September 27 - Ye - Using Film & Cosmopolitan EA

[Anonymous]

It was nice to get a little "film as Lit" knowledge. I have to admit I had never really took movies in the classroom seriously until Professor Ye presented evaluation and critiquing of films. It was like asking "Why did the author write in first person?"

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the presentation on films in the classroom. i thought that there was a lot that could be used in my classsroom. I will use the concept of fabula and sjuzet to help lift student writting. I was also appricative for a beginning point to do my own research on chinese poets and painters.

[Anonymous]

After lisentening to the lecture, I decided to share some cartoons with my students. I actually wanted to read some of the poetry in our notebooks and go over the ones we heard in class from Professor Yang Ye, but I decided to use the cartoons since I teach Special Ed. and reading is so challenging for most of my students.
I chose two cartoons. The first is on page 10 in the section, "Geography/Early East Asian Civilizatins". It is entitled, "Waiting for Another Rabbit?". I asked my students, grade 9, what they thought the words and the picture meant. I had some very interesting replies, especially from the males. They were not happy that the farmer cooked the rabbit and then ate it. My female students all felt sad about the rabbit's death, and that is as far as they went with their thinking.

[Anonymous]

Another day I went ove a cartoon from section "Geography/ Early East Asian Civilization". The cartoon is on page 12. I copied the cartoon and rewrote it with simple names so that my Special Ed. students, grade 9, could read them with more ease. I asked them whether they thought one could be happy if they were not of that species. We got into a big discussion about that. Can we make decisions for other species? This led to talking about our pets and what makes them happy and whether we know rally what they are thinking. Are we able to make those judgment calls correctly? My goal was to get my students to thinka and to speak. The cartoons are a good avenue for them.

[Anonymous]

I thought this session was a great start to our class. It got me wondering if I could create a legit, A-G compliant, standards based "Film as Lit" class. There are so many elements of film which overlap with the literary elements I teach. I think it could open a lot of avenues for the students who are resistant to reading. Anyway, I thought it was a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

If I hear that Professor Ye is offering a course in probably just about anything, closer to here than Riverside, there is a pretty good chance I would sign up for it. He was knowledgeable, interesting, funny and exciting in his discussions.

I have seen a few of the popular movies, but there are many I have not. I found it interesting that many of the Chinese film makers of the fifth generation had studied in the US and were influenced by post World War II filmmakers of Europe. Now I want to rent some of the reccomended films and some of the Italian neo-realists, Bergman...and maybe even French New Wave.

I really liked Professor Ye's suggestion that we look at films using the techniques, styles, methods of presentation that come from the medium itself. I had never thought to talk to middle schoolers about techniques and styles and what they mean...or have them think about what they mean. It's a neat idea.

Arghh! (Talk like a Pirate Day was last week. ) I should have taken more notes. I understood and was listening much harder than I can recollect at this moment. I will appreciate getting his presentation.

Kathy

[Anonymous]

Kathleen,

So you want to teach your middle schoolers about film, (avast u landlubber) I have some resources I can dig out at school for you. I have no idea why you were using pirate speak but hey, shiver me timbers. See you next class.

John 8)

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I am a little late in the game for this reply, but better late than never, right? I really enjoyed our first session. Not only did it spark my interest in Asian film, but it also gave me a new way to teach students about film. I remember trying to have students do a film critique letter assignment in the past, and it did not turn out too well because I did not have the right terminology and way of explaining the film critique perspective. Thanks to this session, I now have such vocabulary, as well as some fascinating film suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Hi Everybody,

On Wednesday I am going to see Madama Butterfly at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. This opera is created by Puccini, and was written in the twentieth century. It is a tragic story of a Japanese teenage girl and an American Navel officer who is stationed in Nagasaki, Japan. It tells the tale of their relationship and how different cultures come together. It has been on for a couple of weeks, the last day being Saturday, October 18th. I wonder what Professor Ye thinks about the story of this opera that is created by a European man about an Asian culture, (Japanese), that was so foreign to him. Puccini described Madama Butterfly as his most "deeply felt and imaginative opera." I wish we all could go see this opera. Then we could discuss it while we eat some sushi. Take care and see you all on Saturday.

Vafa

[Anonymous]

Hi Ms. Flanagan,

Based on our conversations, I know that you are as much taken by professor Ye's class as I am. How would you like to go see Madama Butterfly with me on Wednesday. This would be our first chance to see a story written about Japanes and American cultures at the peak of their diversities. Of course, what makes it interesting is that the story is created by Puccini in the twentieth century. Puccini described it as his most "deeply felt and imaginative opera." There is one more interesting thing. Although the story takes place in Nagasaki, Japan, this latest production apparently does not follow the old fasioned way of all cherry blossoms and water ways in the typical Japanese garden, as it was represented in the twentieth century , but it illuminated a new way of what we call today a minimalist production. It should be quite interesting. If you would like to go, let's talk tomorow. I wish professor Ye could go with us so we could discuss the opera after we see it.

Vafa

[Anonymous]

OMG (as my kids say) what a first class. I was excited about taking this course, but after our introductory seminar, I am whole heartily devoted. Professor Ye was a so full of wonderful and powerful information, class was over before I knew it. Fabula and sjuzet inspire me to be and allow my students to be more creative and free thinking. I love showing films in my classes, but I never thought of showing pieces of films. I would never be able to show "Hero" to my 6th graders, but I can show important pieces of it. Pieces that visually accompany the information they receive on the Emperor and Ancient China.

[Anonymous]

Professor Ye was an unbelievable Speaker. The way he presented the information for film as lit was a way I never thought of before. It's so much better than the standard "watch a movie and tell me the plot theme etc." I laso found the history so interesting> In the readings to see the evolution of chinese artistry and how they Chinese evolved as a culture was really fascinating. I already learned so much from the first class. I look forward to more.[Edit by="mburr on Oct 16, 12:08:16 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Another statement in EWP remeinded me of the Holocaust.
On page 46, bottom of the first column, it states, "... members were required to inform on each other or suffer the same penalty as the criminal". This reminds me of the Holocaust because during the Nazi Regime, anybody who hid a Jew and was then turned in, suffered the same fate as the Jew. So, my conclusion is that mankind has treated others horrifically for a LONG time!!!! So, my current question is, "When are we going to stop?"

[Anonymous]

Vafa:

Maybe we could still discuss Madame Butterfly. It was updated by the "les Miz" team as the Broadway musical "Miss Saigon" which allows for current reference.

I share your love of the opera, as I worked at the Met for seven years and was exposed to a number of great operas. Madame Butterfly and Turandot are wonderful Asian themed operas presented through a western filter.

But they are great for discussion.

Kyle

[Anonymous]

Re: Madame Butterfly, I told a fellow teacher I was going to go last week. He surprised me by going on and on about what a great story it is. It turns out that when he was in college he HAD to take a fine arts class. While he admitted to totally despising the class, he also admitted that Madama Butterfly was his favorite aspect of the class as they studied it and then saw the opera. I find it interesting that someone who had such a distaste for the arts found this opera memorable. I too loved it and look forward to having the opportunity to discuss it with any and all conversationalists.

[Author]

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