[Jennifer Place]

I loved this museum.  Using artifacts, primary sources, and narrative to enhance and support historical data are always a success for me!  The exhibits were so wonderfully presented.  I imagine that the local children thoroughly enjoy this gem of a museum.   I especially enjoyed the music exhibit on the upper floor.   It was sad to learn that so much of the nearby neighborhood had been destroyed in order to build the post office.  I wonder if this museu does virtual tours????

[Jennifer Place]

This is such an amazing idea!  I frequently collaborate with the grade 6th social studies teacher when she teaches the China unit.  This year a new teacher will be teaching social studies and I think this woud be a wonderful way to introduce the idea of collaborating to him.  Thank you for incuding the web resources.  They will be very useful.  When will you be teaching this unit?  And I would love to keep in touch! 

[Jennifer Place]

Prior to this lecture I had absolutely no knowledge of K-Pop!  Upon hearing the initial description, I was not looking forward to the lecture.  It was, however, an incredibly interesting lecture.  Sadly, the entire system made me think of an assembly line cranking out entertainment of a sort; much like American boy group bands because there is very little that is unique about any one group.  I am looking forward to discussing this type of music with my school's music teachers and with my students.  It will be interesting to compare various aspects of K-pop to american music. 

 

[Jennifer Place]

The lecture on Wood Block Prints was fascinating.  It was surprising to learn how the depictions of women changed so little over time.  The examples were lovely and I look forward to sharing them with my students.  Although my students are very fond of both Manga and Anime, I know very little about it.  We conduct once-a-week clubs and I think I will offer Manga and Anime as a choice.  We will switch roles and the students will teach me.  The students will create their own characters and story, possibly in small groups.  Thanks for telling me about your after school group Jess!  I hope mine will be as successful!

[Jennifer Place]

This evening I have been wondering why films made in China don't do well in the United States.  I suppose it could be cultural differences in some cases, but certainly not in all genres.  Are they promoted as much?  Do people dislike subtitles?  Maybe this could be a project for one of my classes.

[Jennifer Place]

1. Wonderful lectures!  When everything is becoming digitized, it was refreshing to focus on actual objects and the history behind them.  Our 6th graders learn a bit about Japanese history and culture during a WWII language arts/social studies unit.  The unit focuses on Hiroshima and the Japanese Internment.  The postcards will provide an opportunity to discover an interesting art form, identify and discuss the elements of art, and practice 'reading' art works to decipher meaning and message.  They will, of course, need to send and receive handmade postcards.  I believe the illustrated sheet music will be quite interesting to my middle school musicians and artists and will lend itself very nicely to the same unit.  I am hoping these additions will help the students have a better understanding of Japanese culture. 

[Jennifer Place]

The center is filled with a woman holding a small book or pamphlet in one hand and a bottle of pills in the other.  She is wearing an apron and a cap and she is smiling warmly.  Around her are smaller illustrations that all include children.  On the left a father teaches his daughter a history lesson while viiting a monument or sculpture.  Also on the left a father works at a desk while the mother exercises outside with her daughter.   To the right of the woman it looks like a woman welding? and another woman teaching dance and music to a group of children in colorful costume?  Mao's image is at the bottom of the poster and is quite small.  There is some sort of crane or other mechanical item that I cannot identify. Everybody looks happy.  I'm not sure if the pills are birth control or vitamins but clearly they are somehow responsible for the happiness. 

[Jennifer Place]

I love the idea of the Benshi taking liberties to 'improve' the story.  I think it would be interesting to have students take on the role of Benshi for one short unfamiliar silent film or a section of it, video the presentations and then as a group compare presentations.  Good exercise for interpretation, observation and performance skills.  What did each 'Benshi' notice?  Choose to talk about?  How are the tellings different? 

Historically speaking, what a wonderful lesson about the importance of an individual.   

 

[Jennifer Place]

Hi Donna,

I participated in an on-line class focused primarily on Hiroshima.  A number of very well done resources were suggested, especially on the occupation.  I will forward the titles to you when I return home.  (I'm sorry I can't recall them now).  Many of them include first person accounts.

[Jennifer Place]

Midori, I was shocked too by the way the children behaved.  I have friends who are Japanese and Japanese American.  Neither of them would even consider treating their parents in such a terrible fashion.  I was wondering if the director chose to portray them in this manner as an exaggeration to warn about what would happen if the family fell apart?  What do you think?

[Jennifer Place]

Many workers wearing different uniforms, some wearing some sort of harness gear.  Each holding up a little Mao book or a tool.  Additional peopl far in the distance.  All standing in front of a very long bridge that appears newly finished.  Around the workers is billowing red fabric that could be flags or banners.  Everyone is smiling and looking proud.  I believe there is a train crossing the bridge.  The message may be that when people work together they can build for the future, help the people move ahead.

[Jennifer Place]

I was probably the only person in the room that did not have prior knowledge about Kpop!  Consequently, I found it fascinating and at the same time very disturbing.  The first thing that occurs to me is that the entire genre is a lie, and therefore an opportunity to employ critical thinking and inquiry skills. 

I very much like the idea of having students compare two films that show two different perspectives of one historical event.  Point of view.  Whose truth is the 'real' truth? 

Professor Kim's lectures both provided evidence of Korean leaders intentions to be recognized globally, especially through film and social media.  I was surprised to learn that film has been used to educate young children.  My students will find that interesting in comparison to their own schooling. 

[Jennifer Place]

i was struck by Professor Berry's statement regarding our effort (or lack thereof) to understand other cultures, when on the other hand, American culture and its representations in art, literature, and film are often well known in other countries.  I have become involved in a group that brings American students to China, and have seen how true this statement is.  Although text versions of primary sources will surely be useful in remedying this problem, I believe the students will also respond well and perhaps more enthusiastically to film.  In visiting the 798 Art District and M50 district, I have found myself wanting to know more about contemporary art in China.  Professor Berry's lecture will be very useful for the next trip.  I am looking forwrd to doing more research on each of the artists he spoke about. 

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