Reference no: EM132270197

Essay Option : Developing Historical and Cross-Cultural Insight

Both Hayao Miyazaki and Zhang Yimou produce socially and culturally relevant artistic forms that illustrate the connections between culture, identity, and the tension involved in the relationship between citizens and their governments.

Although both film-makers use very different looking films, they share an ability to address some of the most important questions regarding what it means to be a citizen of China and Japan.

In this essay you will draw out the major themes of one film by either director (a list of acceptable films follows, you are limited to the films on this list without exception). Prior to viewing the films, reflect on the questions below. Then view the film and take notes on the film's storyline, presentation and visual elements.

Consider how the film director has consciously, through their cinematic choices addressed the issues raised in the questions. In particular, both Yimou and Miyazaki have created films with portrayals of traditional Confucian, Shinto and Buddhist values that also offer insight into their viewpoints concerning the role that such traditions continue to play in the post-modern era.

The purpose of the assignment is to explore the way in which politics and art interact in an Asian cultural context, and also to develop expository writing skills.

Questions:

1. What is the larger message of the film regarding identity issues?

2. How do the characters in the novel represent different understandings of Chinese and Japanese culture and traditional values?

3. How do these characteristics relate to what was discussed in class regarding Shinto, Buddhist and Confucian value orderings - how do these value orderings condition the lives of the characters in the novel?

4. How have you come to understand what it means to be Chinese and/or Japanese through your reading of the film?

5. How does the film-maker use location, including the natural world to address their subject?

Your essay should draw on material from the film that you choose as well as the text and class discussions. Be sure to cite material appropriately (see attached guidelines),Use in text citations with a bibliography at the end of the paper. DO NOT USE FOOTNOTES.

Technical Instructions: Your paper should be 4-6 pages long and no longer than six pages. Include your title on the first page of the essay, hit return 3 times and begin writing.

Your essay should be typed in Times New Roman font with margins no larger than 1 inch all around, double-spaced with page numbers centered in the footer.

Be sure to include an introduction that explains your organization and conclusion, which pulls the essay together and presents your observations

Zhang Yimou Films Hayao Miyazaki Films

Not One Less Spirited Away

Riding Alone for Thousands of Princess Mononoke

Miles Howl's Moving Castle

Raise the Red Lantern

Bibliographies and Citations

Note that the fundamental purpose of bibliographies and citations is to permit others to track and verify your research. Therefore, it is important to be accurate.

1. Each paper should include a list of references or bibliography, which includes all sources consulted.

2. Alphabetize references by the author's last name, if no author is shown, by the first word of the title (omitting a, and, and the). Your papers should draw on a variety of sources, including sources that are Asia-based and written by Asian scholars.

3. Footnotes, in-text citations, or endnotes are all acceptable for citing specific references, including direct quotes, borrowed interpretations, unusual or little known facts, etc. Just be consistent. If you use an in-text citation, use the author's last name and page number i.e. (Charlton 1997, 3).

4. Sources from the internet MUST include the complete author, title, publication, etc., of the document used AND the complete web site address. Include the date accessed at the end of the citation. Be sure to save your sources.