Sarah

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For our propaganda project, we created a poster with a sketchbook-size paper. We decided to show an illustration of the agricultural life of the Chinese in the society of Mao Zedong's Communism. The illustration contains many symbolism; the sun, Red Guards, the apple, peasants, the field/farm, and lastly the red flag on the left side. As the picture demonstrates the communistic society during the time period of Commrade Mao Zedong's rule, the majority of the colors used are red as the color of the farm field, the star on Red Guards' hats, and the sun (which has an image of Mao Zedong's face), and the big flag on the left. The color red plays an important role in the society; it shows communism followed by the people. The big red flag wavering on the left side represent Communism. The young peasants at the front marching in a line elaborates the idea of equality, lead by the Communistic idea. The illustration of each person holding one apple reveals the idea that everyone receives the same amount and hapoy and peaceful with it, as they are smiling in the picture. Moreover, the people at the horizon of the farm, are the Red Gaurds. The star printed on their hat symbolizes Communism, and their uniforms lable them as the young Red Gaurds. The Red Gaurds play an important role in the society as well, since they are the young generation and obey Mao Zedong and read the Red Book. They are spirited and acknowledged with good respect. Lastly, the red sun on the background as the sky, represent Mao Zedong. The color red obviously represent Communism. Just like how a sun shines down a country, the picture elaborates that Mao Zedong is a heroic and the one who takes charge of he society and inspired by the people just as if he is shining like a sun, and leading progress to people's lives. The techniques used in the illustration overall sums up to an explanation of how the society during Mao Zedong's rule worked, and the life style of the people. The people's expression are happy, showing that equality bring peace. I believe that all the things depicted in the poster bring to a unification of all the Communistic notions and values. The scale used for each symbolism also brings a grip of understanding the rank of importance during the time period. Since the sun is drawn the biggest scale in the poster, it shows that Mao Zedong is the most important person in the society, in terms of ruling and influencing the Chinese. Secondly, the big size of the flag shows how Communism was not only played as a significant role of peasantry life, but also the life of the Red Gaurds, soldiers, idustrial workers (although they are not depicted in the poster).======

(IGNORE THE BOTTOM↓)

//Two paragraphs reflection: Should Korea and China have a say in what Japan puts into its textbooks?//

As long as Japan records in the appropriate information that are based on facts, Korea and China do not have a say in what Japan puts into its own textbooks. It is Japan's freedom of emphasizing the beauty and heroic features of its wars. Since the textbooks are of Japan, it is agreeable to say that they are under support of Japan rather than other Asian countries such as Korea and China. Moreover, it would be being hypocritical if Japan or China did not allow Korea to write its own textbook with notions and emotions towards its enemies in the past, considering them brutal and going against morals. The textbooks of Japan are purposed for to teach Japanese understand its own nation and to honor its own country through learning its significant accomplishment made throughout the history. Hence, Korea and China do not have a say in what Japan decides to record in its own textbooks. The author of the book, Lee, lived in a place packed with suspicion and deception, during the time when south and north conflicted with each other. There were numerous soldiers standing everywhere. According to the beginning chapter of the book, the Republic of Korea attacked the Haeju district, the north of 38th parallel, leading to a war. Loud explosions of bombs were heard, children hoping for the end of the war. The husband of Lee was persecuted for being mistaken as betrayal of his own country. The police were hostile to Hongyong since they did not seem to care the feeling of citizens and did not like what she was forward on. At the last moment, Lee finally learns the truth that it was North Korea who has put people into the situation, and caused the war.

Murdering is going against morality. Hence, either it is a massacre or a murder of small number of people, it is still cruel and immoral. Koreans still do not forgive does not like Japanese due to the fact that the government of Japan did not apologize and acknowledge their guilt and brutal acts towards Koreans in the past. If Japan had paid off for breaking Korean’s rights and harming a lot of people, the relationship of Korea and Japan would have been somewhat much better than the way it is at present. Nevertheless, just like how Japan would not acknowledge the incident of Rape of Nanking, it would not think that what they did to Korea during when Japan took occupation of industry, agriculture, and education in the past, was wrong. By reading the document, my opinions did not change.

11/11/08

?) During war, countries tend to forget to contain morals. Moreover, countries do not have complete obligation to compensate each other, since everyone has their own rights for certain things. For example, although Japanese had the power to occupy Korea after it gained victory, it did not have rights to manipulate Korean's complete freedom.


 * //Write a short reflection of what you learned from these readings. With the benefit of hind site and knowledge of China and Japan, would Korea had been better off if it had “opened up to the west.”//**

It is reasonable why Korea was not such an opened country when it comes to foreigners. Korea did not welcome foreigners partially because of its neighboring countries such as China and Japan, competing to obtain Korea, resulting a cast of bad impressions. For this reason, Korea has struggled to find ways to become an independent state. Korea tried to keep foreigners away from its country. Another reason why Korea was not opened to the West, was due to a reason that Korea did not want to lose its values and rules based on traditions that unite the people and accord their lifestyles. Regardless of Korea's decision, Korea would have been better off if it was opened to the west. At the same time, there would be disadvantages that it would gain, along with advantages. Korea would be able to enhance knowledge, in terms of having the influence of western philosophers' notions and philosophies. At the same time, Korea may still be indirectly not independent by always having to depend on the west. However, due to the west, Korea may find ways to enhance technology and innovations, settling the society with upgraded development.

As I was reading the introduction of Rape of Nanking, I kept thinking of Hitler and the massacre he occurred, and that Japan was like Germany in Asia during the World War II. It was shocking to learn that there was another massacre like the one in Germany somewhere else in the country. It can be said that there were big events of tragedies in every region of the world in history; Hitler in Europe, Stalin in Russia, and Nanking massacre in Asia. As the author mentioned that the Nanking massacre is an obscure incident and that it isn’t well-known outside of Asia, I didn’t know much about it. As I read the description of how many peopled suffered and died, I realized that this incident was as big as the Holocaust and that it deserves to be more widely known than it is.
 * //Rape of Nanking// Introduction Reflection**

I was surprised by the fact that the author’s parents wanted their daughter to know about this incident. They were willing to share the real, nasty side of the world rather than protecting and saving her. I was curious of why the massacre was even more severe towards women. It was interesting how in Germany, it is illegal for teachers to delete the Holocaust form their history curricula, whereas Japanese have removed evidences of the Nanking massacre. It seems like Germans are “proud” of their history, and Japanese are trying to hide and not admit their actions. I liked the way the story was structured with different perspectives; Japanese, Chinese, and Europeans/Americans.

“Determined to achieve eventual victory over the West, the new imperial government adopted the samurai ethic of bushido as the moral code for all citizens.” (p.22) The Japanese seemed very arrogant and this chapter gave me a different thought about Japan. When I read Korea Unmasked, I thought that Japan was very peaceful, quite country where Japanese are humble and generous. However, after Japan had opened up to the West, Japanese thought that their development in economy, science and military was all because of themselves. This is how Japan got confident in spreading. “In September 1894, only six weeks after war was declared, the Japanese not only captured Pyongyang but crushed the Chinese northern felt at sea.” (p.23) Japanese military kept intruding and invading other countries continuously, and possessing other territories. These actions show attitudes of greed and superiority. Japan went further than Asia; they were very certain to gain all the land of China and other countries of West. “They looked enviously upon not only China’s vast resources but those of Western countries.” (p.26)
 * //Rape of Nanking// Chapter 1 Reflection**