From: Michael F. Kamprath <kamprath@space-grant.sprl.umich.edu>
Subject: Re: "Rasie the Red Lattern"  was Re: Rapid Fire (probable spoilers)
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 22:23:50 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan, Aerospace Engineering
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In article <1992Sep14.230815.16143@leland.Stanford.EDU> Dwight Joe,
underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU writes:
>In article <13795.2ab4d17c@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu>
>luk@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu writes:
>>[story in "Raise the Red Lantern"]
>>I agree. It coud have happened in any countries. 
>
>The film illustrates the oppressive condition for women in China.
>It is far worse in China than in the USA.  To say that those
>conditions are equally true in both the USA and China is to
>out rightly lie about the _degree_ of severity.
>

I don't think I need to go into the domestic violence rate in this country.

>Women in Chinese society have been treated like dirt for a long time.
>This applies principally to women in the underclasses, which is
>almost everybody in Chinese society.
>
>>However, I was very depressed after the movie.
>>Does anyone know why the film was banned in china several years ago?
>
>According to Siskel & Ebert, the film was also banned by the Chinese
>government on Taiwan.  Both gov'ts sought to hide any revealing look
>at the state of Chinese society; much of the conditions that existed
>at the time of the film still exist today.
>
>Just remember this film when you Westerners attend "Chinese-cu culture
>day" at places like your local university or community center.  You
>will learn about things like Chinese-cu cooking--i.e. basically
>superficial things that indicate nothing whatsoever about what
>Chinese culture and society has been and still is.  Do yourselves
>a favor.  Watch the film.  Learn about things that are _never_
>mentioned during "Chinese-cu culture day".
>

Watch the film with some sophistication and pay attention to the story, maybe
you'll see what the screen writer and director are trying to show.

>After that, read some Western sources about Chinese society.
>You'll learn that during the Ming Dynasty, astronomers at
>an ancient astronomical observatory (that still stands in Beijing)
>urged the government to adopt the superior Western calendar
>and certain other Western advancements and that all those astronomers
>were subsequently executed.  (source: PBS)  In those days,
>the law forbid the public in general from studying astronomy--a real
>science, but astrology--hocus pocus--was popular and was enjoyed by
>all.  (source: "Planetary Exploration")  Well, so much for the myth
>that education is a special part of Chinese culture.
>

And the scientist during the Middle Ages of Europe were able to publish their
work with no interference from the Roman Catholic Church.

>Another interesting film to see is "The Killing Fields".  It illustrates
>the hideous slaughter of innocent people by Pol Pot and his
>regime (Khmer Rouge?).  Note that the Chinese have been funneling
>weapons to him and his group for quite some time.

Watch documentaries on WWII in Germany, "Industrialization" under Stalin, 
Westward Expansion by the USA, etc. etc. etc.


Does anybody know how to make a kill file for the Nuntius newsreader for the 
Macintosh?  I've guess I have had enough of underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU .

========================================================================
| Michael F. Kamprath                   | The University of Michigan   |
|   kamprath@space-grant.sprl.umich.edu |      Aerospace Engineering   |
|   kamprath@engin.umich.edu            |                              |
|---------------------------------------+------------------------------+
|       And if a man can't change the world these days,                |
|       I still believe he can change his own destiny.                 |
|                                 --Michael Peters (The Alarm)         |
|                                   "The Spirit of '76"                |
========================================================================
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american