1. E M P I R E
O F
T H E S U N

2. Written by James Graham Ballard in 1984
Semi-autobiographical story of Ballard’s early life in Japanese-controlled China during WWII
Made into movie in 1987; directed by Steven Spielberg

3. J. G. Ballard

4. J. G. Ballard born in Shanghai, China in 1930 to British parents
Dad, a chemist working in a Chinese branch of a Manchester printing company

5. J. G. Ballard (continued)
Because of the 1842 Nanking Treaty, cities existed in China that were under British control
The Ballard family lived in one such city, maintaining a Western lifestyle

6. J. G. Ballard (continued)
As Japan takes control of China, British settlement is mostly left alone

7. JAPAN ATTACKS
PEARL HARBOR
December 7, 1941

8. J. G. Ballard (continued)
After the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese military in China begins running internment camps
Ballard, his parents, and his younger sister live for over two years in Lunghua Camp (Shanghai)

9. Essential Questions

10. Essential Questions
Who/what constitutes an enemy during wartime?

11. Essential Questions
Does one’s definition of morality change during wartime? If so, how? If not, why?

12. Essential Questions
How (if ever) can a child understand war?

13. Image used from http://www.impawards.com/1987/empire_of_the_sun.html