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Juana EvinkToday, I was looking at the pictures we took when we went to the Korean Cultural Center. It reminded me that it will be an amazing opportunity for my studnets to learn more about Korea. Sadly, the 7th grade history content standards, barely mention Korea in relation to Japan and China. Yet, Korea has an amazing history, they developed their on language, which is very easy for people to learn. I have had the opportunity to attend a semianr on Korea at the cultural center, and I will love to do it again.
Juana EvinkI have always love postcards, I have a few from my trips to Europe. As I was reading through professor's Brown " Postcards, Commerce, and creativity in Japan, I find myself loving the art and images in them. Japanese' art is impressive, and Brown does a great job proving how influential modernism was in Japan and how postcards help the process.
Juana EvinkIn the spring semester I will be teaching a unit on Japan and I will incorporate Korea into it. I believe that that the reading by professor Kim, " The Many Faces of K-pop," will be a great hook to get my students' attention. A great deal of my students like k-pop or atleast know about it from their friends. Professor Kim, writes, that k-pop artists and videos are influenced by American Broadway-style musicals. This is obvious in the videos, which is one of the reasons that is so popular with Americans, because they recognized elements taht they like.
Juana EvinkThe summer seminar on Exploring East Asian Visual Culture, was amazing, I enjoyed it. This was my 5th time attending a USC Us-China Institute seminar, and I hope it will not be the last. Once again, the presenters and the material were great, as well as the field trips to the Korean Cultural Center, and the Chinese-American Museum.
This seminar provided me with a variety of visual resources like paintings, kabuki theater prints, anime and maga. For my curriculum project, I will use visual images from the Tale of Genji, which fits perfectly in my unit on Medieval Japan. As of right now, one of my lessons is going to be on analyzing "The illustrated Tale og Genji" by Tsuboi Koh 1989. The students will read about the "Tale of Genji" from the History Alive! textbook and a summary handout of the story, prior to analysis the illustrated images. Another lesson will be on examining the use of color of the "Tale of Genji: "Wakamurasaki" album painting by Tosa Mitsuoki c. 1675 and the handscroll, Tosa Studio artist, 18-19th c. There is so much more that I can do with all the visual materials on East Asia.
Eventhough, I don't teach High School, I can see the potential of a lesson on the use of political symbols, using China as an example. As a 7th grade world history teacher, I only cover history from after the Fall of Rome 5th century to the 19th century, as a result I don't cover moern East Asia. Professor Dube gave us many ideas on how colors and symblos are used, this would be a great lesson for art teachers.
The seminar on Exploring East Asia Visual Culture, was an amazing learning expereince that I plan on sharing with my students and colleagues. One of my favorite presentations was the one by Professor Stanley Rosen on China's cinema and "soft power" which I now seems to find everywhere. Also, the presentation by Professor Bruce Coats on Japanese Kabuki Theater Prints. I noticed some similarities between the Japanese kabuki theater's and Ancient Greek plays, both used male actors to play female parts and bixesuality was acceptable by their socities. I will like to use everything that I learned in the seminar, yet realistically I will only be able to use the parts that fit within my units on Japan and China. This seminar was a great opportunity as a teacher and as person who loves learning about history, thank you Professor Dube and Catherine.
Juana EvinkI enjoyed professor's Dube presentation on colors, ramdom images and symbols.I think that one of the reasons why Mao's images are stilll round, is probably because he represents a symbol of the old great days for the farmers, peasants, and soldiers. Also, his further explanation of Chinese's soft power made it clear for me what it is. Now I see other countries' sof power everywhere, like Greece, there are a great number of cities name Athens or Olympia in the U.S.
Juana EvinkFriday's afternoon, visit to the Chinese-American Museum, was my first time. As I was walking around, I thought I should bring my students to come here on a field trip. As a 7th grade world history teacher, I teach a unit on China, and a visit to the museum will make China more relevant for them. I particularly liked that evrey sign is in Chinese, English, and Spanish. The Chinese-American experience is something that students today should be aware of.
Juana EvinkI'm the second from the right, wearing a white shirt. The visit to the Korean Cultural Center, was entertainning. I have been there before, yet everytime there is somethig new to see like the action figures. I think my students will greatly enjoyed a visit to the KCC, specially the K-Pop recording piece. My favorite part of the visit was the first floor gallery. I'm a history teacher, so history timelines are my favorite thing, and the art work was also great to see.
Juana EvinkProfessor Coats' presentation was definitely entertaining. I liked how he provided an introduction to Japanese's theater prints and paintings then ended up with manga and anime. I remember some of my students from last year mentioning that they like Anime. Most of them are familiar with Hello Kitty and Pokemon, I could use some of this as a way to make my unit on Japan more relevant for them. They often complaint that history is in the past, I want to change their view of history and show them ways in which the past influences the present. I will use some of the theater prints and paintings to show my students how impressive their accomplishment is, since Kabuki theater still being talked about and performed.
Juana EvinkToday's afternoon, presentation by Professor Rosen was full of great information and new concepts like "sof power." In his reading, he elaborates more on how Chinese's cinema has not being able to reach the same economic succcess in the U.S., that American films have in China. He describes how China is trying to device "new strategies that will make their cultural productions more attractive to Western consumers.." Yet, they want to limit the number of American films screened in China. One problem, that I think Chinese's films have is that most people outside of China doesn't speak mandarin, whereas most people in the world speak or atleast understand English, which helps American films to be successful in addition to their story lines and starts.
Juana EvinkIn this reading Professor Kenadall Brown goes more into detail about how postcars were a refelction of Japan's modernism, commerce and technological innovation. He writes, "Picture postcards are inextricably linked to modern consumer culture..."As I was reading this, I kept thinking how social media in the U.S.reflects American consumer culture, how we currently communicate, and interact with other people.
Juana EvinkToday's lecture on postcards and modern Japan by professor Brown, was very interesting, full of color, beautiful images, and new information. It's amazing how much the wolrd's technology has changed. In the early 1900s, postcards were the "it" thing in Japan. As professor Brown was going to his presentation, I was thinking how could I use this in my classroom, and how my students will be puzzled by postacards. I'm wondering if using postcards will be a good introduction to my unit on Medieval Japan. Possible if I want to focus on continuity and change?
Juana EvinkAfter yesterday's lecture by professor Yasar, the reading on Ozu made much more sense. There a sentence from the reading, that really resonated with me, and I have to say that I agree with the author. When people refers to "Ozuesce" it can be an "empty analytic tool..". Ozu is much more than that, yet one can't denied that some directors seem to have been influenced by Ozu like Kaeedra. Some of the same themes are visible like the forsahdowing of someone's death, family relations, and ofcourse trains.
Juana EvinkToday's morning lecture on Japanese cinema was interesting. I teach 7th grade world history, yet I could use some clips from Japanese film as a hook or to emphazise a point. I'm thinking of the scene from Tokyo Story, where the boy trows a tamtrum, I believe that my students can relate to that. Also, it will make the unit on medieval Japan more relevant to them.
Juana EvinkThis image shows foreigners touring China, they seem happy and taking photos. No one is bothering them, they seem to be welcome, hence the Chinese guy in the image. I noticed the color red is still prevalent in this image. The message, I think is that China is open to visitors, based on the smiles, hugs, and also different religions like Islam are ok. I guess this image is dated 1960s/70s.
Juana EvinkA group of people like workers, soldiers and farmer carrying Mao's little red book. They seem to be marching happily.The message seems to be that Mao will take good care of them. The color red is definitely at the center of the image as well as the little red book. Based on the heavy Mao/communism message , I think it is from the early 1950s.
