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AnonymousHello there! I have missed the last two sessions, but I did find this interesting article on pollution in the Shanghai's Rivers. So scary. I found it interesting. http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/08/whats-in-shanghais-rivers-this-week-try-500-lbs-of-dead-fish/?hpt=hp_t5
AnonymousThe lecture was very interesting. It caught my attention the fact that Mao's widow was taken to trial after his death. So Mao was and is a very important figure of Chinese history, but at the same time he was a clear example of how a hero can fall from grace. Even though he was until his last days the symbol of the Chinese revolution, he was also a sore on his enemies' side because he was impatient and most likely was thinking about all the things he wanted to accomplish before his departure, or maybe he was just another leader whose power went to his head. Either way, his cultural revolution and the young people he encouraged to rebel against the elders was a step back for the country because it was left with inexperienced working forces and it served only to settle scores between young people and their elders who might acted too strictly against them. As I was listening to Dr. Dube's lecture, it came to my mind a scene on the movie "To live" where the daughter of the main characters is about to deliver her baby and the only people available to help her are young, inexperienced nurses that have no idea what they are doing and when the delivery gets complicated they don't know how to act, but they do know not to allow the experienced doctor in. During this last lecture a great deal of the movie took into a different meaning for me because now, I am able to understand in a clearer way the story behind the movie and make connections with my new knowledge. I will be able to use this information for my classes. Great lecture!!! 
edited by chernandez on 4/10/2013
AnonymousI was also interested in the information about the souring of Mao's image and his wife's imprisonment after his death. I believe that these are cases of revisionist history and hindsight being 20/20. The passage of time has a way of allowing people to reflect on events and allowing the same people to re-evaluate their original opinions. It is highly likely that people who suffered negative consequences at the outcome of events such as The Great Leap Forward or The Cultural Revolution caused sympathetic reactions of others who lived through the same events. The studies and discussions of the outcomes of these events surely played a role in the de-popularization of Mao's image. This was also evident in the settling of scores that many young people had against the older generation of those who may have been responsible for the events of those who suffered. Unfortunately, revenge is a powerful and negative influence that can result in harsh punishments for those who were affected by these events. The imprisonment of Mao's widow is another example of the settling of scores. She unfortunately had to survive to become the scapegoat for unpopular public opinion.
AnonymousImperialists have an advantage over revolutionaries. They can send their children to the best schools and mould the next generation of leaders to be loyal and efficient. An elite educated class can manipulate the means of production to perpetuate their wealth and privileges for as long as they can manipulate or subjugate the riff-raff. Revolutions appeal to the masses by reversing the power structure. But then you get the mob involved in government, less educated, emotional, vindictive, inexperienced. A personality of cult-worthy status might guarantee the continuation of a revolutionary movement. A spirit of idealism might sweep across the nation and a new clique will emerge to assume the mantle of power. But what has been the training or previous experience of the new captains? A military background, disciplined thuggery? Workers and peasants, a fresh enthusiasm for the new advantages to come, but not necessarily bestowed with the skills to manage.
The Maoist revolution made great strides, created great waves, some good, some not so much. We learned about many movements accompanied by many mistakes, poor judgment leading to some big catastrophes. So I am drawn to wonder at just how ready were the new leaders to be responsible for the well-being of over half a billion people? Were they adhering to a strict idealogical code, a constitution, or were they desperately experimenting with whatever measures they could find to maintain power? And now that a new elite class emerges in the People's Republic, to which interests do they profess to serve? Liberty, equality and fraternity or profit growth and more profit?
AnonymousI was really interested in learning about Mao and The Cultural Revolution. It got me wondering how I was going to be able to use this information in my own classroom as an English teacher. Then, I came across this book, Red Scarf Girl. The book is about a girl during the cultural revolution. Here is the description on Amazon:
In 1966 Ji-li Jiang turned twelve. An outstanding student and leader, she had everything: brains, the admiration of her peers, and a bright future in China′s Communist Party. But that year China′s leader, Mao Ze-dong, launched the Cultural Revolution, and everything changed. Over the next few years Ji-li and her family were humiliated and scorned by former friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They lived in constant terror of arrest. Finally, with the detention of her father, Ji-li faced the most difficult choice of her life.
As you can see this fits in perfectly. Has any other English teacher tried to teach this?
AnonymousThis was another interesting lecture. It made me want to take an entire class, or at least a few weeks, on Mao Zedong because there is so much information to gather and so many questions I have. It is hard to shove 30 years into 3 hours. However, I felt I gained a lot of information and the professor did a good job of giving pretty detailed descriptions of each of the major periods of Zedong’s reign and the importance of each aspect. Specifically, I am going to research more about how the transition occurred from promising and giving the farmers the land and then taking it under control of the state. I also want to investigate more about the cultural revolution and how the government (or parts of it) tried to manipulate and control peoples perspectives and thoughts.
AnonymousGreat lecture, as always. Like most of us we are appalled by unmitigated, unrestricted, etc. power whether in our country or in other places. This example of social and cultural experimentation after a revolution is to say the least appalling to us, today. However, to those farmers change/revolution was good. We see an excellent example of government owning the land, resources, etc. under the pretext that they are doing this for the people, when in fact they themselves want to control the resources in order to control the people. As the readings state, people were motivated and ready to execute Mao’s wishes. Interestingly enough, these same people who “thank the party” for the land, cannot leave the countryside to seek a better life in the city as the census states. Since Mao’s death, these things have changed and progress as the revolution intended is starting to happen despite the Communists Party’s efforts during the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward. However, we are talking about thousands of years of culture and mindset that cannot be changed in a generation or two. Change is hard, but possible. Maybe Mao saw this as he played realpolitik with Nixon in the 1970s. The changes and benefits cannot be ignored such as the “Barefoot doctors”, K-8 education, and the development of atomic weapons. Nevertheless, was it worth the price millions of people paid or suffered? Has the proverbial, need of the many outweigh the need of the few, been put upside-down here for the sake of the rest of the nation?
When given a chance to vote, vote! So learned the Soviets. It is interesting how the DPRK had combat experience after the Japanese occupation/war and the civil war and were not able to dislodge the South Koreans, Americans, and UN forces from Pusan (Busan). In addition, if the MacArthur had heeded the Chinese “messaging” history would have had a different outcome that maybe today we would not be dealing with its effects.
In the classroom, these lessons lend themselves to various activities. Breaking up the room into Communists and Nationalists and have the students sort out the future of China. Agree or disagree with the family and land policies instituted after the revolution and explaining why. What would have been the ramifications if these policies would have been left in place such as the so-called one child policy? On and on. Finally, showing the movie clips to students would present a then and now perspective.
edited by mcastillo on 4/12/2013
AnonymousI found it interesting that the Chinese government created a mausoleum for Mao and that a lot of people I seem to still revere him, but that they also prosecuted his wife and gang of four.
Each year, my students write comparative essays of the Communist Revolution in Russia vs China. The majority always note the similarities in the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution with Stalin’s Five-Year Plans and Great Purges.
I look forward to learning more about the current economic state of China.
AnonymousI was thrilled that last week's lecture was on Mao. I began discussing the Chinese Civil War today and will continue covering it next week. I am taking this course because I need to increase my content knowledge on topics concerning Asia, and I definitely feel confident enough to answer student questions after this lecture. In addition, students love it when you give them little "nuggets" of information that aren't necessarily on the content standards but will help them remember the topic. They were very interested to learn that Mao's wife was arrested shortly after his death and that she was tried along with others.
AnonymousBleak as it is, I was fascinated by Mao's embalming. The practice of preserving and displaying the bodies of these dictators and totalitarians is especially interesting to me because it is set in such marked contrast to what many Americans would likely first think of in relation to a dead body indefinitely on display for the world to see: the princess Snow White. In the classic fairy tale, Snow White, who is betrayed and killed, is judged to be too beautiful to put underground, so her friends build her a coffin of glass so that all may admire her beauty and goodness even in death. When it comes to leaders like Mao and Lenin, it is not beauty or purity that is admired, but instead power, or supposed wisdom and a cult of personality. These men are considered gods in a sense. Yet, unlike the incorruptible saints, their decay was all too certain, so science had no choice but to take steps to ensure their physical longevity.
A photographic guide to the world's embalmed leaders:
More information about the incorruptible saints:
AnonymousI have to start by saying that the more that I learn about China through this class, the more I realize that I just don't know much about China's history. I knew of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, but the extent of the details that we got, I did not. The "holy trinity" of China's vision, worker/peasant/soldier and in that order is fascinating. The fulfillment of the land reforms was essential that Mao wanted to show the people he was the man to deliver, but obviously it didn't happen. Out of desperation, he rushed the land reforms which pretty much led to the unraveling of the regime. Goes to show that no matter what government is in place, whether it's democratic or not, there needs to be a fulfillment of the promise that got them into power. When Mao realizes it isn't going to happen, it turns disatrous for everyone.
I like that several of you have pointed out that just how unprepared the leaders are when a revolution occurs to assume control. rjessel, you bring up some good points that I have to agree with, then I think of Kim Jon Un and North Korea, and whether he is really prepared to lead the country. Maybe he is trying to get the west to invade N. Korea, so that the west would be responsible for reconstruction and redevelopment much like post-war Japan. Sorry, that's the conspiracy theorist in me. Another bleak reminder about in N. Korea. Sorry that I got off topic:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-lousy-life-north-korea-135740771.html
Again, I am amazed at just how much is going on in such a short time. I wonder if Chinses students feel this way when they study American history. Loved the Japan lectures last year and looking forward to Sat.
AnonymousDuring this session, I was able to learn more about Mao Zedong’s reign. I like learning about China’s history and the power he had to establish the People’s Republic of China. Moreover, I thought that his upbringing was very interesting and his early influence of the Xinhai revolution. His father’s story of improving his impoverished condition is reflected in Mao’s rise to political power. Moreover, I found the topic of the little red book to be very interesting. This book had an important effect on the culture of China and built a strong fellowship of Mao followers. The book was a form of propaganda once it was being published for the masses and many books were formatted in smaller pocket-size books in order for people to carry the book with themselves and refer to any quotations or teachings as they deem necessary and appropriate for the situation they faced.
Moreover, I am working on my lesson and I am tying the concept of North Korea and the novel 1984. This week I showed a National Geographic documentary entitled: Inside North Korea. I had the students make comparisons between the film and the book. Students were impressed by the number of similarities that they were able to make. My next step is to begin working on a persuasive essay and for them to create a propaganda poster.
edited by dcoronel on 4/13/2013
AnonymousI am now very intrigued by the ability of the leadership to create the hysteria that lead to the destruction of the cultural revolution. I am especially interested in this in light of the the fact that the early reforms were such obvious disasters. As a government, how do you maintain/develop that level of fanaticism in light of such obvious policy failures? It reminds me of all the many examples of this throughout history -- the salem witch trails, McCarthyism, Khmer Rouge, so many others through out history. Yet, obviously, people thought they were doing the right thing.
I was also amused by the discussion of Red Dawn -- our own cultural paranoia.
A while ago, I read Anchee Min's Memoir "Red Azalea." This was a great book about the a young woman who lived through many different phases of the cultural revolution. It is great for giving the reader an inside look at what many were going through at that time. Highly recommended for teachers.
AnonymousThe property surveys conducted by the Chinese government on individual land owners as a means of control reminds me of what the USDA is currently doing to our nations' farmers. Its interesting to see history repeat itself in the form of covert government operations to gain control of land and to monitor its citizens and their private property in greater and greater detail.
edited by dsalama on 5/24/2013
AnonymousSession #9: Mao
As I look back at my notes from this evening I am reminded of how Professor Clay started his lecture. He used a great tool to get our attention or activate prior knowledge. He asked us, “What is Civil Rights?” Starting a unit with a question can be an effective strategy to really get students’ attention. I think this made for a smooth transition into the lecture on Mao. I enjoyed listening about the Social Order of 1. Workers, 2. Peasants, and 3. Soldiers. I found it surprising that not until 1953 there was no marriage law. I wonder how marriage worked prior to this?