The University of California San Diego Libraries, the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS), the Center for the Humanities, the Chinese Studies Program, the American Chinese Culture and Education Foundation, and the San Diego Chinese Association present
Remembering the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976): A Multi-Media Presentation (January 12-13 at UCSD)
. UCSD has a consistently presented programs on Asia cinema that have combined arts and academics in fascinating ways. In the past there have been events about underground Mainland Chinese films and pop Japanese cinema in which film screenings have been paired with lectures, discussions and filmmakers. This year the focus is on the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). There will be film screenings, an exhibition of posters, seminars and book signings for The Chinese Cultural Revolution.
The Chinese Cultural Revolution As History
I have not been able to preview any of the films for the event but based on my past experiences attending these events, I can say that this may the only opportunity that you may have to view these films and they are likely to provide some unique insights into Asia. So here is the information provided by the event organizers.
This two-day event highlighting the 40th anniversary of the Cultural Revolution will be held at UCSDs Geisel Library and the Graduate School of IR/PS. This event will examine the social, political, cultural, and historical backdrop of the Cultural Revolution through a poster exhibition, six films, a book talk, two lectures, and two panel discussions with distinguished scholars in Chinese studies. Admission is free of charge and subject to the venues seating capacity.
The Poster Exhibition runs beyond this weekend's events through March 24 at the Geisel Library. It features the Paul G. Pickowicz Collection of Chinese Cultural Revolution Posters. Professor Pickowicz shares part of his personal collection of Cultural Revolution era posters offering twenty-four authentic posters.
In conjunction with this poster exhibition, Pickowicz will give a public lecture related to themes in the Cultural Revolution posters and show additional digitized images from his larger poster collection. See Day One Lecture at 7:40 pm.
Program: Day One 12 January (Friday) 9:00 am
Location: Seuss Room, Geisel Library
Painting for the Revolution: Peasants Paintings from Hu County, China /
?????: ????? (Documentary)
Directors: Ai Xiaoming ??? and Hu Jie ??
(2005, 52 minutes)
In Chinese with English subtitles.
Synopsis: This film shows the historical background of peasant painting in Hu County, an area known for its aesthetic contribution to the political movements in China. It focuses on the relationship between art and revolutionary campaigns in China, specifically the Cultural Revolution.
10:00 am 11:45 am Book Talk
Location: Seuss Room, Geisel Library
Book Signing with Authors
Books available for purchase from 10:00 am.
Authors available for signing immediately after session until 12:30 pm.
The Cultural Revolution as History
A research seminar on the Cultural Revolution held at UCSD in 2004 culminated in the publication of The Chinese Cultural Revolution As History (Stanford University Press, 2006). At this book talk, each author will speak about an interesting aspect of his or her research on the Cultural Revolution.
Speakers:
Prof. Paul Pickowicz (Co-Chair), Faculty, UCSD (3 minutes)
Prof. Joseph Esherick (Co-Chair), Faculty, UCSD (3 minutes)
Jeremy Brown, Graduate Student, UCSD (10 minutes)
Xiaowei Zheng, Graduate Student, UCSD (10 minutes)
Elya Zhang, Graduate Student, UCSD (10 minutes)
Jiangsui He, Graduate Student, UCSD (10 minutes)
Daphon Ho, Graduate Student, UCSD (10 minutes)
Liyan Qin, Graduate Student, UCSD (10 minutes)
Q&A (30 minutes)
1:40 pm 3:15 pm Lecture
Location: Seuss Room, Geisel Library
Linguistic Violence in the Cultural Revolution: Its Impact on Two Generations
Prof. Shaoyi He, Faculty, California State University, San Marcos (30 minutes)
Liu Shaoqis Contribution to the Cultural Revolution: Unknown Stories
Yongyi Song, Librarian, California State University, Los Angeles (30 minutes)
Discussant: Prof. Paul Pickowicz, Faculty, UCSD (5 minutes)
Q&A (30 minutes)
3:30 pm Film
Location: Robinson Auditorium, IR/PS
Morning Sun / ??????? (Documentary)
Directors: Carma Hinton, Geremie R. Barm, and Richard Gordon
(2003, 117 minutes)
In English
Synopsis: This film attempts to create an inner history of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. It provides a multi-perspective view of the period seen through the eyes of members of the high-school generation that was born around the time of the founding of the PRC in 1949, and came of age in the 1960s.
5:45 pm 7:30 pm Opening Night Reception (by invitation only)
Location: Robinson Auditorium, IR/PS
5:45 pm 6:50 pm Book Signing with Authors
Books available for purchase and signing with Authors of The Chinese Cultural Revolution As History
6:50 pm 7:00 pm Call to Seating
7:00 pm 7:30 pm Welcome Remarks
Brian E.C. Schottlaender, University Librarian, UCSD (5 minutes)
Peter F. Cowhey, Dean, Graduate School of IR/PS, UCSD (5 minutes)
Michael A. Bernstein, Dean, Arts and Humanities, Division of Arts and Humanities, UCSD (5 minutes)
Yingjin Zhang, Director, Chinese Studies Program, UCSD (5 minutes)
Charles Huang, President, American Chinese Culture and Education Foundation (5 minutes)
Frank Liu, President, San Diego Chinese Association (5 minutes)
7:40 pm 8:50 pm Lecture
Location: Robinson Auditorium, IR/PS
Social, Political, and Aesthetic Themes in Chinese Cultural Revolution Posters
Introduction: Prof. Joseph Esherick, Faculty, UCSD (5 minutes)
Prof. Paul Pickowicz, Faculty, UCSD (45 minutes)
Discussant: Prof. Kuiyi Shen, Faculty, UCSD (5 minutes)
Q&A (15 minutes)
9:00 pm Film
Location: Robinson Auditorium, IR/PS
Red Snow / ??? (Drama)
Director: Peng Tao ??
(2006, 110 minutes)
In Chinese with English subtitles.
Warning: Nudity and sexual content. Viewer discretion advised.
Synopsis: During Winter 1967, in the early part of the Cultural Revolution, a peasant widow, living alone in a remote and cold area, rescues a former official, a Red Guard leader, and a young runaway girl.
Day Two 13 January (Saturday)
10:30 pm Film
Location: Seuss Room, Geisel Library
Surprise Attack on White Tiger Regiment / ????? (Peking Opera)
Directors: Su Li ??and Wang Yan ??
(1972, 110 minutes)
In Chinese. No English subtitles.
Synopsis: As one of the eight revolutionary model plays during the Cultural Revolution, this modern Peking opera tells the story of a commando from the Chinese Volunteer Army who worked with the North Korean Peoples Army and local Korean villagers to attack the White Tiger Regiment of the South Korean Army supported by United Nations troops during the Korean War.
1:30 pm 3:10 pm Panel Discussion
Location: Seuss Room, Geisel Library
The Cultural Revolution in Retrospect
The Culture of the Cultural Revolution (20 minutes)
Prof. Richard Madsen, Faculty, UCSD
The Cultural Revolution and the Economy (20 minutes)
Prof. Barry Naughton, Faculty, UCSD
The Literature and Film of the Cultural Revolution: Ecstasy, Trauma, Nostalgia (20 minutes)
Prof. Yingjin Zhang, Faculty, UCSD
Chair and Discussant: Prof. Susan Shirk, Faculty, UCSD (10 minutes)
Q&A (30 minutes)
2:30 pm 3:30 pm Book Signing with Authors
The Chinese Cultural Revolution As History available for purchase from 2:30pm.
Authors available for signing immediately after session until 3:30 pm.
3:30 pm 5:15 pm Panel Discussion
Location: Seuss Room, Geisel Library
Personal Experiences of the Cultural Revolution An Informal Discussion
Speakers will talk informally about their personal experiences before, during, and after the Cultural Revolution. Each speaker will share his or her own unique experiences with other speakers and the audience.
Introduction and Chair: Joseph Esherick, Faculty, UCSD
Speakers:
Jim Cheng, Librarian, UCSD (10 minutes)
Shaoyi He, Faculty, Cal State San Marcos (10 minutes)
Yongyi Song, Librarian, Cal State L.A. (10 minutes)
Li Huai, Faculty, UCSD (10 minutes)
Lu Weijing, Faculty, UCSD (10 minutes)
Kuiyi Shen, Faculty, UCSD (10 minutes)
Tricia Takacs, Administrator, UCSD (10 minutes)
Q&A (30 minutes)
6:30 pm Film
Location: Robinson Auditorium, IR/PS
1966, My Time in the Red Guards / 1966, ??????? (Documentary)
Director: Wu Wenguang ???
(1993, 165 minutes)
In Chinese with English subtitles.
Synopsis: This documentary is based on the personal accounts of former Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. Their testimonials provide different perspectives on the Cultural Revolution.
9:25 pm Film
Location: Robinson Auditorium, IR/PS
Sparkling Red Star / ????? (Drama)
Directors: Li Jun ??and Li Ang ??
(1974, 110 minutes)
In Chinese with English subtitles.
Synopsis: Produced during the Cultural Revolution, this film follows the revolutionary and aesthetic guidelines set up by Jiang Qing, Maos wife. It is a story about a boy named Pan Dongzi who wants to join the Red Army and fight the local landlord Hu Hansan and the Nationalist Army.
Hope you will sample some of this rare event.
