Good writing is like gunpowder – it takes compression to explode. (Chinese proverb)
Aims, Goals and Objectives Examine the Cultural Revolution and the unrest at Tiananmen Square Examine the Cultural Revolution and the unrest at Tiananmen Square Explore a range of text types, written in response to crisis. Explore a range of text types, written in response to crisis. Develop a variety of creative responses (to be used in film) Develop a variety of creative responses (to be used in film)
The Cultural Revolution Revolutionary struggle for power Revolutionary struggle for power Launched by Chairman Mao Zedong ( ) Launched by Chairman Mao Zedong ( ) Aim: to create a more equal/fair society Aim: to create a more equal/fair society Yet: increase Maos own power/influence Yet: increase Maos own power/influence Sensitive issue – history hidden… Sensitive issue – history hidden… Disastrous consequences… Disastrous consequences…
Disastrous Consequences… All individuality suppressed All individuality suppressed A break from the past A break from the past Chaos and violence Chaos and violence Teachers/thinkers/activists/artists persecuted Teachers/thinkers/activists/artists persecuted The Red Guards – destroy ancient buildings, texts, art The Red Guards – destroy ancient buildings, texts, art Standard Education abolished – replaced by propagandist teachings of Mao Standard Education abolished – replaced by propagandist teachings of Mao Dec 1967 – 350 million copies of Maos Quotations published Dec 1967 – 350 million copies of Maos Quotations published All non-conformists tortured or killed. All non-conformists tortured or killed. ½ million people die ½ million people die
SHOW PICTURES SHOW PICTURES
Tiananmen Square Protests History hidden – forbidden topic History hidden – forbidden topic Series of political demonstrations and hunger strikes, culminating in… Series of political demonstrations and hunger strikes, culminating in… June 4 th 1989 June 4 th 1989 Activists, artists, students and intellectuals gather to revolt against Communist Party of China Activists, artists, students and intellectuals gather to revolt against Communist Party of China Alleged corruption and oppression of individuals Alleged corruption and oppression of individuals Aims: economic/political/social reform, reducing state power Aims: economic/political/social reform, reducing state power
Disastrous Consequences… Begins as a peaceful march in Square Begins as a peaceful march in Square Yet Government militia violence Yet Government militia violence Outbreak of terror/chaos/destruction Outbreak of terror/chaos/destruction Number of fatalities: Number of fatalities: (PRC) (PRC) (NYT) (NYT) (CRC) (CRC)
PICTURE PICTURE
Execution - Yue Minjun, 1995 PICTURE PICTURE …Tiananmen is the catalyst for conceiving of this painting.
China In Crisis Both events suppress individual thought Both events suppress individual thought Paucity of documentation/reliable info Paucity of documentation/reliable info Yet recent writing (released over past twenty years) revisits these events… Yet recent writing (released over past twenty years) revisits these events…
Using poems, articles, short stories to give a voice to the downtrodden and oppressed… Unfortunately, good writing is like gunpowder – it takes compression to explode…
Writing in response to The Cultural Revolution: Chinese Cinderella, by Adeline Yen Mah, 1999 (autobiographical – concerning a teenage girls struggles as she grows up amidst the Cultural Revolution). The Tall Woman and her Short Husband by Feng Ji-Cai, 1990 (historical fiction – a fable-like story, exploring the effect of the Cultural Revolution on made-up individuals) Writing in response to the protests in Tiananmen Square: Tiananmen Square, by John Simpson, 1989 (reportage – eye-witness account of the rebellion in Beijing) Poetry of Tiananmen Square (a collection of anonymous poems, written and published following the events in Beijings central square)