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AnonymousMaria Hernandez
Crocodile in the Yangtze, October 19, 2012 @ USC
Crocodile in the Yangtze is a film about dreams; it’s about the idea that if you have a dream and you work hard to attain it, your dream will become a reality. I think that as we get older, we become disillusioned and cynical about this idea, but this film reminded me that anything is absolutely possible.
The most fascinating part of Crocodile in the Yangtze, is its protagonist, Jack Ma. Jack had a dream of creating a distinctly Chinese Internet company that would compete against American heavyweights such as Yahoo and Ebay. After about a decade of ups and downs, Jack accomplished his goal because 1) he had a clear vision of what he wanted to accomplish, 2) he always stuck to his core values, 3) he kept his employees focused, 4) he worked exceptionally hard, 5) and he created a sense of community within his company.
One of the things that I admire most about Jack is his sense of humor, and the fact that he puts his customers and employees before investors. I hope money, power, and success do not change his core values.
edited by mhernandez on 10/23/2012
AnonymousMary Ann Parrille
Making up for the Saturday Session (Parts 1 and 2)
Make – Up Assignment #1 – Norton Simon Museum
I recently had the pleasure of taking my class on a field trip to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, CA. When most people think of the Norton Simon, they envision famous art pieces by Picasso, Van Gogh, and Matisse. But what they might not know is that the whole basement floor is dedicated to south Asian art. As a sixth grade teacher, part of my year in social studies is dedicated to ancient India and ancient China. Students learn the origins of Hinduism and Buddhism in India, and learn how Buddhism spread to China and eventually became a popular religion in that region of the world. This south Asian art exhibit met our standards and needs perfectly.
Upon arrival to the museum, our sixth graders were split into small groups, each with its own docent. My docent did a great job of making the kids feel comfortable in a rather sterile environment. He began our tour in front of a very large stone seated Buddha statue, and had the students sit cross-legged around it as if they were meditating like the Buddha. He then proceeded to have the kids act out the story of who the Buddha was and how he reached enlightenment. He used the statue to identify key symbols present on most Buddha statues: the elongated earlobes, the hand in the dirt, the cranial bulb. Afterwards, the kids loved identifying the Buddha statues throughout the museum.
The docent also spent a lot of time explaining some of the key gods and goddesses of Hinduism and some of the stories for which they are known. This was particularly helpful, as our textbook fails to go into great detail on this topic. The kids loved hearing stories about Shiva, Ganesh, and Vishnu.
This field trip is an example of how I use this resource to our benefit in the classroom. As an extension of what we learned at the Norton Simon Museum, I will have the students complete a project in which the compare and contrast Buddhism to Hinduism.
Make – Up Assignment #2 – Pasadena Pacific Asia Museum
The Pasadena Pacific Asian Museum is a great place to visit to learn about Asian geography, cultures, art, history, and more. I visited the museum on Sunday, October 21st, and the museum was hosting a multicultural entertainment experience. Visitors to the museum were treated to traditional ethnic dances from all over Asia, and were taught different skills such as block printing. I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the museum and seeing the old Buddha statues and other artifacts from the Pacific Rim.
One section of the museum that I really got a lot out of was a room dedicated to the history of the Silk Road. One of the standards of sixth grade social studies is to identify the Silk Road, understand how it worked, and know the items that were typically traded along it, so this room fit my needs perfectly. It explained how silk was made, the materials used, life on a caravan, items typically traded, and how ideas spread along the trade route. The room included a map of the trade route along with illustrated representations of trade items. It also had an area setup to look like a stop along the route in which students could sit and imagine themselves as traders.
As an extension of this field trip, I would have students create a diary in which they write from the standpoint of a trader traveling along the Silk Road. They would need to include the items traded, life along the trade route, ideas learned, and dangers they might have encountered.
AnonymousShumei Hall
Shumei Hall is a Shinto Bhuddist temple that doubles as an amazing concert hall and art gallery. The Shumei Arts Council was created in 1992 to promote arts and culture in Pasadena. Shintoism, as I learned from my visit there, is “the indigenous sspirituality of Japan and the people of Japan- a set of practices to establish a connection between present day Japan and the ancient past.” Walking into the hall gives you a sense of this. On one side of the space are three giant Taiko drums- on the other, a beautiful (hand-crafted, I’m told) Petrof grand piano- symbolizing the blending of eastern and western musical traditions that the Shumei Arts Council wish to promote through its’ mission statement: “to embody the harmony of diverse cultural expressions that is both Shumei’s goal and the American experience at its best. The beautiful, simple and modern sleek lines of the hall’s design add to its sense of purpose. The concert I attended was a selection of Dvorak’s pieces performed by students from USC’s Thornton School of Music.
Shumei Hall promotes it’s founder, Meishu-Sama’s healing practice of “jorei” – a healing art “that by focusing spiritual light gradually penetrates and dissolves spiritual clouds that cause physical, emotional and personal dilemmas”. Jyorei means “purification of the spirit”. In a handout text t is described as “the channeling of a spiritual energy or Divine Light to purify one’s spiritual body and awaken our divine nature”. There are classes held at Shumei Hall every month for those interested in learning more about the practice. They are non-denominational. Master Meishu-Sama, I learned from further research, was born in Tokyo in 1882, at a time when Japan was in the process of embracing the ideas , science, and technology of the West in an effort to “modernize”. Meishu-Sama borrowed ideas from the Taoist traditions and wove them into a philosophy that aims to “create a world of beauty”. There are three major areas that he instituted activities in to promote these ideals: Johrei (an art of “life”), nature farming and natural foods (agricultural art), and art and culture (art of beauty). Devotees of Master Meishu-Sama can learn about these principles through instructions that he left. I am hoping to attend an interfaith Thanksgiving celebration this week to learn more about this generous community.
Pacific Asia Museum
Although I am a Pasadena resident, it has been many years since I have gone to its’ Pacific Asia Museum. I was encouraged to return recently because of this class. It was also a good opportunity to visit with a student of mine from Korea and her family. There is a new Korean Gallery, described by our docent as "small but significant," "We have art representing Shamanism, Confucianism, and Bhuddism", the three major religions of Korea.
The museum is a former residence of Grace Nicholson a woman that had a large collection of Native American art and pottery and Asian art, as well. She hired architects to create a residence that had the feel of the Forbidden City in Bejing. She later donated the residence and the art collection to the City of Pasadena.
One particularly well-curated exhibit, I believe, is the Himalayan Gallery. There are many different Buddhas represented by China, India, and Korea. The museum has an extensive research library, containing more than 10,000 volumes about Asian history and art and is host to many lectures and events that center on East Asian art – well deserved in a community with an East-Asian population that is rapidly growing.
AnonymousA Visit to a Japanese Garden
For my make-up assignment, I decided to visit the Japanese Garden on the Campus of CSU Long Beach, what a delightful experience! I could not think of a better place for anyone who is tired, anxious or simply is looking for inner peace and time to meet with one’s one thoughts. It is a perfect place to reflect, relax and enjoy the beauty nature has to offer. The waterfalls in the lake, the sound of the birds, sitting in the Tea House are simply a perfect environment of calmness and serenity. I took so many beautiful pictures of the flowers, rocks, bridges, bamboo, sculptures as I strolled and did not feel like leaving.
The Japanese Garden is located on the campus of CSU Long Beach and was built through a donation from Mrs. Loraine Miller in honor of her late husband Earl B. Miller after whom the garden is named. It was dedicated in the spring of 1981. It serves as an outdoor classroom for several events and workshops. The garden is a hybrid that combines typical elements of Japanese garden in this beautiful Southern California location.
The garden is open to the public every day except for Saturdays and admission is free. The garden holds events throughout the year like origami, Japanese cloth folding, environmental issues and Japanese tea and desserts in an effort to expand the knowledge of Japanese culture. Schools visits can be scheduled by visiting the website at http://www.csulb.edu/~jgarden/education/edu.html.
I absolutely recommend this visit to everyone and to conclude I will just share the highlight of my visit which was the feeding of the Koi fish. Visitors buy can buy a small bag of their food at a machine and one can spend hours feeding them – they are so hungry that is a real spectacle to feed them. I took my daughter-in-law and her mom and we simply had the best time. (Pictures attached).
AnonymousSuzanne York
Make up session for 11/26
Last Saturday I attended a lecture given by Professor Lon Kurashige from USC at The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. It was a wonderful morning discussing many of the contexts and roots of the discriminations against all Asian immigrants. Professor set a template for his talk:
1. The “Oriental Problem”: Can Asians become American?
This question has roots back to times of the Gold Rush, when labor came to work in the mining fields and later laying down the Transcontinental Railroad. The leading edge of animosity grew from labor groups, as they thought that Asians would undermine their opportunities for jobs
2. The “White Problem: Can whites accept Asians?
What are they afrad of?
3. The “Agency” approach
Asians did all sorts of things to “lessen” their oppression. Some of the great examples of how Japanese-Americans dealt with this was shown in the museum’s section about internment. Our wonderful tour guide, Willi, 82 years old, told of his internment in a Colorado camp and the baseball team that he was on.
During a lunch break I was lucky enough to see one of the very things that Professor Kurashige mentioned in his lecture: The Nissei Queen and her court.
AnonymousMake up for Saturday Session Part 1.
Japanese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles. I visited the museum and was moved by the installments dedicated to life in the the camp. As I grew up on the island of Maui, I have always know about the camps and my step grandma is Japanese. But to actually see that this took place, here in America, that people were forced to live this way. It was shocking and emotional. I was saddened that America has the ugly history. After viewing this history, I was then taken by the kind docents to an oragami table where we were taught to make oragami cranes. I loved the detail of oragami and I think it would be good for my students to learn. Patience and following directions are vital parts of the oragami practice. I highly recommend a trip to the Japanese American Museum. Take the gold line and stop at Daikokuya for the best ramen in Downtown Los Angeles.
edited by tlentz on 1/2/2013
edited by tlentz on 1/2/2013
AnonymousMake up Saturday Session Part 2.
I visited the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. This museum will have your jaw dropping. Along with Van Gogh and Picasso, the museum has an extensive East Asian art collection. For me, the woodblock prints (which once belonged to Frank Loyd Wright) were my favorite. Hokusai has always held a special place to me. I love the details of waves in Japanese prints. Outside, the Japanese garden details the value the Japanese had in specificity and perfection. Along with the Japanese art, the museum is full of art influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism. There are both sculptures and paintings. A beautiful museum.
AnonymousMake up for December 17
While visiting family in Maui, Hawaii I took a visit to Iao valley and walked through Kepaniwai Park's Heritage Gardens which show Maui's diverse heritage with ethnic houses and gardens representing the Hawaiian, Portuguese, Japanese, Caucasian and Filipino cultures. The differences between the gardens and the houses were so interesting. As you could both compare and contrast the various cultures. I also noticed the influence of the different cultures upon the Japanese house as Clay had once mentioned it in class. The China garden with it's bold red and green colors versus the Japanese house with rice paper walls. Each culture distinct in it's own way. The class has impacted my thinking as I noticed so many more details.
edited by tlentz on 1/2/2013
AnonymousI attended the LA Chinatown Moon Festival 9/29/2012, which was the 74th annual celebration. The event was six hours long and admission was free. I stayed from 7:00pm to 10:30pm tasting new foods, watching intriguing performances, shopping the "mom & pop" stores, people watching, and soaking in a part of the fascinating Chinese culture. I started my fun learning experience at the main stage watching a moon cake demonstration and listening to the Chinese myth surrounding the holiday. The baker showed us the mold he used to make the cake with a lotus flower imprint. The beautiful Ms. Chinatown and her court passed out samples of the moon cake and I tried a small piece. The texture and taste were surprising to me because I am so used to American cakes. It tasted good and it was not excessively sweet. Following the demonstration/tasting, we watched two different martial artists' troops perform (Shaolin Martial Arts & Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do). I was fascinated by their athleticism and by some of the weapons that were so large and heavy. The last performer was an amazing acrobat from China named Sha Sha Luo. She was able to balance dozens of small drinking goblets on her nose and then eggs on long pegs protruding from her mouth. On top of all that, she was able to simultaneously hula hoop with her limbs!
After visiting the main stage, I watched a cooking demonstration in the Central Plaza. After watching the elderly Chinese man cook a type of meatball, the audience was able to taste them. They were very different from any meatballs I have ever tried and they had a very soft, wet texture. I followed the taste with more familiar food sold by the street vendors. I enjoyed the egg rolls, noodles, and chicken but I do not remember the Chinese names of the items I ate. I loved all the tastes, sights and sounds of the celebration. Hopefully next time I attend I will get to see the lion and dragon dance!
AnonymousI visited the Pacific Asia Museum and I was absolutely in awe to see the exhibit of the Kimonos in the 20th Century and all the history behind them. I learned so much because for me a Kimono was just a beautiful piece of wardrobe but the changes that they have undergone are filled with history.
AnonymousThe first exhibit that I visited was the Japanese House and Gardens at The Huntington Library. This garden and house has been at the gardens since 1912 and was brought over by Henry Huntington due to his interest in the East. Along with a traditional house, one can find a Koi filled pond and a Bonsai garden. This garden teaches us about Japan's landscape traditions, along with a nice way to spend an afternoon.
In addition to The Huntington, I also visited the Pacific Asia Museum. Having grown up in Pasadena, this was the first visit for me to the museum. It provided many artifacts from around Asia. I saw many religious artifacts from around the area. I really enjoyed the Chinese section of the museum, which contained a variety of Jade objects. They showed items relating to Confucian and Daoist Themes. It had a display that explained the China's "Art of Revering our Elder's" that connected with Confucius' philosophy. The museum contained quite a bit of art from all over Asia, that I believe my students would enjoy seeing.
AnonymousI went to the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. The Frank and Toshie Mosher Gallery had a special exhibit on the Kimono in the 20th century. My students and I have started to read many books that have an East Asian emphasis. One concept that we often narrow in on is the similarities and differences of our cultural. Dress is one that often stands out as we focus on the illustrations of the stories. Taking the students to this exhibit would provide great visuals for our discussions. The exhibit states that the shape and form of the Kimono has not changed drastically over the last hundred years. However, the style has become more modern as the kimono textile patterns and color change. The deigns of Kimonos have always reflected the times. In the early mid-20th century, Kimono textiles showed styles involving Art Nouveau, Constructivism, and Art Deco. Later on, during the post war era, the jazz style impacted the design of the kimono. Eventually, the tall price of the kimono kept people from wearing them often. There was a short return of wearing the kimono often during the 1950s and 1960s, but now they are used almost exclusively for familial or traditional use. Today the Kimono is worn on New Year's Day, ceremonial days marking life passages, at graduations, marriages, retirements and funerals. Studying kimonos would be an interesting and comprehensible focus of study for my second grade students. This exhibit would be wonderful for them to experience.
AnonymousMake up assignment for 10/22/12.
My trip to the Chinese American Museum was with a group of students that truly enjoyed the experience. It’s located on Olvera Street right next to the historic firehouse. The entrance is in an unassuming location, but once you enter, you are greeted by an array of color and detail that serves to bring you into a world of history and struggle that has been left out of much of our history.
The museum is divided into several sections that serve to bring various experiences to light. One area shows how Chinese immigrants coming into the U.S. had to overcome legal, physical, and cultural obstacles. There is a strong emphasis on artifacts and simulated environments to depict what places such as Chinese herbal stores were like in the early 20th century.
Walking up stairs, visitors are able to get a glimpse of examples of Chinese influence in the film industry in the U.S. There are several movie posters that show films with stereotypical Asian characters as well as more well respected actors and well-known productions. The museum also makes an effort to represent the role of Chinese American politicians, architects, and business leaders in the U.S. I definitely recommend visiting this museum either on your own or with your students.
E. Leyva
edited by eleyva on 1/16/2013
edited by eleyva on 1/16/2013
AnonymousOn Saturday, January 12th, I visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). During my visit, I examined Chinese paintings from the Yuan and Qing dynasties. Although I had seen pictures of these landscape paintings in textbooks, I was amazed by the actual works of art. These landscape paintings are absolutely amazing. When I stared at them, I felt this peace and calmness.
Rob_Hugo@PortNWDear Colleagues,
Please post your make up assignments below. To make it easier for me to log, you can just "reply" to this thread with
Your make-up post can be about the following:
Thanks! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Best,
Yingjia