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Tara CorralHi Guadalupe, I agree that much of the Korean War is forgotten in the United States. I know that I had no knowledge of the Korean War or that their was even a Korean War prior to this class. I wonder if that's because our classes have a lot to teach or do they not care to teach the information that is sensitive or a bit uncomfortable. I think taking field trips to the "Friendship Bell" or the monument for Comfort Women in Pasadena would be a good eye opening experience for many students and to get them thinking about the world further outside our world and Europe. I also agree changing the word from sex slaves to comfort women does take away some of the seriousness that is or should be associated with the term. I would say that my first thought upon hearing the term was that it was a service preformed on their own will. I think the term should be changed.
Tara CorralI was reading Brigids response about comfort women and how both countries did not want to acknowledge the events because of the same it had brought on to them. Now it was mentioned that we are still fighting for women's rights and thats a point i would like to get back too. Maria and Serece continue to talk about it and I'm curious how Dutch women were incorporated into it as well. What i am caught on is why rape, and brothels seems to shameful to admit too while other acts of war is easier to admit. I think that should explain the thoughts of most of the people who participated and knew about it. They don't see a problem and are ashamed that they need to say it is wrong. I don't know but it rubs me the wrong way to know that this they struggle with admitting and taking credit for.
Tara CorralI like the concepts that Brigid and yourself, Katherine, bring up about Christianity/Catholicism in Asian Countries. I am curious maybe about having students reflect on the differences between how these religions play a role in Asian households to American households. I wonder if women here experience the same feeling or feel that their religion is just as an opening experience. I question because I know that the roles can change here and actually keep more women locked away.
Tara CorralHi Cynthia,
I like the question that you posed in your second paragraph about the US pulling out of Korea during these protest. I think thats really interesting that you posed it as the US being uncomfortable with state sanctioned violence but I believe it may have been the opposite. I think its because the US was experience similar events in the states where the population was beginning to disagree with the violence and side with protestors that the US backed out. I think they saw a similar situation where in they knew they could not win against the mass of people and they backed out when it was safe to do so. I'm not sure but it seems more accurate to not lose be humiliated on two fronts
Tara CorralI love this idea of looking into K-Pop and the culture of K-Pop and creating a research paper. When I was completing my Undergrad I took an English course that asked me to choose a music video and examine the message. I think you could do a comparison research paper where students can compare a K-Pop music video to American Music Artists. It could be a broad prompt where students can choose the comparison for their article such as Ethics, Beauty Standards, Music Statements and Pressure to name a few. It would be great option because if students aren't comfortable with K-Pop they can choose an artists they like as well.
Tara CorralI think in Clayton's article it mentions that Claude Monet first came across ukyio-e prints as wrapping paper which later inspired his interest and his artwork. I think that could be a great concept even for an Art Class, It would take some time to research what items the US considers disposable and what countries reuse those materials or vice versa. It would make for a great asssignment where students become aware of their own trash and the possibilities of upcycling. I'm trying to think of some examples such as Chip Bags, Plastic Bags, Bottles but i wonder if their is anything uniquely American that studeents could incorporate.
Tara CorralIt is incredibly fascinating the amount of work that they can put in ito those wood block prints. If I'm correct for every choice of color there is a new woodblock print that needs to be carved and set to perfectly match with the first print. I've worked with High School students carving Linoleum for a printing design, and I can tell you that my students struggled so much. First understanding that what is carved away will be left blank as well as what is left behind will carry the color. I wanted to say though your choice of Wood Block print is gorgeous choice and looking at Claytons article we can see how much it influenced European Artists like Mary Cassatt who created her own rendition of the painting continuing those elegant lines and simple colors.
Tara CorralI like the first image on the blog. Its a blue print which depicts three men on a roof either repairing the roof or creating more kites to fly in the air like the two next to them. Mount Fuji is in the background and the buildings appear with signs hanging on the sides similar to how stores advertise their signs/logos. I feel like this might be considered industrialization woodblock print because of the working men and appearance of the buildings. I linked to website because it seems to be a good read as well and focuses on different sub-genres of Ukyio-e and a bit of information on the famous artists Hokusai.
Tara CorralYes I didnt think about that bringing more desks and chairs could illustrate how cramped it could appear. I think that could also work the other way by asking half the students to sit out and look at the cost of populations reducing. How do countries/cities to be more exact, reacte to same amount of buildings and structures but less people to run those buildings. Or what happens to is their an excessive amount of trash or build up because there are now less people. Thank you for the great idea!
Tara CorralI really like your idea as well how Esther said we should be teaching students Chinas history of Opium. I am not sure you are looking at it this way but maybe also look at it on who benefits by the US addiction to drugs. I think thats a great idea to look at how one group of people could benefit from our war on drugs. Not to be a person who believes in conspiracies theories but it would be great for students to begin scrutinizing their own country and learning information on their own.
Tara CorralI was chosen as a Self Strengthener, for that i took an extra look at the article about Li Hongzhang and his life in the movement. Li Hongzhang was able to during the Taiping Rebellion with his father in a local militia. He was focused on bettering the nation and by doing so wanted to mordernize his country. I'm sure he was looking to other countries in the west especially the United States as well as Japan. The rate that Japan was modernizing was alarming to Li as they had made huge advancements. Li had also looked at the governments military power and wanted to create a stronger more powerful army but his efforts went unheard. Which may have been one of the reasoning why China lost Korea to the Japanese around 1876. Later on they also lost Vietnam to the French. Li took the brunt of those failures despite all his efforts to strengthen China and make it equal to the powers in the west.
Tara CorralI was chosen as a Self Strengthener, for that i took an extra look at the article about Li Hongzhang and his life in the movement. Li Hongzhang was able to during the Taiping Rebellion with his father in a local militia. He was focused on bettering the nation and by doing so wanted to mordernize his country. I'm sure he was looking to other countries in the west especially the United States as well as Japan. The rate that Japan was modernizing was alarming to Li as they had made huge advancements. Li had also looked at the governments military power and wanted to create a stronger more powerful army but his efforts went unheard. Which may have been one of the reasoning why China lost Korea to the Japanese around 1876. Later on they also lost Vietnam to the French. Li took the brunt of those failures despite all his efforts to strengthen China and make it equal to the powers in the west.
Tara CorralI think another thing you and your students could explore is Japanese Folklore, yokai, and the artwork associated for them. The Japeanese have an extensive list of yokai some created long before the Edo period but others created during that time. I think it would really insterest the students to see the types of monsters that were created from their beliefs, understanding and culture. Now this art isn't as pretty as the art in the national gallery but I think its important to help understand of their beliefs.
Tara CorralOne of my biggest struggles as a Itinerant Visual Art Teacher was just how much my students are eager to waste. I am hoping to learn new ways to help reduce my classrooms impact on the enviornment. Imagine a class of K-5 with watercolor paint. Their is overflowing water, running water, emptying and refilling of water as well as just so much paper towel use. Those are my most stressful days but I would love to have my students more aware especially because we are in California. I hope change my students way of thinking by having them focus reduce, reuse and just being careful and thoughtful.
Tara CorralSo I read your response about creating a lesson that foucses on looking at problems concerning fresh water and Cynthia's response about how to expand that lesson by looking at Yellow River. I really liked the way both ideas focus on how water is important role in our society and how it can affect civilization. It has given me an idea to look at the stats of how some of the biggest cities irrigate fresh water to large populations. Students can learn just how important and how much water we use as one of the biggest cities. I imagine working with 4th/5th grade and have them study maps of different cities as well as articles on how they try to save/reuse fresh water. A standard for Visual Art is create drawings that represent real life, and it would be a great idea to have kids draw fictional maps based on a paper granting them a specific amount of water and population. At the end of the assignment students can see how their maps accomadated those restrictions.
