week 6

Critical Practice

Rosetta Brooks

Dunhuang Chen  0244729

Longque Chen  0244728

                                                                    “TANK MAN”

This photo reveal the one of the most famous scene from the Tiananmen Squire Masscre, commonly known in China as the June Fourth Incident were student-led demonstrations in Beijing in 1989. It refers to the quite meaningful national social movement inspired by the Beijing protests during the period, it is also called ` 89 Democracy Movement. The protests were forcibly suppressed after the government declared martial law. In what became widely known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, troops with assault rifles and tanks killed at least several hundred demonstrators trying to block the military's advance towards Tiananmen Square. The number of civilian deaths has been estimated at anywhere between the hundreds to the thousands.

Set against a background of rapid economic development and social changes in post Mao-era China, the protests reflected concerns about the country's future in the popular consciousness and among the political elite. The reforms of the 1980s had led a early market economy which benefited only few but seriously disaffected majority of others; the one-party political system also faced a challenge of legitimacy. Common grievances at the time included inflation, limited preparedness of graduates for the new economy, and restrictions on political participation. The students expected for democracy, greater accountability, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech, though they were loosely organized and their goals varied At the height of the protests, about a million people assembled in the Square.

As the protests increased, the authorities veered back and forth between conciliatory and hardline tactics, exposing deep divisions within the party leadership. By May, a student-led hunger strike galvanized support for the demonstrators around the country and the protests spread to some 400 cities. Ultimately, China's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and other party elders believed the protests to be a political threat, and resolved to use force. Party authorities declared martial law on May 20, and mobilized as many as 300,000 troops to Beijing.

This Tank Man (also known as the Unknown Protester or Unknown Rebel) is the nickname of an unidentified man who stood in front of a column of tanks on June 5, 1989, the morning after the Chinese military had suppressed the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 by force. As the lead tank maneuvered to pass by the man, he repeatedly shifted his position in order to obstruct the tank's attempted path around him. The incident was filmed and seen worldwide. There were only a few sources who caught the video on tape.

More than 25 years after the incident, there is no reliable information about the identity or fate of the man; the story of what happened to the tank crew is also unknown. At least one witness has stated that "Tank Man" was not the only person who had opposed the tanks during the protest. Shao Jiang, who was a student leader, said: "I witnessed a lot of the people standing up, blocking the tanks." Tank Man is unique in that he is the only one who was photographed and videoed. The rumor said that, this Tank Man was under arrested and was executed secretly, the order is given by the former President of China- Zemin Jiang.

The incident took place at the north edge of Tiananmen Square, along Chang'an Avenue, on June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese government's violent crackdown on the Tiananmen protests. The man stood in the middle of the wide avenue, directly in the path of a column of approaching Type 59 tanks. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, and he held two shopping bags. As the tanks came to a stop, the man gestured towards the tanks with one of the bags. In response, the lead tank attempted to drive around the man, but the man repeatedly stepped into the path of the tank in a show of nonviolent action. After repeatedly attempting to go around rather than crush the man, the lead tank stopped its engines, and the armored vehicles behind it seemed to follow suit. There was a short pause with the man and the tanks having reached a quiet, still impasse. 

1. monster represent culture

Obviously, the Tank Man stands in the middle of Tanks and Tiananmen, his brave action is preventing the freemen being consumed by tanks. They are the real state apparatus and trying to crash those people who were trying to against state will. The state apparatus here is absolutely a monster. A monster stands for the imperial power and authority. As we know the imperial power plays significant role in ancient China till now. The royal authority is a huge part of Chinese culture and they are impossible to be challenged and unquestionable. Once you become a emperor( does not like kings and bishop, their power is limited by laws and other ministers), the supreme absolute power is acquired which means you own everything, the land, animals, any resources even all the people. Even in 21th century, being a governor means the best way to the wealth and higher power. The DNA of authoritarianism is still running in  Chinese blood vessel( mostly) and being inherited by the generations and generations, being the legacy of new generations. It is the stronghold of Chinese traditional culture. the state apparatus like army and police are still loyal to the CCP but not the people and the country. This monster is everywhere through the entire Chinese history and they are defend for their master- the emperor.

2. monster represent hidden desire

Since the beginning of Chinese civilization, the two classes have been determined, rulers and slaves or governors and civilians, they are living in different world and dreaming about the same thing-becoming the emperor by what means necessary. The people who is under ruled have no chance to test their desires. Therefore those people have to hide their desires and they do their best to discipline themselves to live.  However people could realize their nasty desire once they are being part of state apparatus and they can do whatever they want through privilege.

3 monsters represent some sort of warning of the unknown

The authority does what necessary to maintain their power as well as what Chinese government behaved during the Tiananmen Squire incident. They sent the troops, tanks to suppress those protesters. In fact, people were fighting for freedom of expression and speech because the CCP controlled all press to cover their dark history and countless crimes they have done. This monster-state apparatus is made for preventing people from digging truth. They warned and threaten to anyone who tired to approach the truth.

4 They can change the form whatever they want, troops, tanks, express, education......

During the Tiananmen event, the monsters are those troopers, politicians who sent orders, war machines, polices and even those angry citizens. After 1989 event, the government has realized these issues could not be solved by forces anymore. If the monster still wanted to rule the world without using bloody and cruel strategies, it has to be reshaped itself. The new monster has emerged as the education system to the young generation who were born near the 1990s, for those young newborns, they have no chance to access any information about 1989 event, nothing could be found from books, and Internet. This new monster covered and reversed the trues, those students who had fought for freedom and human right became the “Monster” in the education materials, but solders, politicians, war machines were the saviors. Its been 28 years since tiananmen slaughter, more and more young students being monsters after brainwashed, that monster which has taken hundreds of citizens’ life has gone ever, however, the new monster is everywhere right now.

week 4

Dunhuang Chen

0244729

Critical Practice

According to Cohen`s essay, monster is given seven particular different attributes  pertaining to their looks, meanings, representation or character. Every each of aspects is refer to reflection of social development.

Firstly, Cohen believes that monsters are always symbols and representations of cultures. They are created and brought to this world from different culture background and different time periods and places. They are represent certain culture moment.

Second, monster is always able to escape from being hunted and they can never be captured. They can still back to life even if they get caught. Monster is capable of  shifting their forms and looks, it will return. They will leave some remnants or trials when they are killed. Sometimes, there is no physical objects remained, however, there are some evidences like footprints or hint, somethings that confuses people, and make people unsure of monster`s death and completely elimination.

Third, most of monsters are not easily to be assigned to so actual and exact category of human or animals. They have extremely complicated physical form, social characteristics and psychological that blurs boundary of certain classification. Monster can be a hybrid like half man half something else, but does not belong to any of those category. What is more, they are difficult to be identified or being classified because they have some kind of special attributes or social characteristics. They does not belong to any specific species at all.

Fourth, monsters consists of something that make them different from others. As what this essay has pointed, they are different sexually, culturally, racially,politically and economically and politically. They always come up with some unique thought and never think as normal people do. Which means most of people are insisting or holding something to be true,or believe in one ideas, the monster must think the opposite way.

Fifth, monsters represent some sort of warning of the unknown or uncertain. They embody the ideas that threats us in order to keep people away from looking into them deeply. For example, at the great ocean exploring age. The monster like serpents are made to inhabit at the ends of the earth, so that people will be warned and are trying to avoid somewhere beyond their understanding of the ocean, they are signs of unknown.

Sixth, monsters reveal our hidden desires. Sometimes we create monsters therefore we can test and try our taboos. They represent strange ideas about gender roles, sex, aggression, domination or location. We can manipulate it in any way we want. Like ruin them or hurt them badly, and not to worry about being punished by someone, or has no guilty at all. Monster provide opportunities for us to play them as being something but not themselves. Like people are making up and masking or dressing up wired costumes like dooms and other monsters.

In the end, monster draws people attention to examine our culture, they embody something deep inside ourselves that made us to create them. They offer a great chance for people to discover and explore their minds, find something we can rely on and believe in.

week 3

Dunhuang Chen

0244729

Critical Practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AY7hYQ8-FM

This is the MV of Within Temptation-Utopia, one of my favorite song.

From very beginning, a man in a black wind coat with a hat is appearing from the tunnel in the light. He is walking along, the motion is slow and steady, people only see his silhouette because of high contrast lighting. then we could see more detail about him but his face is still obscured and he is still maintaining in mystery.

We are seeing several scenes about bank performing that is crossing with main story line at the beginning, and a member of bank -a guitarist is in the same scene with that black suit man, he is playing a guitar like a homeless then the men tossed a coin to him.

The man is about to passing through a cross, however he turned and walking toward to the left, he is noticing that something is gonna happening seemingly. Then the scene is jumped into next story. A bareheaded man is following an old women into a elevator. The old lady must be a blind person because she wearing a glasses and close shot shows us that she is touching braille alphabet. The black suit man has followed them into the elevator together. The bareheaded man is checking around in order to avoid being spotted by others, the next camera lens shows that the man is watching him, however he steals the old lady`s wallet and he is not aware of the presence of the man at all.

The man is walking on a overpass along and cars are running on the street. (here is just purely instrumental playing). Then he is looking at a masked young man who is spraying a pentacle. Next, several people are stealing somethings from containers. His face displays disappointment and helpless. A teenager is running in front of him after robbed a old women. Later, he is walking on a quiet road and a sexy women is standing in the distance. Audience feels like that She is kinda waiting for him somehow. Whereas a car is stopped and take her. the man witnesses all of these and being in tears, (here is purely instrumental playing again.) suddenly, he is running to somewhere instead of walking because He realized that something is about to happen, he found a mother and a her child are standing near the street. The mother is taking on the phone and her her son is playing a toy. The interesting part is that the toy is the  only colored prop here. The man saved the boy by preventing him from trying to pick up that toy he dropped by an accident. But the toy was smashed anyway. The boy is moving head toward to man and the man is looking downward to catch the boy`s sight. Then the mother and son are crossing street and his mother is not seeing anyone. The man is back to light tunnel at the end.

The whole melody is beautiful and full of sorrow and sadness. Generally, the entire tinge is low saturated and cool. This song is about how the human race is beginning to dwindle. the man on the video is like "God" or an "Angel", who comes to earth and sees all the bad things we have created, and the tears fall from his eyes; but he is trying to "tell" us that we should do something now, otherwise the world would become a worst place. He saves a boy from being killed, giving the meaning that all the hope for a better tomorrow is at the hands of the children. As always. "Utopia" references how people try to blind themselves to the horrors of the dying world. The human race has created their "perfect world". But those of us who see the corruption ask, "If this world is perfect, then why does sorrow rain on Utopia?" Hence the line "Why does it rain, rain, rain, rain on Utopia."

I think that the verses are a sort of break-up story, showing two people who were lovers but have to go their separate ways. They both have a different idea of what their perfect world is. ("You're holding my hand but you don't understand. So where I am going you won't be in the end.") this is why humans can never create a perfect world: We all have a different idea of what perfection is, so as we all try to reach our own Utopia, we naturally get pulled apart in the process because we all are looking for something different. There is no cure for mankind; we all have to do what is right for ourselves individually. We are all searching for answers, and they are not given for free because we all have different questions.

Week 2

Dunhuang Chen

0244729

Critical Practice

This photo belong to the well-known Chinese artist - Weiwei Ai. It is called ( One tiger with eight nipples ). That is so obvious to understand this picture through its name: a man with four women. the tiger means the man with full bread who is siting in middle of picture and eight nipples represent four women surrounding him.

There are totally five nude figure there (a male and four females) and each character’s pose is slightly different. Take a quick look, three figures are siting and other two are standing somehow. Then we observe them individually, the first left female is sitting in a chair and facing right from audience`s view. Then the second right female is standing on the ground and smiling, using a hand to cover her mouth. The man is also siting in a chair in dead center of picture visually and placing both hands on his thigh. A female is standing just behind the man closely. Then the last female is siting on his right side.

We need to carefully look at plenty details from each figures regard their micro-behaves, expressions and other objects in this picture. Apparently, the men is in the most important position of all. He is siting in a large chair with backrest and the central part of him-his genitals is covered by his arms and both hands is put on his left thigh. The first left girl with glasses is siting in a chair without backrest and facing right toward the center-the man. The right girl next to her is standing near the man, she is smiling with covering her mouth by hand and her left hand is holding the backrest of man`s chair. The third girl is standing behind the man and just showing her head only. The last women is relatively fat than other females, she is wearing a jade bracelet and a jade necklace particularly and siting in a backrest chair.

Actually, each person and his or her behavior has deeply connections and implied meanings. The only man here is covering his central part, the Chinese character “挡” （dang) means covering, and “central part” is translated into Chinese that is 中央（zhong yang）, therefore “covering central part” could be pronounced as “dang zhong yang” . What is interesting that 挡（covering) and 党 ( political party) are homophones. So the man with his performance could be interpret as dang zhong yang ( 党中央）which means the central government. the hands putting on his left thigh may means left learning persistently. The first left women with long hair represent intellectuals because of wearing glasses. Playing her hair means intellectuals are flattering the central government, Raised buttocks implies they have social positions, facing towards man shows they are always led by government. Her chair has no backrest indicate that intellectuals is unreliable! The right girl next to him is considered as the media. She is standing between two figures with smiling means that she has no position at all. But her hand is grasping the backrest of man`s chair and she is ready to site with the man together seemingly, it tells that government controls the media. the fat women wearing jewelries most the right side represent wealth so obviously, that is bourgeoisie. She is siting in a backrest chair tells us that they are absolute dependable. She and the man have a group photo If we look at them very closely, that make sense because fortune is government`s favorite after all. The last pool girl standing behind the man whose most part is covered. She must be people definitely because she has no space and being ignored.

This picture perfectly explain the reality of the present Chinese society. I cannot agree more as a Chinese.

critical practice week 1

Critical Practice

0244729

Dunhuang Chen

Generally, I disagree with Andersen’s argument from my own perspective. We all have been through dramatic changes of every social aspect such as arts, technology, climate, globe geopolitics, economies etc. You will realize how huge this world has been changed since last two decade if you watch news every single day.  His article points out that our cultures of innovation and cultural aesthetics is a stagnation. Like what he said, late 20 years our art style is no longer innovated and artists just mimic previous styles but never come up with creative ideas.

For me I less care about what happened to fine arts, especially I cannot understand the abstract art because I was to be a entertainment artists, is dreaming about creating products for Sci-Fi films or video games etc. I could fairly say that the entertainment arts’ style has been changed tremendously. Think about star wars episode 1 during the 1970s, people have never seen somethings like space fight before and they were shocked by those giant imperial spaceship and death stars. No one deny that most of designs in old star wars was quite faddish and marvelous. Actually, in addition to Sci-Fi movies in 1960s, the entire fashion, car designs and architectures were refer to space shapes because the people has entered the “ space time” during that period. Most of designs were with the tear drop ship and “ wings” such as “ alien” juicer and transportation designed by Luiqi Colani.

The “innovation” does not necessarily means creating new art style or visual effects that we have never produced before, but means creating somethings we have never realized before. For example, nowadays people are more suitable with “21s century” artistic styles than 20s, the art style in Sci-Fi movies like ( District 9, Elysium, Pacific Rim, Gravity, Transformer, GI Joe, etc) are obviously more realistic and convincing, reasonable and rational. People would like to see more real structures behind those fancy designs. So the old art style looks childish, ridiculous cheap because they lack of real industrial structures and textures. So in 1970s the audience confirmed that the designs in film was very neoteric when they have seen them first time. However, I just saw the latest star wars: Rogue One and I realized how huge improvements has been made there. Not only the incredible visual effect but also the design style is much better than previous. Similarly, the designs in the movie “Prometheus” is further more better than old “Alien” movies. I consider this as an innovation,

Further more, every artistic event is just a reflection of social development. The booming of economy and industrial revolution, religious reform, science change the world from century to century. In the 20s, every social aspects was fiercely changing due to stimulation by world war and arms race. The quantum physics and rocket science prompts the third industrial revolution. Therefore unsurprisingly we have witnessed amazing leaps of innovation of art, fashion, science every 20 years until late 20th. However unfortunately, we are facing countless issues like global warming, air pollution, race, terrorism. The rate of development of world’s economy is slowing down by those obstacle, the art style does not change too much as a society’ reflection seemingly. Actually, the invention of internet started a new revolution for people all over the world, they could express their own art style through internet. Like what postmodernism point out: every one is the artist. That is a biggest innovation. Besides social development, the market determines what kind of products we need. People still love old dramas, poem, impressionism, and being mimic old art styles. But does not means that we are trapped in a dead circle and people lost the spirit of innovation at all. Sometimes, returning to the ancients is the best innovation.