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Juana EvinkI enjoyed reading the article by Madeliene Thien, "After the Cultural Revolution: what western classical music means in China." Eventhough, I'm not a fan or refular listener of classical music, as a history teacher I understand th enormous cultural importance of classical music to the world. Thien, mentions that Mao's Cultural Revolution had catrastrophic effects on classical music in China, people lost their lives because of this and their love for music. Chinese people were forced to studied European's composers instead of their own. Today people can listen and create music that they can enjoy and sgare it with others.
Juana EvinkHi Cindy,
As i was going over the reading on Chinese classical music, I saw your response. Your post just gave me an idea, to introduce Chinese music this semester when I teach my unit on Ancient China. I can have stundents listen to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and other classical songs, and write about how they feel when they listen to the music. I like how you plan to emphazise that classical music is not an old thing, but it's still relevant and beautiful to listen to today.
Juana EvinkThe article by Sheila Melvin and Jindong Cai, on "The Sound of Music is often Chinese: The Offspring of a Grim Revoluiton," discuss the changes in Chinese music. I was pleasantly surprised how much interest Chinese people had in classical music after the conservatory when it reopen after the Cultural Revolution. I grew up listening to music in Spanish and English whenever I wanted, it's hard for me to imagine what it's like for people not to be able to do it as well. Sometimes, we forget that places like China have some restrictions that affect people artistic and musical interest. Since the conservatory reopen in the 80's, Chinese musicians have gained renown fame and people get to enjoy their amazing music all over the world.
Juana EvinkThe current pandemic the world is currently experiencing has had devastating effects across social, economic, and political levels. China's economic strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative isn't an exception. Just liek the rest of the world, some aspects of the BRi, if not all had to be placed on hold until the pandemic is over, and the new normal can resume. In the artcle, the author mentions that it would take some time to determine the damge doene to the economy by Covid-19, it could be anywhere from minimal to drastic. The BRI is another example of crossing boundaries, the economic projects invilve other Asian and European countries, who will face tough economic decisions in the near future.
Juana EvinkI remeber first learning about Buddhism from India, in college and later how it spread to East Asia. I have always been fascinated about Buddhism's idea od Nirvana and and the different representation of the Buddha and how each country has it own version of it. Professor Meeks does an excellent job exlaining Buddhism spread from India to Japan, China, and Korea. As a middle school teacher, I teach about Buddhism, and now I;m thinking of having students compare and contrast the spread, development, and the resistance it faced by supporters of traditional native religions in these countries. I would use excerpts from Donald Mitchell's book Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhisyt Experience, for the students to use as evidence of how Buddhism crossed boundaries.
Juana EvinkHi Maria,
I'm so glad that you shared this information about a video and a newspaper article about Chinese infleucne in the border town of Mexiclai. I have several family members who live dgthere, and I have never heard that Chinese poepel had helped built the Mexicali city. Now I'm curious to ask them if they know how Mexicali was founded and if they do, do they give credit to the Chinese's founers or not. This story definitely fits with the seminar's theme of Crossing boundaries, in this case geographical and cultural.
Juana EvinkHi Cindy,
I want to say thank you for sharing Jasmine Tang's story and how you use it to teach student aboout assimilation and culture. I will like to you this video with my students in my Advisory SEL class, as well as videos of African Amrican singing Mariahci songs in Spanish. I believe that sharing videos of people from other races singing in Spanish such traditional cuktural music liek mariachi, can help them understand that we are all humans, can and should get along. That our differences makes us unique.
Juana EvinkAs I read, "Survuving 39 dollars a month," I kept thinking how and why would someone do that. The reading is about Chinese reporters who lived together and the Chinese embassy paid for the rent and food. The reporters saved their money to go to yard sale and buy second hand clothes and electronics. I was surprised that Chinese man wanted to buy American clothes, I assumed to fit in, one of their jobs was to make contacts and friends in America. Some of these reporters never seem a play, or a movie. Some of this reporters would save most of their $39 a month ot buy a colo TV or refrigerator back in China. This reading provided a glimpse into the live of the average Chinese person. The Chinese government knew the diplomats and reporters were buying products in America, and didn't stop it.
Juana EvinkIn the reading by Qian-Ning, "Marriages hold together: other fall apart," the issues that Chinese couples experienced as they moved to America are discussed. As a married woman, I hope to be married for the rest of my life, as probably most people who get married do. Yet, in the article, alot of Chinese's marriages fall apart after moving to America. Some men felt thereaten in their mascunality and their social status took a dive, whereas their wife's status did the opposite. In China, women are more restricted than they are in America, while man are in charge, enjoyed a position of power. In the reading, a couple in which the wife recieved a scholarship to come study in America,and the husband didn't speak much English or drive, felt ignored and she felt empower. When the social dynamis change in a marriage change, it causes conlfict in a marriage, some can't survive it. In addition, language barrier, and man's insecurities put a strain in the marriage which is sad.
Juana EvinkHi Hilda,
I enjoyed reading your post about "Flowers of Fire," since I haven't had the chance to read it yet. However, I have read in the past "The Cranes," which if I remember correctly aslo deals with two friends who were separated after the Korean War. The cranes is a metaphor for this situation of two friends being separated after the Korean War, just like Flowers of Fire. I agree both stories are a metaphor for what happen to Korea after the war. Some Koreans believe that there is a chance for reunification after decades of separation and tension between the two countries.
Juana EvinkThe reading by Amy Qin "North Korean Orchestra gives an emotional concert in the South," shows how most North Koreans view their neighbors. There is a quote in the reading that resonated with me, since before taking seminars with USC-China Institute, I also thought that all North Koreans were unsophisticated. Qin quotes, "“But they were much more sophisticated than I expected,” Mr. Lee said. “It made me more open to the idea of unification.” With this quote Qin introdcues that impact that the North Korean orchestra had in some South Koreans, some who had never seen a North Korean in person before the performance. After reading the above quote, I too believe that tehre is hope for a Korean inification some day.
Juana EvinkHi Julie,
I wnat to say thank you for sharing this amazing resources on south Korea's population. I checked them out, they are really informative and useful. I wish I had seen them before, I could have use one of them to do a websote review. These resources could be cited by high school or college students writing reports on population decline, using South Korea's as a model or case study.
Juana EvinkHi Jasmine,
I found your response to plastic surgery interesting. I agree it seems that it's more prevalent in the U.S., although it seems that it's increasing in Asian countries. I personally don't care for pastic surgery, but I can imagine why some women feel pressured to do it, My little sister is obsessed with her looks, and it's currently waiting for an appoinmnet for a body sculting procedure. In her case, it's for herself, not for outside pressure. For plastic surgey doctors it's a lucrative bussiness to be in.
Juana EvinkHi Jasmine,
I found your response to plastic surgery interesting. I agree it seems that it's more prevalent in the U.S., although it seems that it's increasing in Asian countries. I personally don't care for pastic surgery, but I can imagine why some women feel pressured to do it, My little sister is obsessed with her looks, and it's currently waiting for an appoinmnet for a body sculting procedure. In her case, it's for herself, not for outside pressure. For plastic surgey doctors it's a lucrative bussiness to be in.
Juana EvinkThis reading by Anthony Khun, "South Korea Women "Escape the Corset," it's a complete contrast to the other reading on plastic surgery and the pressure Korean women faced to conform to their country's beauty standards. Khun, mentiones a gallery of photographs that showcase Korean women going against beauty standards and cutting their hair, and wearing little to no make up at all. In the interview, women mention to feel liberated, for women to love them selves as they are, not by how they are seen by others. I totally agree with this message. A woman is a human being not a barbie, not an object to be loved because of its beauty, but for who they are.
