Response to Session 4

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

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[Anonymous]

What I found interesting about this session was when Dube spoke of the Japanese invasion and the atrocities that are only now coming to light. I am currently reading a book, "Shanghai Girls", which is fiction, but it actually brought this to my attention. In the book the women are raped and beaten over and over again. When they get to America (Los Angeles's China Town) they actually participate in boycotts of Americans sending goods and war materials to Japan and they participate in a China relief project. I looked this information up and it actually did take place.

http://oldchinatownLA.com/history.html

Another subject that seems to always catch my attention is the foot binding. I don't know why it is so fascinating to me, but it is. I have read about it in many books, but I had never seen a photo of a bound foot until two nights ago. It was very disturbing. I have to say that looking at photos of people with eating disorders are equally as disturbing though.

I also liked seeing the organization sceme of the People's Republic of China. I always wondered how they chose who was in the party. I also thought that everyone in China were part of the communist party.

[Anonymous]

This was probably my first experience learning about this time period in Chinese history. I have taught China in the middle ages now for three years so it was nice to finally learn how it all turns out! Among other things, I thought it was interesting to learn that only 6 percent of China is communist. I was always under the impression that in a Communist country like China, everyone is communist. (I told you I knew nothing about China after the middle ages.) I also didn't realize it was such intense work to be a member of the Communist party.

[Anonymous]

We have all heard about "foot binding" and the actual picture of the foot was a first for me. I like that the discussion included that it was an act of love. Parents did not do this as torture but as a way to success for their child. I think a good classroom discussion would include how women all over the world and in all times have "self mutilation" issues concerning "beauty." Today plastic surgery, anexoria, tattooring, are all examples of how we alter our bodies in ways to make us "more beautiful." I think we could talk about social norms and what is allowed/accepted in a various society. A good example is how different Moslem women express their views about the various levels of "covering their head" out of respect.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoy Clayton's lectures, and I get great doodles while listening. I am a ceramics teacher and am on the mailing list for Chinese Art Clay, which in conjunction with West Virginia University offer trips to China. I am including their information here:
Dear Students, Faculty, Friends and Colleagues,

West Virginia University and the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute offer unique Ceramic study
and travel opportunities during the Summer of 2010.

We still have spaces for participants in our Summer II Program(June 15-July 15) and
hope you can pass the site or information on to anyone who may be interested.

Our Summer II Program is a 6 credit program (3 Studio & 3 Art History, Grad or
Undergrad Credits) that spends significant amount of time working in our Studios at the
famed Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in Jingdezhen, China.

This program is geared for students, faculty, and anyone interested in Chinese Ceramics.

I appreciate any help you can give in spreading the word about these wonderful
opportunities.

Website: http://artanddesign.wvu.edu/international_programs/china_program

or contact me for more information.

Thanks,
Bob Anderson
Head, WVU Ceramics in China
Director, WVU-JCI International Ceramic Studios
Phone: 304-692-0777
[email protected]

[Anonymous]

Sorry for taking this long to write. We are on CST countdown and am looking forward to the end. My school was on the School Choice List...We have no choice but to make our API....

I also enjoy the sessions we have had. The foot binding issue always seems to bring out such deep passions in all of us, and I also agree that it was good of Clayton to mention that it was an act of love. I'm not sure if it was in our readings or in subsequent articles that I researched, but there were professional foot binders who would come and do the work for the mothers. Apparently, the fear was that the foot might not have been tighten so fiercely otherwise. It is a great idea to look at why we are appalled at certain acts even if these occurred in the past and be completely content at social norms today.

[Anonymous]

This was a great class. I loved learning about the history and politics behind the opium wars. Now, I know the difference between the Nationalists (KMT) and the Communist (CCP) parties. It was helpful to get the details on how the Communist were able to out the Nationalists by their organizations and discipline. I always wish we had more time to learn. It felt like we were only scratching the surface. Learning a little bit about Henry Luce helped me to understand a little bit more about those who were born in China and their perspectives. There was a great piece on NPR the other day about Luce. I would have tuned out normally, until his name and background caught my attention. I learned he was a supporter of capitalism and anti-communism hence he put Chaing Kai-Shek on the cover so many times.
I wish we had more time to learn about Empress Dowager Cixi. There are very little is taught about women in power. She is someone I am going to discuss with my students.
As I review my notes, I think I am going through information overload. 😐 :~ :~ (a)

[Anonymous]

In the dark corners of my mind, I was aware that there was a period of time where the Chinese had an Opium addiction problem but I don't think I really understood what prompted the problem. I didn't realize it was due to foreign involvement. It seems like the only logical response for China was to expel the foreigners from their county since they were contributing to the widespread availablity of the drug. And I was amazed to learn that Opium was kind of used like cash to exchange for goods. I would like to know how long it took the Chinese government to get the Opium "epidemic" under control. I wonder if the US could use China as a role model to diminish the drug problem here.

[Anonymous]

The other day I found myself explaining to my students the difference between growth and development and how it contributed to the fall of Rome. I like being able to foreshadow what we will be learning about when we begin to study China, by relating it to what we are presently looking at. I find the difference between these two ideas to help me understand why things are the way they are. For example, how did Japan successfully occupy China. Looking at a map makes that idea seem insane. Similarly, how did the small island nation of Great Britain conquer almost all of the known world? Same reason: it was the effect of the industrial revolution. This makes me think more about the future of America in these years post the de-industrialization of our country. How long can we send work overseas, before the damage is irreparable?

[Anonymous]

I was surprised to learn that opium is not native to China. I have always associated opium with Chinese culture, therefore it was really surprising to find out that it was the influence of Western culture that created such a widespread opium problem throughout China. When teaching the diffusion of Buddhism into China from India to my sixth graders, the point is always made that it was due to the wide amount of suffering by the Chinese people that made Buddhism such an attractive religion to them. This suffering was mostly due to geography and climate conditions, but was also encouraged by a lack of a strong central government. I wonder if it is these same factors that are behind the massive spread of opium addiction in China.

[Anonymous]

Loved the insights into China and its history, especially the role that women have played. The foot binding explanation was intriguing and can be compared to what qualities of beauty are and have been honored in other cultures.

[Anonymous]

This session was a good class for me from a methods point of view. All the other sessions were about a time period that I was familiar with. I had the background knowledge so it was easier for me to focus and understand the information. I had no experience with modern China, so it was harder for me to focus and pick out the most important information. I left class thinking how important it is for me as a teacher to engage my students' prior knowledge with their lessons. Most of them probably do not know anything about 80% of what I teach them this year. I need to find ways to make the information feel relevant and tap into their prior knowledge. I need to make a lot of connections between what they've learned in the past and what they will learn in the lesson.

[Anonymous]

YES! I am really really thinking about this a lot lately katkins (wish I knew who you were!). Anyhoo, as I'm doing the reading and going to class I am just floored by how fascinated I am by all of what we are learning. I used to hate school so much but am surprised to realize how much I like learning (I only began to realize this as an adult). What is the difference? a) relevance b) random interest. First off, I am most likely to be interested in thing that are relevant to my life, i.e., I want to be a better teacher- I am interested in teacher education....b) I am interested in certain (sometimes weird) things...Asia, Gypsies, the origin of the ball bearing, Cuba and communism....can humans be guided by general (moral. legal, philosophical) principles or are there always going to be exceptions which render principals almost useless in practical applications.....? Just to name a few....
My point? So many of my kids are like me- they don't like school, they don't understand the relevance or importance of school and I believe it IS important for teachers to help guide students to how it MAY be relevant, how it MAY be interesting, and how it MAY help them create a practical life philosophy framework they can be comfortable with and which guides them throughout their lives. If we can do this, only then can we really be effective in "delivering" our content. If we can't do this, then we are wasting our time and energy really.

[Anonymous]

To be brutally honest, I felt that this session is flooded with information. I'm a self proclaimed "anti-history" person because every time I hear a lot of information at once, I would just check out. I tried really hard to remember the key points though and connect it to my prior knowledge. It was interesting to see the ties between Russia and China and the dynamic between these two countries. I really had no idea that Russia had such a great influence on China. The prominent trend that I saw with China as a country is that it climbed slowly to a greater and stronger nation. It took a while, but thanks to the intellectuals of this country, China is now the strong country that it is. One thing that make me respect China even more is that it didn't just become a big and strong country--it worked really hard from the bottom up to get to where it is today.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of this foot-binding before! That picture of the deformed foot will stay with me forever! This is just like back in the day women use to poison themselves so they would look very pale, which was considered beautiful. Why do we do this? I don't see many examples of men mutilating themselves for the women?

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