Magazines

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

The March/April 2008 Sotheby's Preview has some great pictures and articles about Chinese Art. A wonderful oil picture of The Forbidden City is included with a story about the artist, Guo Bochuan. Guo went ot China in 1937 to teach and while in Beijing painted some of his best work. Unfortunately, most of his work from that time was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and "Forbidden City" is one of the few paintings to have survived. For an estimated price tag of $3,800,000-$5,100,000, I wouldn't mind having this painting hanging in my house. This is just an example of one of the collections mentioned in the magazine. Other pictures of collections include ceramics such as "The Vase of the Jade Garden". I encourage you to find this magazine. Lots of pictures and history included.
Jewell Lee Toombs

[Anonymous]

The Feb. issuie of National Geogrphic has a beautiful article on Matsuo Bashho, the master of the Japanese haiku, titled "On the Trail of a Ghost." Each year in my LA 8 class, we do a month long unit on poetry. Unfortunately, we have to revert an old literature series to find a sample of haiku; fortunately it is by Basho. This magazine article will definitely enrich that lesson. First, it has beautiful full page illustrations interpreting the poem with the facinig page giviing the haiku in both modern English and Mandarin characters, along with a short narrative interpretation. This would help students understand that a haiku is"like a polished stone that, when dropped in water, creates an infinity of ripples." The article also offers needed and interesting background on Basho whose personal history is quite fascinating. He has been described as a "bohemian sage, outsider artist, consummate wayfarer, beatific saint, and above all a poet for all ages."

[Anonymous]

There is a great kids' magazine out right now through Time for Kids publications. It is called Time for Kids: Around the World, and this month it focuses on China. I received the magazine itself as a bonus with my regular Time for Kids subscription and it is an 8 page magazine about many aspects of China including the following:

a day in the life of a Chinese child
China Fact File
Fun Facts including one of the Olympic mascots
a map activity
a graph about the tallest mountains
information about the flag
a legend about how the Chinese calendar animals were chosen
Chinese language
Kites, their history and symbolism
Photos of the Terracotta Warriors, The Great Wall, and Shanghai

It's a great resource if you are working on planning your China unit, as most of the information is not time sensitive and could be used again and again each year. I'm going to order a set for my class and just reuse them each year.

The teacher guide for the magazine, which includes suggested activities and worksheets, can be found at:
timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers

Click on the issue for April 18. Choose grade 2-3 or 4-6. Under the magazine icon (the magazine cover has nothing to do with China) click on "teacher's guide and worksheets". Scroll to the last 2 pages for the China ideas. The worksheets are different for the different grade levels and either would be appropriate for third grade.
[Edit by="ssmith on Apr 18, 2:06:29 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

The current issue (May '08) of National Geographic is all about China. The Environment section has a short article about "desertification"- land degradation caused primarily by human activities. There have been efforts to curb this (for expample, making a greenbelt) that seem to be working, but more is needed. There is a video on the children's National Geographic website that is about the same topic.

Some other articles are: the environmental effects of building the Three Gorges Dam; statistics on the one child policy and the effects of that policy in today's China; Mao now; China's exports; and a lot about pollution.

There are a few good longer articles, but most of the topics in this special edition are given one page, which makes it easy to read in pieces.

[Anonymous]

I've enjoyed the National Geographic Magazine's Special Issue called China: Inside the Dragon. I really like the info. about the olympic torch--I didn't know a special torch was designed to go up Mount Everest--a torch that would stay lit at low oxygen levels. I also liked the map of the Great Wall of China--especially when the length is superimposed on the US map. It is so long that it would span from Denver to Washington DC.

I thought the issue steered clear of controversies. There was no discussions about torch protests or human rights abuses.

Also famous authors Peter Hessler and Amy Tan have articles. This was fun for me to see.

[Anonymous]

The world's most influential 100 people have been chosen by Time Magazine recently. Three important leaders on two sides of Taiwan Strait are all on this list. They are Dalai Lama, Hu Jintao, and Ma Ying-jeou. Three writers give great introductions to these three important leaders. The world is also watching three of them that how they are going to use their wisdom to find a way to work together so they will shape the destiny not only of their own nation but also of an entire region. I really hope that they will find a win-win situation for all people in these three places: Tibet, China, and Taiwan.

The website of 2008 Time 100: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1733748,00.html

[Anonymous]

I have the newest National Geographic and the photos of China are amazing. I read that China grows more rapeseed crops than any other country. China is hoping that there will be a biodiesel boom and the demand for it will grow even larger. That would mean an even bigger financial boom for China. Not only will they be manufacturing everything, they will own the power supply possibly.

[Anonymous]

One of the things I love is archaeology. Apparently, as found in May issue of National Geographic, during the building for the Olympics, many buildings and homes were torn down. They found thousands of relics- including gold jewelry, masks and elephant tusks used in rituals- almost 3000 years old. Wow. A lot of looting was going on at the time, so unfortunately, much of it was lost.

[Anonymous]

Sue, I agree; the new May special issue "Inside the Dragon" of the National Geographic is beautiful.
As always with this magazine the photos, graphics, charts, maps and articles are of the highest caliper. I was particularly intrigued by the large fold out map. It wasn't until studying it that I realized how exotic and out-of-the way our trip to Lijiang was last spring. I know many of us thought this remote city was the highlight of our fabulous trip. On the flip side of the map is an incredible diagram of the Forbidden City which I could also have used on our trip. It was hard to visualize it in person with the tourist crowds around.

[Anonymous]

This magazine is published in Chinese-English Bilingual monthly. I read one of the articles January 2005“Time to Move On? Taiwanese Firms in the Pearl River Delta.” The article indicated that Taiwanese entrepreneurs invested their money in Dongguan since 1990. It brought the Pearl River Delta the fastest growing region in mainland China. The manufacturing industry is growing; so many service-industry businesses are growing too. However, in 2004, Taiwanese business people faced labor shortage problems because rural people were going back to their farmland. In the article the author quoted Chao said “Manufacturing firms will begin to move their operations inland. But secondary processing will remain in the Pearl River Delta, because it is easier to export from there.”

[Anonymous]

Has anyone read the cover story from National Geographic from this month?
There is a great map of the Forbidden City with a map of China of the back. I recommend this article to all teachers at all levels.
Michael Wanmer

[Anonymous]

The timing of National Geographic's China: Inside the Dragon edition was perfect for me! I am currently reading Red Scarf Girl with my 4th period (Chinese Language Learners) and we are going through the magazine looking for the long-lasting effects of the Cultural Revolution and Mao on China today. The students have become quite astute in recognizing what would not have been acceptable in that ten year period from 1966-1976 (e.g. superstitions, traditions, old customs). Since they are learning the language, they found this fact interesting: "Authorities have added 171 new pop culture phrases to China's national language registry." I particularly enjoyed the following, "Beijing enforces a one-dog policy that prohibits pets more than 14 inches high."

[Anonymous]

I was recently sent a sample copy of "Read" magazine, which features pieces of writing for students to read and answer questions about. One of the stories featured was the autobiographic piece by a Korean American female called, "Kim Chee and Yellow Peril" by Jenny S. Kim. In this piece she explores the difficulty of being stuck between Korean and American cultures, with neither truly accepting her fully. Her family teased her for her American ways and kids at school saw her as different being from Korea. I've heard similar discussions when I took a class in college about Chicano culture, and classmates spoke of a similar pull and resentment from either culture. It seems like an interesting piece to read with classes and have a discussion.

[Anonymous]

Loved a recent blurb in W (April 2008).
Big money luxury not going away, even though economy sinking faster than the Titanic. Euros and other currencies funding Chinese luxury brands – according to the article--this extreme marketing is taking luxury fashion all over the world.
Bigger is better in China, says Fendi CEO Michael Burke. Fendi's recent runway spectacle on the Great Wall cost 10 million, a smart move as investors on Wall Street looking toward other, emergent markets.

We have customers in the far reaches of he Sichuan Province, Burke tells W. magazine (April, 2008).

Fascinating!

[Anonymous]

another thing on the W article regarding big luxury in China:

Professor Fan's comments on China and "glamour" — the image of China today as portrayed in the media—is an interesting juxtaposition to Fendi's recent Great Wall fashion show.

With China as the Sweatshop of the World, the world's factory, says Fan, it is important to consider the plight of millions of migrant workers making and serving.

Comparing Fendi's 10 million dollar extravaganza with the lives of the average peasant demonstrates the strength of China's capitalistic grasp.

One wonders: what would the Chairman think?

[Author]

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