September 20 - Ye - Using Film & Cosmopolitan EA

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Hello everyone,

Please share your thoughts about our September 20 session with Professor Yang Ye by replying to this post.

"Using Films to Teach about China"
"Cosmopolitan East Asia"

-Miranda

[Anonymous]

A very interesting Saturday. Professor Yang Ye is very enthusiastic about his subject matter, and made it easy to navigate. I have seen some of the films listed on his handout, and he discussed several that I would like to see, and possibly find a way to incorporate them into my class instruction. I found the comparison between western detective stories and Chinese interesting, especially the explanation about the how the Chinese detective story emphasizes not who has committed the crime, but how the crime is solved.

[Anonymous]

Hi!

I particularly found the morning session and its discussion of film interesting. For my purposes as a History teacher, however, 'fabula' has to be more important than 'sjuzet'! No matter how artistic a film may be, in my classes we will be far more concerned with the bones of the story than with the camera angles, close ups, and cutting techniques.

Possibly because I have very little background in East Asian History, I felt a little overwhelmed by the afternoon session during which we discussed literature. From my perspective, a very simple chronological overview of the literary/historical periods and their key characteristics, accompanied by a close analysis of a few poems and discussion of how they illustrate the characteristics of each period (as well as differences from other periods) might have been more helpful. I did really enjoy the reading, but unfortunately I don't feel I have the information yet that would help me to make decisions about selection and presentation of a few works of literature to my students.

Overall, Professor Yeh is clearly extremely knowledgeable, and I am sure I will be returning to the resources and information he presented as I continue to develop my History classes.

- Becca

[Anonymous]

I, too, found Professer Ye's lecture enlightening. The concept of "fabula" versus "sjuzet" and Chinese mysteries reminded me of old episodes of COLUMBO, where we knew who the murderer was, but stay tuned to see how Columbo would figure it out and catch the culprit.

I listened attentively to the lecture on the three movies because I am currently teaching World Literature and am trying to decide which Asian movie might be best to use in my class. I have decided on EAT, DRINK, MAN, WOMAN because of its focus on traditions and the impact of family.

However, while I enjoyed the lecture and learned much about Chinese cinema and history, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't much about how different disciplines might actually use Chinese film in the classroom. Perhaps I was taking the title of the seminar, "Using Film..." a bit too literally, but I expected some practical methodology to be included. I realize the variety of subjects taught makes it difficult to go in depth on even one or two, but a general overview (or even handout of suggestions?) could have been helpful as we plan our curriculum.[Edit by="cnorth on Sep 30, 8:37:18 AM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="cnorth on Sep 30, 8:37:48 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I very much enjoyed this class. I learned some of the technical features of filmmaking that allows us to compare Chinese (and other) films and filmmakers, such as film structure (plot, argument, hero/anti-hero, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action), camera work, editing, imagery, point-of-view shots. I especially liked learning the technical terms fabula and szujet and how the meaning of these two terms must exist in proper measure in a film.

Also, I learned about a variety of interesting motion pictures that I'd like to find on DVD, and I am much more interesting in going to see films made by Chinese filmmakers.

Finally, I very much enjoyed learning about some of China's "Middle Ages" and "Mongolian Age" historical periods through fine arts. I learned the proper pronunciation of some names and places, although I'm not confident that I can repeat them correctly yet.

If I was a student at UC Irvine, I would look for a way to take a class from Professor Ye. His passion for the subject matter and his supremacy as a scholar were very evident. I was impressed with his renditions of poems and songs and how his performances brought those pieces to life in a way that reading them on my own can not accomplish. The class received a tremendous treat from Professor Ye, and I am very grateful for it.

[Anonymous]

Shauna Rae, 9.30.08. Forum #3

Eliot, T.S. Four Quartets. San Diego: Harcourt, 1943. 26-7.

The poetry does not matter
It was not (to start again) what one had expected.
What was to be the value of the long looked forward to,
Long hoped for calm, the autumnal serenity
And the wisdom of age? . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
At best, only a limited value
In the knowledge derived from experience.
The knowledge imposes a pattern, and falsifies,
For the pattern is new in every moment
And every moment is a new and shocking
Valuation of all we have been. We are only undeceived
Of that which, deceiving, could no longer harm.
In the middle, not only in the middle of the way
But all the way, in a dark wood, in a bramble,
On the edge of a grimpen, where is no secure foothold, . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Do not let me hear
Of the wisdom of old men, but rather of their folly,
Their fear of fear and frenzy, their fear of possession,
Of belonging to another, or to others, or to God.
The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless. . . .

“East Coker, II”

Counterpoint #1 to 9.20.08:

T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets is Eastern in its metaphysics and, in my opinion, as accessible as the Te Ching, the Analects, or the Sutras.

From my formal literature studies, Eliot is known foremost for his poetry, yet his criticism is, of course, of equal renown, in the classical, western canon. In this four-part poem, Eliot speaks of the way—not unlike the Eastern Way—the Middle Path—for living or, at least, for considering to live, an exemplary life.

I adore this work, as I adore Lao Tzu, Confucius, the Buddha’s teachings, and Socrates, et al. To aspire to Eliot’s assertion of “the wisdom of humility” seems a worthy aspiration. His assertion is not unlike those made by the philosophers we study.

Counterpoint #2 to 9.20.08:

Spontaneity is to the Chinese as, perhaps, ritual is to the Japanese.

The Chinese drink their tea when they drink their tea; the Japanese drink their tea when it is tea time.

SR

[Anonymous]

Ms. "K" and Fellow Classmates:
Mr. Ye represents teaching at its finest.
With regards to knowledge in subject field, Mr. Ye would seem to have few rivals. Anyone who can keep a class going throughout the morning and afternoon, single handed, has my respect. The discussion of geography and history was illuminating, and I would like to see some of the places he spoke about and that were incorporated in the film clips that he was kind enough to show in the afternoon(i.e. - the Gobi Desert? The Lake Area in the South?).
I am still a bit mystified by his uses of "Fabula" and "Sjuzet". These terms were new to me, and I must be a slow learner because I'm still unclear as to what they are. Yes, I remember that he specified that they were the essence of "literature" as opposed to straight prose; however, this is where I'm still a bit fuzzy. If I heard/understood correctly, Fabula was the story; Sjuzet was the plot(the sequence of events?) - yet - the Szuzet was more than that. It seemed to go to something of an "emotional" level where the shaping of the story's(Fabula's) presentation carried an emotional impact as well as an idea impact. Am I missing the point?
Walt Banta

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the Saturday class with Professor Ye`because I got the opportunity to see clips from three movies that I hadn't seen, as well as have some history about the filmmakers. I also appreciated Professor Ye giving us some ideas of more films to see that could be helpful for future discussions.
Ang Lee is one of my favorite filmmakers, and it was nice to get more information about him. I thought that the overview of the timeline of Chinese cinema was helpful, however the I wasn't sure how the technical aspects such as, camera angels, dissolve, fade, cut, wipe, etc., were helpful information for using Film in the Classroom, unless it is a film class.
What I got from this was that maybe these are some of the things that we should look at to start some of the dialogue for understanding the work, since Professor Ye mentioned that we shouldn't always focus on the content and interpretation, but also look at the art.
I teach English, and my students read a short story by Amy Tan called "Two Kinds", and this short story came from the novel "The Joy Luck Club", so I showed my students the film "The Joy Luck Club", and found it to be a very useful tool. The story deals a lot the generation gap of having immigrant parent. My students had a discussion about having immigrant parents, and the divide that exists with being raised American by parents who have a strong tie to their country, and its beliefs and traditions.
This was an interesting discussion because most of my students are Mexican, and many have immigrant parents, or have friends who have immigrant parents.

[Anonymous]

I too enjoyed this aspect of Professor Ye's lecture the most. I am an avid mover goer, and I learned more from this lecture about the Art than I have ever learned in any conversation about film. Now when I watch movies (on the large screen especially), I look at the opening scene, camera angle, color, etc. Because of Professor Ye, I have a newfound love for film.

In addition, I am moved by Professor Ye's enthusiasm for Asian Poetry. You can clearly tell that he loves the material because he presents it with passion, reciting the material with such grace. I agree with you. If I were a student at UCI, I would loo forward to having more than just a class. That is to say, I did not feel that I was taking a clas with Professor Ye, it was a gift - perhaps this is what the Arts are supposed to deliver.

[Anonymous]

Very interesting seminar. I am going to try and use clips from the move "Hero" this year when teaching about the unification of China during the Qin.

[Anonymous]

I am so bummed that I missed this class! I had plans to fly to the Bay Area to see family before I signed up for this seminar. However, I am a huge foreign film fan and some of my favorite films are from East Asia. I recommend almost anything by Wong-Kar Wai,Ang Lee and Akiro Kurosawa. I am really excited about watching film and incorporating it into my classroom and lessons!

[Anonymous]

I am sorry that I completely missed the track and kept some posts on the other forum. However, go back to the topic. I really enjoy the Sat. with Dr. Ye and watch the clips in fact from my favorite movies. The point made by the Dr. Ye is fairly interesting that encourages us to look at the movie as an art form to convey the sense of life in a particular place/era.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to mention that I still have Professor Ye's lecture and my experience with learning from him on how to watch a film. I am an avid big screen watcher and I have seen about 10 new films since the lecture and I find myself using what professor Ye taught us, looking at camera angle for effect, (ie how they were able to make Brad Pitt shrink by the camera angle in The Curiuos Case of Benjamin Buttons) and the way they created Changling, etc. I find myself sitting until the last credit rolls because of How Ye explained that we have to appreciate all the goes into a film.

I am looking for suggestions for what I can show in my 6th grade Ancient Civilization class that would be outstanding - not just good. I am the 'go to' teacher and I don't have any material or lead and I would like it to come out of this seminar.

Thanks for your help colleagues.

[Anonymous]

Besides being left in awe by a professor who had so much passion for his subject matter, I truly respect a teacher that acts out what they teach, whether in song, poem, etc... Prof. Ye did an incredible job of going through a large breadth of information during his stay. However, the one thing that caught my attention the most was the fact that in China there existed a period of Mongolian Art. Based on my original knowledge, I knew that the Mongols hired a lot of outside (non-Chinese) help to run their empires or khanates, and really did not contribute anything (artistic) to which they can be remembered for. However, there in fact was art during this period in the form of literati painting, which focused on great landscape paintings. Also, I was surprised to learn that there was a rise of popular literature during this period by the pen of Guan Hanqing. Very informative!

Manuel 😀

[Anonymous]

Okay, so I chose to look at Little Buddha starring Keanu Reeves and Ruocheng Ying Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. Although it was a very Americanized film (I side with seeing and having ethnic groups playing themselves in historical films), I could see myself sharing parts of the film with my class. This film is rated PG and therefore with my age group I would need special permssion to show clips - no problem. The clips I would use would pertain to the parts regarding reincarnation which is always a point of conversation. The father genuinely believes his son is a reincarnation of the Siddhartha (Little Buddha). The other positive point on this film is the cinematography - just beautiful.

[Author]

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