Social Experiment

Last week I was able to conduct an interesting social experiment in my classes. The lesson topic was Super Heroes and the language objective was reinforcements of basic plurals and singulars. Out of this mixture arose an interesting game, which required critical thinking and consideration of ethics.

I set up six teams in the classroom and gave each team a few super heroes. I then gave the class a series of scenarios where two different locations needed help at the same time, one an individual one a group.

There were several different choices to consider such as whether to save a woman who had been kidnapped by pirates or a group of old women who had their money stolen and between helping cars in a traffic jam or a broken down bus full of school children. I got several interesting and amusing answers such as: I will help the woman because she’s sexy, I will help the old women because the elderly should come first, I will help the old women because I like money, I will help the bus because children are our future and they need an education, and I will help the cars because I hate school. 

But the scenario I thought produced the most interesting results was a choice between a political official (Xi Jin Ping/ Li Ke Qiang) who had been kidnapped and a robbery where several peoples’ lives were in danger and the bank account of hundreds of people could potentially be stolen. In almost all the classes, the results were half and half. I got quite the diversity of answers.

Some groups chose to save the political official because he is important for the country, but others would pick the people. One boy said he would pick the people because the loss of all that money would severally damage the economy. Another girl said that she would save the people because another leader could always be selected to replace the assassinated leader but a country would be nothing without its people. Another boy made a very bold statement when he quoted Mao Zedong as saying that all people are equal regardless of position, pretty much stating that it doesn’t matter how important Xi Jin Ping is. In a choice between saving lives, the many always comes before the one. One kid plainly blurted out that he didn’t like Xi Jin Ping at all and so he wanted to save the people!! Instead of gasped this statement only received laughter from his fellow students.

This game demonstrated to me that even at a young age, Chinese people have little patriotic obsession over their technocratic leaders, and in the right setting you can get a lot of dissenting opinions out of them.

However this doesn’t mean that Chinese people completely speak freely about their opinions regarding political officials. In one class, a group of educators sat in and observed the session. They seemed to generally enjoy the lesson, but they did have an effect on student answers in regards to this scenario. Only one team picked the people in the robbery over the political official in this class, and all the answers in support of saving the official came off as a bland statement referencing how important Xi Jin Ping was for the country and how China wouldn’t be able to progress without him. Given the circumstances I decided not to press the students on their answers.

However, I don’t want to give the impression that all teachers and educators mindlessly support the Communist Party. While party members usually head school administrations, I have talked to a few teachers at my school (all female too) who have openly denounced the effects of the Cultural Revolution on Chinese society. But like their students, these teachers are far less bold in front of their superiors.

Also my neighborhood in Shenzhen (Overseas Chinese Town) is unique in China. Shenzhen itself is sort of a bubble. It’s a special economic zone that has been officially capitalist for thirty years. It’s right next to Hong Kong where newspapers and books with views not condoned by the Communist Party can be easily purchased. Most people in the inner districts own their own computer and even in the outer districts an Internet Café isn’t too far away. Most importantly, the economic prosperity, wealth, and opportunity that can be found in Shenzhen has bolstered a vibrant Middle Class in areas such as my neighborhood of OCT/Window of the World.

An area dominated by a Middle Class is more likely to have a louder and more diverse array of opinions as opposed to some village in Guizhou where people don’t have the luxury to ponder the socioeconomic issues facing 21^st Century China.  Shenzhen is way ahead of most of China in regards to political and economic perspectives. However, Shenzhen is a good place to observe changing Chinese perspectives that within 10-20 years very well could be the norm. 

Loony Toons with Socialist Characteristics: Analyzing Chinese Cartoons

While Chinese animation isn’t nearly as developed and fruitful as American or Japanese animation, there are a few shows that adopt the typical cartoon formula that draws in young audiences. The most famous cartoon in China ix Xi Yang Yang (Pleasant Goat) who co starts with his arch nemesis Hui Tai Lang (Big Bad Wolf).

The cartoon has received numerous awards over the past 10 years and is widely known by children throughout China. It’s simple cheerful music and mild violent antics make for great entertainment for those who are learning Chinese like me. The language is easy to follow and the plot line is predictable. Hui Tai Lang always tries to capture Xi Yang Yang and his other sheep friends for dinner only to find that his plans were in vain when Xi Yang Yang discovers a clever and painful way to defeat him. In many ways Xi Yang Yang is the Chinese Loony Toons, applying the plot line of a hunted underdog hero who always overcomes his bumbling hunter antagonist. However, Xi Yang Yang is not without its Chinese characteristics and when looked at closely, the show reveals a socialist theme.

Unlike the witty Bugs Bunny who defeats the Odious Elmer Fudd and erratic Yosemite Sam single handedly, or Road Runner who leads Wile E Cyote into his own traps, Xi Yang Yang is amongst a community of other sheep. It is Hui Tai Lang, the antagonist who is outnumbered, which leads the viewer to support a unified community over that of a single malicious individual who strays from the pack. Hui Tai Lang is depicted in dirty peasant clothing with a scar across his face, and it’s not hard to discern that his murderous actions are self-seeking.

However, Hui Tai Lang is not completely without company. He has a wife who he always refers to as La Po (my love/ honey-pie). The style of La Po’s outfit couldn’t be farther from her husband’s. She is dressed in a Queen’s robe with a crown adorn in jewels and their abode is a dark castle inn the woods. La Po also is characterized by her hot temper, which frequently leads to Hui Tai Lang being whacked in the head by a frying pan when his plans fail to bring positive results, which of course they never do. He also has one son (the gift most Chinese parents want), who often betrays his farther by siding with Xi Yang Yang who he views as a friend. To his chagrin, Hui Tai Lang’s failure to catch Xi Yang Yang reveals the lack of power he has over his own household as he cowers under the threat of his wife’s frying pan.

Essentially, Hui Tai Lang is the unlucky capitalist; seeking to destroy the community paradise the sheep live by attempting to eat them for personal gain. These attributes, according the show, are not virtuous and they lead to Hui Tai Lang flying off into the distance in Team Rocket fashion due to some explosion or crash screaming “Xi Yang Yang wo hui lai!!” (Xi Yang Yang I will be back!). Even Hui Tai Lang’s son is forced to forsake his father for the stability of the community over individual selfishness.

Xi Yang Yang isn’t the only Chinese cartoon to do this. Another cartoon involving an overly confident hunter and some bears and other various forest animals also employs the group protagonist vs. individual antagonist dynamic. What’s even more amusing about this cartoon is the hunter is dressed like a typical American redneck in full camou attire, toting ridiculously large guns and a superfluous supply of bullets.  This may be a jab at the lack of American gun control provisions. Private gun ownership is illegal in China.

Given Xi Yang Yang’s success in advancing socialist ideals to children, one would think that the Chinese government would support its broadcast. However, due to a recent incident in Jiangsu Province involving the burning of a child by another child who was imitating the show, the government has had the show censored until it can produce episodes devoid of violence, meaning devoid of typical cartoon antics, which is the whole point of animation. Still, if the show continues to run, you can expect the community protagonist structure to continue to be in play.