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Evelyn MendozaReading your post was really illuminating! I went back and forth between your pictures a couple of times to get a better understading of the connection between the propaganda poster and the Chinese flag. Researching the background, history, ideology, etc. behind the design of a country's flag would be a great activity for students.
Evelyn MendozaMany Chinese writers such as Lu Xun started moving toward a more simplified form of writing, making books more accessible for the common Chinese citizen. Perhaps Chinese characters were simplified for much the same reason… as Workers-Peasants and Soldiers become the pillars of Chinese society, they needed to be able to access the propaganda and the literature of the revolution. According to a Wikipedia article, many intellectuals saw the traditional Chinese writing as an obstacle in modernizing China. For example, Fu Sinian, a leader of the May Fourth Movement, called Chinese characters the “writing of ox-demons and snake-gods”. Lu Xun, said that, “If Chinese characters are not destroyed, then China will die.” There were likely other factors, such as practicality, that contributed to the simplification of the Chinese characters, but I wonder how big a role the revolution played.
This simplification of language is very rampant today, but not for such a political cause. As social media and text messaging grew in popularity, written and verbal language began to deteriorate in complexity. I will never forget the time a student told me, in response to his friend’s comment, and my subsequent confusion, that “literally is the new figuratively”!
Interesting how history repeats itself, though for different reasons.
Source: Wikipedia
Evelyn MendozaIn today's session I also learned that the prominent people in this propaganda poster are the 'holy trinity' of China: Worker, Peasant, Soldier. This is very significant because it glorifies the contribution of these three types of Chinese people for Chinese society. Their role in society is seen as a centerpiece for the revolution, they are the new rulers.
Chinese Posters.net: Workers, Peasants, Soldiers
Evelyn Mendoza
This poster shows Chinese men from several walks of life standing against atomic, chemical and bacterial warfare. The soldier is holding Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book in a prominent position, demonstrating their collective support for his ideology, and the strength that collectivism brings to the Chinese people. This poster was meant to inspire people to stand behind Chairman Mao and against the Westerners who use atomic, chemical and bacterial warfare.
Evelyn MendozaThe two Chinese leaders, on opposite idealogical sides, Sun Yatsen and Kang Youwei, spent a lot of their time outside of China trying to build support for their ideas for China’s future. Both were mobilizing and raising money. Sun Yatsen wanted an all-out revolution, whereas Kang Youwei wanted more conservative reform. This was a good strategy because attempting to do this within China was extremely dangerous, a life and death threat, in fact. Additionally, by taking the effort outside of China, Sun Yatsen was able to gain support from Americans, who saw Japan’s growth as a good model for China, but also as a threat to the United States. Homer Lea was one of the supporters of Sun Yatsen’s Revolution and helped mobilize Chinese-American soldiers to support the Revolution, all of this was taking place in Los Angeles, on Sunset Blvd, no less! I think students would find this very interesting to learn about, especially because this brings the Chinese Revolution home.
Evelyn MendozaI found it extremely interesting that foreign companies sent, and continue to send, company employees to China in order to market to them more effectively. Chinese families were being studied by these foreigners and in some instances, by Japan, were incentivized to marry a Chinese citizen! This was done in hopes of understanding the Chinese population more clearly and make advertising much more targeted. The extent to which some companies, and countries, in general, are willing to go to understand other societies is extremely important to be aware of. In my experience, students don’t realize that they are constantly being monitored and that data is constantly being collected about them. This data is used by companies to predict trends, to determine the effectiveness of advertising, etc… Teaching students about the history of data collection, and why data collection about Chinese Society was especially rewarding, could be a great lesson and a great wake-up call.
Evelyn MendozaThe Encounters activity was a very effective learning strategy. This activity improves engagement and critical thinking. By grading students based on authenticity, students are forced to dig deeper in to the character they are representing in this activity. I will definitely look for a way to incorporate this in to my lesson plans, including the one I will be designing for this program.
Evelyn MendozaDuring the late 19th century, population growth was matched by economic growth. However, standard of living was not improving; due to lack of development. I found it interesting that the lack of Chinese development was, in part, due to peasant and farmer competitiveness. As we learned in this session, Chinese development didn’t begin until about the 20th century. I’m curious to learn how development was finally made possible… what happened to the farmers and peasants that lowered their competitiveness? The farmers were obviously very hardworking, they continuously intensified their household production to meet their own growing needs, but what changed to make development possible?
Evelyn MendozaI was thinking the exact same thing.... The reformists are also nationalists and they want to "Make China Great Again". (lol) So, a huge part of the reform movement is to maintain Chinese traditions, creating a dilema. How can you reform but maintain the status quo? As a group member stated above, scholars should be allowed to travel to western countries, learn about their governments, their economy, society, etc. This knowledge should then be brought back to China where it can be dissected by other Reform Scholars and, if beneficial to our country, manipulated to fit our needs. In picking foreign ideas apart, and then putting them back together, we can put our unique brand on it. Thus, making it a Chinese idea; with no foreign attachment, at least in appearance.
Evelyn MendozaLike many countries, except for maybe Iceland, China’s relationship with worker’s rights is very complicated. China has legislation that outlines the rights of workers. However, there seems to be a lack of interest, or unwillingness, to enforce the law. The documentary “We the Workers” reminded me of the farm workers movement of the 1960s. The struggles the farm workers faced and the demands they made were very similar to those of the Chinese laborers. Another similarity between the two is the fear that at first kept them from fighting for what is right. Though the farm workers were successful in having some of their demands met, there are still many violations that occur in this day and age. Similarly, in China, even when a business has made agreements with worker representatives, they try to find the way to evade making changes, even going as far as moving to a different district.
If I could find one lesson to take from these workers and laborers, it’s that the struggle never ends. Even when we think we’ve met our goal, we have to be vigilant that there isn’t a return to the past practices. The fight for what is fair never ends.
Evelyn MendozaBefore the readings and this session, I was pretty much oblivious to China’s great history and the people who helped create it. China’s development and history has been interesting to learn about, but now I feel even more curious about it. I’m impressed by how long the Manchurians were able to maintain control of China, especially after so many had failed. I found that their way of rule was more sympathetic to traditions than the previous regimes. Though the Manchurians were far from benevolent, especially to those who rebelled, there are good lessons for students to learn. From the Manchus long and rule, students can learn that in order for a community to be successful, each group must be willing to compromise.
Evelyn MendozaI found the 4th session to be one of the most engaging so far... perhaps because I was a little more familiar with the events occuring in this time period than the previous sessions. I never really comprehended the attack on Pearl Harbor, but after this session, I feel like I have a much better grasp on it. Also, I don't recall ever learning in middle or high school how Japan recovered from the war, so that portion of the discussion was also enlightening. As Professor Yamashita talked about the horrors that people faced, I recalled the anime "Grave of the Fireflies" by Isao Takahata. I also found that the diaries Professor Yamashita translated reminded me of the suffering the children in this story faced.
Evelyn MendozaAmong the most important things I took from Session 3 is the importance of context! I can recall times when I have not provided sufficient context to students and then have to pay for it down the line when they are terribly confused. I have personally felt confusion over matters when I had not been provided with enough background information. Professor Yamashita provided me we further evidence for why context is so important for understanding historical events.
I was also very surprised to find out just how much the motivation to keep Christianity out of Japan impacted Japanese society. I found it interesting that the Japanese were so repelled by Christianity that they would kill Christian missionaries; in a very brutal way. Another thing that also surprised me greatly was learning about the Ainu people. I researched some images of the Ainu and I was very intrigued by their asthetics. Learning of the Ainu people gave me an idea about a research project in to some of the more obscure indigenous peoples around the world. As a science teacher, I might have students research anatomical characteristics and behavioral adaptations such as clothing and social structre and speculate why these might have developed in that particular region of the world.
Evelyn MendozaJust like Session 1, I found Session 2 very interesting. Prior to this session, I had no knowledge of Korean history. I never understood the complexities in the relationships between Japan, Korea and China. Of course, I knew there was tension, but I never comprehended why. Now, I have a slightly better understanding of the current issues in East Asia.
A valuable lesson I can teach my students from this session is just how relevant history is in the present time. I feel that people, in general, and the youth, in particular, have a hard time understanding how their choices will impact their future, and this history lesson could be the perfect way to teach them.
Evelyn MendozaAs a science teacher, I'm struggling to find specific ways to incorporate the things I've learned in this session. However as a Career Exploration teacher, I find it a necessity. During the first session we learned that the immigration rate to the United States is highest among Asian countries. This will directly impact my students and their hopes for future careers. I find it very valuable for students to understand their prospects for univeristy admission and then career options, especially as demographics change.
On a more personal note, I never understood just how much happenings in the East can impact us, in the West. In particular, I'm refering to the Treaty of Nanjing, 1842. During these first sessions its becoming clearer just how much this treaty has had reprocussions in other countries, even to this day.
