Essay Option C Developing Historical and Cross-Cultural Insight.docx
- 1. Essay Option C: Developing Historical and Cross-Cultural Insight Both Hayao Miyazaki and Zhang Yimou produce socially and culturally relevant artistic forms that illustrate the connections between culture, identity, and the tension involved in the relationship between citizens and their governments. Although both film-makers use very different looking films, they share an ability to address some of the most important questions regarding what it means to be a citizen of China and Japan. In this essay you will draw out the major themes of one film by either director (a list of acceptable films follows, you are limited to the films on this list without exception). Prior to viewing the films, reflect on the questions below. Then view the film and take notes on the film’s storyline, presentation and visual elements. Consider how the film director has consciously, through their cinematic choices addressed the issues raised in the questions. In particular, both Yimou and Miyazaki have created films with portrayals of traditional Confucian, Shinto and Buddhist values that also offer insight into their viewpoints concerning the role that such traditions continue to play in the post-modern era. The purpose of the assignment is to explore the way in which politics and art interact in an Asian cultural context, and also to develop expository writing skills. Questions: 1. What is the larger message of the film regarding identity issues? 2. How do the characters in the novel represent different understandings of Chinese and Japanese culture and traditional values?
- 2. 3. How do these characteristics relate to what was discussed in class regarding Shinto, Buddhist and Confucian value orderings – how do these value orderings condition the lives of the characters in the novel? 4. How have you come to understand what it means to be Chinese and/or Japanese through your reading of the film? 5. How does the film-maker use location, including the natural world to address their subject? Your essay should draw on material from the film that you choose as well as the text and class discussions. Be sure to cite material appropriately (see attached guidelines),Use in text citations with a bibliography at the end of the paper. DO NOT USE FOOTNOTES. Technical Instructions: Your paper should be 4-6 pages long and no longer than six pages. Include your title on the first page of the essay, hit return 3 times and begin writing. Your essay should be typed in Times New Roman font with margins no larger than 1 inch all around, double-spaced with page numbers centered in the footer. Be sure to include an introduction that explains your organization and conclusion, which pulls the essay together and presents your observations Zhang Yimou Films Hayao Miyazaki Films Not One Less Spirited Away
- 3. Riding Alone for Thousands of Princess Mononoke Miles Howl’s Moving Castle Raise the Red Lantern Bibliographies and Citations Note that the fundamental purpose of bibliographies and citations is to permit others to track and verify your research. Therefore, it is important to be accurate. 1. Each paper should include a list of references or bibliography, which includes all sources consulted. 2. Alphabetize references by the author’s last name, if no author is shown, by the first word of the title (omitting a, and, and the). Your papers should draw on a variety of sources, including sources that are Asia-based and written by Asian scholars. 3. Footnotes, in-text citations, or endnotes are all acceptable for citing specific references, including direct quotes, borrowed interpretations, unusual or little known facts, etc. Just be consistent. If you use an in-text citation, use the author’s last name and page number i.e. (Charlton 1997, 3). 4. Sources from the internet MUST include the complete author, title, publication, etc., of the document used AND the complete web site address. Include the date accessed at the end of the citation. Be sure to save your sources. POLS 366 Options D and E – Final Research Paper
- 4. Due on 12/17 Technical Instructions (applicable to both options): Your assignment is compare two of our case countries (Japan, India, and China). Your paper should be 15-20 pages long and no longer than 20 pages. A good answer must include materials from class readings and lectures, as well as six solid references from outside sources which are peer reviewed and that analyze the concepts you are using and the connections between them (Wikipedia and other online sources are not appropriate for this assignment). Your paper should be double spaced in Times New Roman font 12 point; with page numbers and a title on the first page (a separate title page is not necessary). Margins should be no larger than 1” on the sides and 1.25” top and bottom. Your paper will be graded on the following criteria: · You must answer all questions and provide reasons for your choices. Support your arguments with evidence and examples using clear and logical organization. · You must demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and ideas we have covered throughout the course and utilize theories of development and political participation from the last section of the course. · You must turn in an organization outline of your paper to share in class on April 30th as well as a 5 minute presentation on your cases or indicators which should include a visual component on May5th or May 7th. OPTION D – Legitimacy and Political Movements Each of our cases has had to deal with legitimacy issues and nation-states have a multitude of options for handling internal conflict and ethnic strife that impacts the ability of states to govern themselves. Begin by explaining clearly the concepts of legitimacy and internal conflict; then choose a facet of legitimacy or political movements in two of our case countries and compare them. Give a detailed and clearly presented explanation of the legitimacy issue or the political movements you are examining. How have the two countries you have
- 5. chosen to compare dealt with such issues? How have these problems influenced issues of governance and how do the political systems in the states you have chosen reflect values systems particular to that country or Asia in general? Be mindful about the cases which you use to compare and develop that comparison in a separate section of your essay. Comparison should include the rationale for choosing these countries and cases – what have you learned from this comparison, what did you expect to find? How do these similarities or differences speak to the major themes of the course? Why is this comparison useful and/or illuminating? OPTION E – Democracy and Development Indicators Begin by explaining the concepts of democracy and development, then familiarize yourself with two or more websites that include indicators claiming to measure democracy and development. Examples include the UN Development Program on human development indicators and the World Bank Institute website on governance indicators as well as the International Parliamentary Union. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the definitions and choice of indicators that these sites use. This should be a solid critique of what is included, implied and omitted in the indicators. Your next step is to analyze one set of indicators by comparing two or three of our case countries. You will need to explain the logic of your choice of countries in terms of the broader value to comparative politics. The central question to address is: what does the database tell you about the links between development and democracy in the countries you are comparing? Construct and discuss at least one formal, comparative table using the database. Do not cut and paste from the website, construct your own using Excel or another program which creates tables. The final section of your essay will present an analysis of the date for your countries in terms of your understanding of development and democracy. Where and why are there similarities? Do some secondary research to determine why there might be similarities or differences. What do the data
- 6. NOT tell you that would help answer your questions?