Spring has sprung

Announcement: Please go to the bookstore and purchase Maxine Hong Kingston's novel Woman Warrior if it's available. I'm told that it was sold out, but perhaps they ordered more? (I have contacted the book dealer to inquire.)

Announcement: The TA (Ms. Chen) will supervise the class on Tuesday 3/2. You will watch the two movies posted below and answer the questions below for homework by posting replies to this blog entry. (Post by Friday 3/5.)

Announcement: Aaron will return to teach the class on Tuesday 3/9. The reading assignment to prepare for that session is specified here in the syllabus (Bierce/Pound/Far/Song/Lee); I will post the homework questions on Friday 3/5. If you have any complaints/suggestions about the syllabus, please post them by Monday 3/8. (I am aware of the scheduling conflict with the graduation ceremony, and am considering alterations.)

I look forward to seeing you soon!




Note: The Jazz Singer was released in 1927. It was the first full-length "talkie," or movie with synchronized sound.
Note: "Cantor" is a Jewish holy singer
Note: "Shiksa" means a non-Jewish woman
Note: "Kibbitzer" means gossiper
Note: The Bronx is the area of New York city just north of Manhattan island... it was a bit more rural at this time (especially even further to the north)... you can imagine the setting of the Jewish neighborhood in the movie being downtown Manhattan. My Jewish relatives actually moved to the south Bronx around this same time. Today the Bronx is a working class area, and downtown Manhattan is incredibly expensive. American cities tend to follow two patterns: one is a "white flight" pattern in which wealthy residents abandon the central city and commute to their professional jobs from the suburbs, the other is a "gentrification" pattern in which the central city areas become more expensive and lower-wage workers must leave them because the rent is too high. I would be interested to know which pattern prevails more in Taipei.

126 (Alyssa). Can a movie be considered a work of "American Literature"? Give arguments for both yes and no.
127 (Caleigh). I find the story of Jakie Rabinowitz / Jack Robin personally relevant because it makes me think of my grandparents' generation of Jews in New York City. Many of my students in California find it relevant because they or their parents have immigrated to the U.S. and faced the dilemmas of Americanization. What I wonder is if you find this movie identifiable or relevant? Why or why not?
128 (Carol). The Jazz Singer belongs to a category of technically innovative American movies that includes Avatar and Song of the South (remember that one? with the singing slaves and the cartoon rabbit?). Can you think of any reason why these technical innovations are accompanied in each case by an attempt to somehow consume the experience of a racial minority?
129 (Clara). It is clear what Jack's father represents (religious law, tradition). But I find his relationship to his mother quite interesting. What does it mean? How can we analyze her character?
130 (Crystal). Does the narrative of the Jazz Singer suit Roosevelt's rules for 'Americanization,' or not? Explain.





Note: Modern Times was released in 1936; it is considered the last great silent movie, although it does have some synchronized sound.
Note: "Gamin" means a street urchin, a boy. I think it should be "Gamine," which would be female. Also, I'm going to take a wild guess that most waterfront urchin girls are not strikingly beautiful.

131 (Emma). Analyze the choice of words on the title screen: "A story of industry, of individual enterprise - humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness."
132 (Esther). What kinds of things does Charlie Chaplin do, as an actor and as a director, to make the "Little Tramp" character so identifiable or sympathetic to his audience? Compare the Tramp to a 20th/21st century Taiwanese character who has a similar level of identifiability, or similar characteristics.
133 (Iris). Why do you think the German Nazis were convinced that the Little Tramp was Jewish? How is ethnicity/race addressed in Modern Times?
134 (Jane). Explain Chaplin's use of sound and/or silence to convey meaning. (Exclude the musical score.) Why do you think he didn't like "talkies"?
135 (Jenny). Which of our authors from last semester would like Modern Times the most? Which would like it the least? Explain.

More Avatar

This review might be a nice way to practice your colloquial English over the vacation. It's kind of like a crasser version of my analysis of the movie. But pretty much equivalent.

This might also be a good summary of the movie's simplistic message of "cultural tourism."