Reflections on Session #1 (10/2)

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the professor's lecture and visual presentation immensely. As a Latin Americanist I appreciate his connection to the Venezuelan election to reveal the growing power and influence of the PRCs foreign policy and outreach. I would like to learn more about its financial influence in Europe, such as the bail outs given to Greece, Italy, and Spain. I will soon post a review of Ted Koppel's People's Republic of Capitalism, a four part documentary on the rapid social, political, and economic development of the world's largest nation.

[Anonymous]

Workers of all countries, unite!
This is the first exhortation of my little red bilingual book of quotations from the Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. So I will begin my account with just the one quote from the Chairman himself, chosen by me after little browsing: "Diligence and frugality should be practised in running factories and shops and all state-owned, co-operative and other enterprises. The principle of diligence and frugality should be observed in everything. This principle of economy is one of the basic principles of socialist economics. China is a big country, but she is still very poor. It will take several decades to make China prosperous. Even then we will still have to observe the principle of diligence and frugality" (1955). Herein we find a cautionary tone against the unchecked growth, ruthless expansionism and plain greed that has brought rampant capitalism to its present crisis. To what degree do the current economic conditions within a modern thriving China pay heed to such insight from the not so distant past?

[Anonymous]

In reflecting on taking part two of this class, I find that my ears tend to perk up when I hear anything about Asia in the news. During the debate I noticed Romney mention that when U.S. decides to spend money on a new program that we essentially borrow from China alluding to the fact that China's finances our national debt when it buys U.S. government bonds. It seems simplistic to think of China as our creditor and even to think of their ascension unto the world's stage as a sign of America's waning influence in the world or as harbinger of bad things to come for us. China needs the U.S. and we need China. For better or for worse the world is connected in this giant economic web of interdependency. Our approach to China has to be nuanced, but when we decide to make them public enemy number one for something that we as a nation are responsible for then that would be unfortunate. As Dr. Dube went through many a clip, I was thinking about how China like the rest of the world enjoys certain aspects of American culture, but how much do we know about Chinese culture? It is in our nation's interest to learn as much as we can about their culture and transmit it to our students. There are direct and indirect ways to do this. In my case, when we study World History, we must learn about Imperialism in China, China's role in World War II and the Communist Revolution in China, but there have been other ways that I have found to integrate China into the curriculum. For example, when I was covering the Industrial Revolution I had my students compare working conditions in a 19th century factory in England to one in today's China. My hope is that this class will continue to give me good ideas that will be the basis for fufture lesson plans that will enrich my students' understanding of Asia.

[Anonymous]

Reflection # 1
It was an interesting class and I really enjoyed the topic. It was a revelation to see the way Chinese culture can be connected to almost any subject. I was in awe of the way China is influencing our society and economy. Such an ancient culture and with so much influence over the entire world. It makes me think of an analogy to the Phoenix bird. China came back from its own ashes and it is conquering the world, not with weapons, but with work. As soon as the class was over I began thinking about how much China is part of our lives and how little we know about this country. The professor is awesome and the snacks help too. I am looking forward to the rest of the seminar. Cheers.

[Anonymous]

I thoroughly enjoyed the Professor's lecture and the Geography/Demography packet as well. I actually used the first article, Don’t Bring Me Your Huddled Masses with my AP World History class. My students required to bring in a news story and show how a current event relates to a theme in world history which they can also connect to something we have or are currently studying. I used the article as an example. They were able to connect the article to xenophobia in classical China. I’m excited for the next seminar and hope to increase my overall understanding of Eastern Asia.

[Anonymous]

In watching Dr. Dube presenting video clips, I am reminded of how useful they can be in the classroom in order to solidify certain ideas in the minds of students. They can be analyzed as primary sources or used generate class discussions. They can be used to introduce a topic or help students understand abstract ideas. I recently visited my friend and colleague Ben's room while he was finalizing his lesson plan in oder to present at USC. I asked him what his lesson was about. He responded by singing the song, A cult of personality. I asked if he was using the song/video in his lesson and he said no. I was puzzled as to why not, but I managed to convince him to incorporate it in his lesson plan. We generated a few questions to go with the video and I think he will be using it. Below is an example of a video clip I have used when studying the Communist Revolution in China, more specifically the Cultural Revolution.

1. Why did the cultural revolution target religion? What replaced religion?
2. Initially Mao instructed his troops to destroy opposing ideas, not people. Over time, this message was ignored. Why?
3. How was public humiliation used as a weapon during in the Cultural Revolution? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

[Anonymous]

I had pieces of information about China. With great enthusiasm, Dr Dube painted a very helpful and interesting overview regarding current event taking place in east Asia. He put many of pieces of my puzzles together and I definitely want to dig more deeper to see bigger pictures.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed the first session. As anticipated, it brought new and unchartered understandings/discoveries about China for me. This is exactly what I'm looking for as a teacher as it will broaden my understanding of Asia, world politics, and cultural influences.

[Anonymous]

I definitely appreciate the informative and critical perspective presented to us throughout our first session. It is absolutely vital that we see both sides of any aspect of a country WITHIN THEIR CONTEXTS! It is extremely easy (not to mention infantile) when the U.S. brings up particular issues of other countries out of context when it is convenient for this country’s administration to do so, and I believe that this approach/perspective towards other countries that seek to be autonomous from such things as free-trade-policies, and “soft power” (a term I had not known previously) is one that trickles down to much of its population. This is why this country has the reputation it does of being arrogant. Of course, there is much to be critical of when studying China’s present, past, etc, as well as that of any other country. Again, however, it is just as important to realize though which lens it is that we are allowed to study this. I feel privileged to be lent this critical perspective by such an informed professor, and as contradictions are being exposed regarding other cultures, I am reminded of two things I have learned up to now: 1. the dominant voice of a country (whether that of the political or economic elite) does not always reflect that of the people of that country, and 2. In order to remain as objectively balanced as is possible in a subjective world, it is ever-important to remain critical not only on an external level, but on an internal level as well (in this case, in the context of studying a country’s recent history).

Thank you Mr. Jessel for the reference to the Little Red Book; one of the greatest ideological weapons used by one of the most important organizations in the history of the United States; the Black Panthers.

[Anonymous]

I was mesmerized with the rich visual short clips presented at the seminar's debut. I particularly like the vested interest and depth of knowledge our professor infused into the presentation, within the time constrains. The information presented in the 1st meeting not only expanded my perspective in the infinite ways I can bring China into my classroom, but increased my motivation to share these valuable resources and get my colleagues excited about incorporating teachings about Asia in their clasrroms. For example teaching about classroom behavior/conduct may include (time tested) Confucian teachings on how people need to behave and treat their elders/families and the obligation to teach by example. Math teachers can show (compare & contrast) the function of a Chinese abacus vs. the function of present day calculator/science teachers can discuss the process of making fire works, the life cycle of the silk worm, the wealth generated by China's global trade; silk, tea, etc. English teachers can talk about Chinese writing as a function and as an art form.

[Anonymous]

As I watched the videos of the Chinese government parades shown by Dr. Dube, I began to think about how totalitarian states reinforce their ideology through these massive parades. It seems that totalitarian leaders attempt to define themselves as the embodiment of the nation's will and lofty ideals. To perpetuate this impression, dictators like Mussolini, Hitler, Mao and Stalin all built strong "cults" around themselves, transforming public rituals into occasions for veneration, and constructing elaborate propaganda machines to keep their image constantly polished. By treating their leader as almost divine, totalitarian regimes ensured that the individual actions and policies of the totalitarian dictator were insulated from criticism. They conducted carefully staged rallies and military parades that were designed to display publicly the strength of the leader and his state. When we study the rise of totalitarian states, it would be a good idea to show these clips and have students think about the reasons why these rallies were conducted.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed Dr.Dube's highly informational conversation about East Asia. It made me think about how these countries are so different in what their history has been in compaision to the United States. Yet now we are so like one another. These countries have many of the same concerns we have- pollution, immigtation, finding jobs, all of us trying to live the best life we can in our now 21st century. I would like my students to be able to see those similarities. If they could talk to students from other nations they would see how much we are all alike.

[Anonymous]

It seems curious to me that whereas in Europe and North America, where the rapid rise of industrialisation in the nineteenth century should create the conditions allowing for the development of class consciousness among the emerging proletariat, that in turn would lead to a natural attraction to socialist and communist principles transcending national borders, a reverse process seems to have occured in China. Here, the Communist Revolution appears to be the cause and catalyst for the type of industrial growth that must ultimately lead to those same conditions that will engender a new frustrated, or exploited, or possibly empowered working class. Once the honeymoon with a new prosperity for some is inevitably confronted with the reality of massive social inequity, will the consequent series of social reforms be able to outpace movements seeking forms of democratic participation that will benefit the next incarnation of the proverbial masses. The appeal of the 1949 revolution may lie in primarily in the enthusiasm experienced by a burgeoning sense of national identity and autonomy. It took the Hundred Years War for this identification with national identity and patriotism to take root in England and France, a Revolutionary War for the United States, all tumultuous and violent times. I'll be keen to learn at what juncture historically the people of China became aware of being Chinese so to speak.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed the first session. It is amazing how little we know about what is really happening in China. Though I am not a history teacher, learning specific details about the region through the years, is really an eye opening experience. I am looking forward to more specific events that occurred in the past to be able to understand the present, specially around the relationship between the different countries.

[Anonymous]

I thought the class was going to be different, that we were going to be taught chronologically. I was wrong and glad that I was; I greatly enjoyed the lecture and how it developed into a thread. Even though I have taught history for many years, I felt like a novice in class. I want to learning and provide my students with an opportunity to learn about a country is part of the globalization of economies, cultures, etc. I am interested in learning about how influential is China and more specifically Asia in Latin America. I know that their is a large population of Koreans in Colombia, but I am not sure why that is or that came about.

[Author]

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