife/Caretaker/Teacher are merged with both husband and wife's balanceing of career and family. The contemporary ideals of success in marriage in China's Reform era are reflected in this article. Wang Rui and her husband, as individuals and collectively are addressing the challenges being right for each other in this union while raising the "perfect Child". Their choices merge the old and the new. The choreography will be ongoing!

[Celeste Modster]

Hey there Marcos,

I remember you saying that this year you will be teaching 1st grade. It might be fun to share some Chinese tradition based on Confucian and Daoist ideology through story telling and sharing. It would be great to ask the children to define beauty and maybe even to illustrate beauty. As they share their descriptions, you could share with them some of the basic ideologies from both schools of thought. I could see making the lesson simply focus on virtue and mindfulness and the lesson would definitely be interesting to all students.  I believe that children enjoy being able to explore and identify common threads between what is relevant in their lives and the lives of cultural neighbors.

Sharing Beauty with China!

 

[Celeste Modster]

Professor Wang presented a very comprehensive and fun to follow lecture discussing Confucianism and Daoism. I believe I can iwill develop a unit on Self Esteem using the discussion of critereon for beauty, comparing multipule cultural perspectives. I'd be using Ideal Woman and Yinyang Gender Dynamics as resource articles as spring boards for the conversation. I beleive these lessons will be both interesting and revealing. It would provide an opportunity for students to compare and contrast perspectives of beauty while exploring their own since of beauty and worth. I appreciate opportunities to share common threads through culture.

[Celeste Modster]

Women and Gender in China’s Long Twentieth Century

WOMEN’S HISTORY IN CHINA

Professor Lisa Tran

I enjoyed Professor Tran’s lecture today. There was so much information to be covered but she engaged us in conversation with thoughtful questioning.  

As a Historian, Professor Tran expressed the importance of plugging in the contribution of women into history to make it more complete. The ntroduction of Qui Jin and her work in Chinese History provided an example of doing so. I was intreged by Qui Jin, a Revolutionary Martyr who was written about as the first feminist, one who challenged Confusianism. She believed that Confusianism did not work and should be done away with. Qui Jin challenged woman to step up, become educated and take civic action so as not to have to rely on men who she believed were failing. Her advice was that we, women must revitalize ourselves. Our discussions did not lead to a resolution on the subject of the perfect world nor did Qui Jin’s but the challenge and conversation was and is relevant and important. She left us with this important thought:

“Always question why things are the way that they are. That is what scholars do.” 

 I will definitely share with my students!

 

[Celeste Modster]

Hey there Marcos, I agree that this topic would be great for Middle to High School aged students. I could see creating lessons on Self Esteem, Celebrating Individuality and Standing For a Cause or Supporting a Movement might be great focus lessons where students share  opinions and reflections about Photographer Jeon Bora's documentation of the "Escape THe Corset".

This movement depicts South Korean women's rejection of the country's standard for beauty. What a bold move. Students might discuss their definition of beauty and what is considered beautiful in South Korea. The reprecussions of the women's rebellion resulted in losses of jobs and harrassment. The students might discuss whether of not they would have participated in the cause. This article is a great lead in to a class discussion that unmasks the pressure young girls encounter when attempting to fulfill the societal norms for beauty. Monopolized by the multi-billion dollar beauty industry, advertisement media and marketing endorse images that communicate the rubrics for beauty. South Korea's billboards are innondated with images of what is considered and promoted as beautiful. Here in the US, beauty is defined similarly. The bravery of the woman in South Korean could inspire others to redefine beauty by thir own individual standard. 

[Celeste Modster]

I enjoyed reading Vanished Men, Complex Women by Mauricio Castro. The article discusses Yasujiro Ozu's film work after WWII.  I was able to visualize Ozu's social comentary on the the impact and aftermath of the what he describes as the War Memories which shaped the nation and the people. His story lines and characterizations were meant to portray the effects of the political, social and demographics transformations of Post War Japan. I believe his films were important because they spoke of the Occupation that mandated reform resulting in a changed Japan. Vanished men in his films were visually absent in his scenes but thought of in conversation or sometimes silence. Complex women made choices in who they married even when a father didn't approve. There was reference to Good Wives and Wise Mothers and political figures. Ozu's use of symbolism intended to juxtapose modernity with fragmentation. His strategic repeat character names created continuity in his series of films and the families represented archetypes of the Middle Class Japanese family. Mauricio Castro concludes his article with, "The last image he leaves us with is that of Wataru riding the train to visit his daughter in Hiroshima in order to reconcile with her. The ultimate symbol of modernity and fragmentation becomes a symbol of hope and reconciliation." This article allowed me to visualize Ozu's cinematic artistry and his attention to sensitivity and openmindedness. I am looking forward to seeing this film. 

[Celeste Modster]

Professor Miyake's enthusiasm and energy in our first conversation today sparked my interest in including the art of Manga in my Art Curriculum this year. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Manga From the Floating World as it was funny and charming and a story that I believe my students could relate to. How often do we think about doing something outside our normal existance? Are we able to laugh at ourselves? Are we willing to learn from our choices? Can we see the irony in our life journies? Can we turn our stories into pictures? I loved that Enjiro engaged in the rediculous and is portrayed with a pig nose as he pursues his role as Player. I look forward to sharing this story with my art class and inviting them to create a comic story that has witt and humor. Charactor development and Illustration will be fun. 

[Author]

Posts