I think some authors have been using literary devices which show conflicted ideas. For example, Shakespeare used so many ideas contrast each other in Romeo and Juliet.
Death vs. Life, Duty vs. Love, Good vs. Evil …
My theory is that whatever authors write about, to a degree, they can’t avoid using contrast effect to deliver a message. After seeing the film, Up to the Yangtze, my first impression was that Chang’s style is so close to Shakespeare who emphasized the contrast effect on purpose to make story, except that Up to the Yangtze is not love story. So, I went back home after the class and tried to arrange concepts which bear two contrast ideas or moods as much as possible. But if my trial about the film went so far beyond and don’t fit well to the class, please forgive me.
Land vs. Cruise Boat
Before Yu Shui got on the Cruise boat, she was on the land under the parents’ influence. But after aboard the boat, everything changed. Money, Social relationship and cry from other staff members. She grows through working on the boat.
Educated vs. Uneducated
Yu Shui want to study more to be a scientist. It could be a way to achieve her personal success but her parents can’t afford to let her study because of tuition fee. At the same time, education for Yu Shui, seems a way not to repeat the poor.
Mao vs. Western Presidents
Not just about Socialism and Capitalism. The translator on the boat (Chinese guy) mentions political leaders and global trend. Between two ideology and political strategy, money sounds a common important factor for human.
Inside vs. Outside
Inside of the boat, they look wonder about outside of the world while working and looking through the glass window. Outside world, they do shopping, having rest, meeting parents.
Social vs. Cocky
Chen Bo Yu (Jerry) does not hang out with other members well, even though their work requires interaction and teamwork.
Fengdu vs. Splendid downtown
In Fengdu, there is a mean, poor cottage. In the downtown of China, there are skyscrapers. The place us center of business and always crowded.
Cleaning dishes vs. Waiter (Bartender)
Some people are washing dishes and some people are getting tips as a bartender. Washing dishes look more hard and dirty compared to joking with drinkers.
Besides I think there are more couples like western tourist vs. Chinese workers. For me Chang made a film with a bunch of contrasts that he seemed to achieve to show a real life, which’s like a coin has two sides.
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed seeing this perspective of the film because I had never thought about Chang’s film being a lot of contradictions. I see that a lot of the themes or contradictions were about money. A lot of the sadness or burdens that were put on people and their families was based around money and what you had to do or not do based on having money or not.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add to your contradiction between inside and outside. Inside, the boat, workers see happiness or the joys of life. Inside the boat they are catering to Americans that are on vacation, by that the workers forget about the dam or the burdens that affect their lives. When outside of the boat, the workers see the real China and the sadness, poverty and uneasiness is still there, the feelings never left.
In contrast of my last thought, if we look at the inside and the outside of the lives of the characters, it would be opposite. If we, the audience, are on the outside with no understand or explanation of what is going on, the audience would not be able to relate with the characters or get the meaning of the film. If the audience was on the inside, inside of the character’s feelings, this changes our perspective of the film. If we can see and relate to the true feelings of the character and see how this issue affects them, the audience will have a more meaningful impact of the film.
Lyndsay and Gi Hyun make interesting observations here. Contrasts and contradictions in film seem almost impossible to avoid. In "Up the Yangtze" we see that Yung Chang's style of film-making is no exception. However, i believe that this is because life, itself is filled with these contradictions, and not because of Mr. Chang's influence.
ReplyDeleteThe things that Cindy feels, often variations of unhappiness can sometimes contradict themselves. Cindy feel upset at her parents because she must work on the tour boat. She worries that she will not get to go to school and reach her dreams of being a scientist. However, she also worries for her family and knows that her paycheck is helping them get by. This example of contradicting emotions is very easy to associate with.
Chang does not use contradictions and contrasts to confuse the audience. He does it to show his audience the reality of what is going on.
Lyndsay and Gi Hyun, after reading both of your prespectives, I find this point to be incredibly interesting and I had not realized the presence of contradictions either. However, I feel that most of the contradictions revolve around social classes and politics.
ReplyDeleteIn the example of "Cleaning Dishes vs. Waiters (Bartenders)," I think that this shows even within the working class there are divisions of social classes. Those working as dishwashers must manage to gain experience and respect from their peers before they can be promoted. Cindy was told by another girl on the cruise that she must work hard and maybe one day she will be able to work upstairs serving food.
Drawing from this, I would like to add another contradiction: Above Ship vs, Below Ship. There are several aspects to the division of the ship. First, the Chinese workers reside in the basement of the ship while tourists stay comfortably above dock. This can show how Chinese businesses are only concerned with making a profit, and value the lives of their guests rather than their citizens. Next, certain people are allowed to work on deck as a tour guide or a waiter while others must work below deck doing the "dirty work." Those above ship have the opportunity to create more connections between tourists and Western culture as well as the chance to earn more personal tips. The people above ship are valued by the managers of the cruise and therefore given more experiences.