Final Blog Reflection

The course officially comes to an end tomorrow and it is time for one final reflection. Throughout the semester we have been asked to create and regularly update our very own blog. This is my final result, looking back at all of my posts, I am very proud of the work I have contributed this semester. I have found the use of our very own personal blogs has been beneficial for multiple reasons. For one, it has allowed a time to recollect our thoughts from the week, and maybe most importantly it has been therapeutic to have an outlet to vent. As college students, there is a lot of stress and frustration involved with juggling school, work, and life in general. So having an outlet to let out some of that steam and frustration has been very beneficial. This blog has also allowed a lot of us to experiment with an digital tool and apply it to our education. This is one of the main lessons I will take from my time in the course, the benefits that come with using technology in and out of the classroom. As someone who has aspirations to one day become a professor, I will hope to introduce and apply technology into my own classroom. Allowing my students to experiment with digital media, and to use their creativity as a new means to learning. Looking back at all I learned this semester I have found a new appreciation for teaching. Globalization has allowed for a "playful pluralism" within the teaching community, in that various approaches to teaching can ultimately be the best decision for teachers and students alike. In conclusion, this course has been extremely beneficial to me personally. It has given me a brief introduction to the various approaches to teaching a broad range of subjects. It has challenged me to use an alternative approach to my very own thinking. Ultimately is has given me the opportunity to experience a new way of learning.

World Text Essay (Final Draft)

Manuel Regla

Professor Wexler

English 495

5 April, 2014

Socio-Economics on Two Wheels

            Karl Marx once said “The more the division of labor and the application of machinery extend, the more does competition extend among the workers.” Marx is widely recognized for being the most notorious communist in history, as he spent the majority of his life living within the “red” curtain. His ideas of economics in relation to social class have become staples in the consideration and analysis of potential growth and economic evolution within a country. One of the best examples of this type of evolution is a country who like Marx, is notable for the color “red,” that is of course the country of China. China in contemporary terms is considered to be level with America, if not superior, in terms of both economic manufacturing and production. But China was not always as financially adept as it is now presently considered; the decisive boom came in the form of basic modernization that was represented in both industrialization and monetary competition. China’s economic revolution is sought and exemplified in clarity in the films China: A Century of Revolution and Beijing Bicycle. Both films clearly demonstrate China’s revolutionary transition from antiquation to modernization in terms of economics, social class, and ultimately opportunity.

            Looking at China in its infancy, the country took several significant steps in becoming the powerhouse it is recognized as today. The most transformative of these stages was the introduction of industrialization and a capitalistic framework. China: A Century of Revolution carefully documented the economic revolution of the country. Spotlighting the grandness of the city’s skyscrapers and how the citizens swarmed to venture in what capitalism had to offer them. The documentary displayed this particular financially driven change in the people and the country itself. The country life of China which once was a respected institution had begun to be overshadowed and undervalued with the booming skylines and big businesses. Randy Martin further discusses this type of global shift in his piece “Where Did the Future Go.”  Martin states: “One shift lies in how finance asks people to imagine their future or more specifically to see the future as already at hand.” Martin here details how finance plays a role in how society not only thinks, but acts. To not think of possible dire financial implications, but to believe the “future” had already been provided. As exemplified in the country’s people transitioning from agriculture to a more lucrative and popular lifestyle.

            Where China: A Century of Revolution tirelessly documents China’s economic timeline, the film Beijing Bicycle takes a more symbolic approach to the transcendental socio-economical phase in the country’s history. Beijing Bicycle and its director Xiaoshuai Wang place the viewer smack dab in the middle of the period in a clever fashion, as the viewer is in the same disoriented psychological state as the film’s protagonist Guo.  The character of Guo represents China’s country life, as he travels from his agriculture upbringings to the capital city to begin a job as a bicycle messenger. The film spares no time to display Guo’s reaction to the city life. The film’s cinematography captures Guo underneath the towering skylines, freezing the wonder on his face, and reviving it over and over again as he peddles across the screen. Guo reiterates the country’s new ideology when it comes to not only economics, but the role of social class as well. He does not only feel awkward within the luxurious landscape, but around its inhabitants as well. Guo’s brief interactions with other characters often lead to confrontation and social snafus. The majority of the time he chooses to remain silent, which does not reflect respect, but submission. It can be argued Guo’s country life upbringing has made him submissive to the “superior” city folk, whom he can never truly share a conversation or home. Guo’s ideology may be best exemplified in the altercation with the film’s other central character Jian. Guo suspects Jian for stealing his bicycle and in turn attempts to steal it back which leads into a chase, and ultimately altercation. When being cornered and intimated by Jian’s friends, Guo remains silent as if he is not able to comprehend the language in which they speak. They quickly insult him, his clothes, and his social worth. It is in this scene, does the film not only capture Guo’s displacement, but China’s distinct class division.

            Opportunity truly is a powerful force. If Beijing Bicycle symbolizes China’s alteration to the path to economic endeavor, it also provides a bold statement in regards to the role of opportunity in relation to economic and social successes. Opportunity is most represented in the film in the form of the bicycle. The bicycle is symbolic for multiple purposes in the film. For one, it represents China’s industrialization, but socially symbolizes class worth. Throughout the film Guo and Jian compete for this token. When each of the young men is in possession of the bike, they capture the essence of opportunity. This results in their social good fortune and standing each of the men feel, which relates to their overall happiness. The role of the bicycle in the film is crucial to comprehending the character’s motivations. Their ultimate goal is to not only obtain social acceptance but become a symbol of it. The character’s motivation in the film once again returns to the idea of China’s introduction to modernistic social and economic competition. The natural human instinct is the cutthroat business agenda, to get the job, to get the girl, and obliterate who stands in one’s way. Beiing Bicycle is able to capture and display all of these themes solely through the use of its central characters and a singular bicycle. Ultimately, China and other countries like it will face their moment in history where a path is taken, and its people will gradually have to adapt to that path, whether it is on two feet or two wheels.

China’s road to economic dominance was taken through monumental moments. These moments were not as drastic as wars, or revolt, but of a simple introduction to monetary competition and social upholding. Both China: A Century of Revolution and Beijing Bicycle exhibit these types of changes in their own methods. The documentary type of approach historically demonstrates how China has gotten to where it viably is today. Whereas Beijing Bicycle, takes a more poetic approach to unearth China’s metamorphosis. Using the bicycle as a symbol for multiple functionaries of Chinese socio-economic history, the film excels in painting a picture of individuals trapped in rotating door of the past and concededly the future. In the end, a country is made up of its people, and in turn the choices that country makes drastically alters not only the individual’s’ lives, but their inner and outward perception.  

                                                      Works Cited

Beijing Bicycle. Dir. Wang Xiaoshuai. Perf. Lin Cui. Pyramide Productions, 2001. DVD.

China: A Century of Revolution. Dir. Sue Williams. Zeitgeist, 2002. DVD.

Martin, Randy. "Where Did The Future Go?" Logos Journal, 2006. Web. 10 May 2014.

Reflection #9

The semester is winding down now as the class has begun to finalize our last assignments. We have to write an essay using the films we viewed in class in relation to a global economic context. Luckily the films were ripe with information regarding the subject. I found the film Beijing Bicycle to be very entertaining and insightful. The glimpse into the foregrounds of China's economic modernization was beyond interesting. The plot revolving around a bicycle, which shapes and impacts the lives of two young men. The powerful metaphor for China's socioeconomic competition was felt throughout the film. I have chosen to narrow down my essay in directly analyzing the film's themes and finding a deeper meaning within the film. As we approach our final class sessions I keep in mind how globalization has influenced not only my classroom but those all over the world. If only we were all lucky enough to have our very own bicycle to lead us to freedom.

World Text Essay Rough Draft

Manuel Regla

Professor Wexler

English 495

5 April, 2014

Socio-Economics on Two Wheels

            Karl Marx once said “The more the division of labor and the application of machinery extend, the more does competition extend among the workers.” Marx is widely recognized for being the most notorious communist in history, as he spent the majority of his life living within the “red” curtain. His ideas of economics in relation to social class have become staples in the consideration and analysis of potential growth and economic evolution within a country. One of the best examples of this type of evolution is a country who like Marx, is notable for the color “red,” that is of course the country of China. China in contemporary terms is considered to be level with America, if not superior, in terms of both economic manufacturing and production. But China was not always as financially adept as it is now presently considered; the decisive boom came in the form of basic modernization that was represented in both industrialization and monetary competition. China’s economic revolution is sought and exemplified in clarity in the films China: A Century of Revolution and Beijing Bicycle. Both films clearly demonstrate China’s revolutionary transition from antiquation to modernization in terms of economics, social class, and ultimately opportunity.

The more the division of labor and the application of machinery extend, the more does competition extend among the workers
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/k/karlmarx163680.html#wFQIeSitwXgsF0X8.99

The Life of a Lobby Boy.

Minor film review: 8.7/10

Wes Anderson is a pretty polarizing film maker. Be it over the top sets, blinding pastel colors, or the slow motion montage, he has definitely imposed his trademark style. The Grand Budapest Hotel not only follows these traditions, but builds upon them. After earning academy award buzz from his last venture Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson has tossed his hat once again for significant critical buzz. The film captures all of the good of his best films. The cast with the majority of similar faces, adds a few new comers to his film catalog, specifically the lead Ralph Fiennes who steals the movie. Although the film does add new dimensions to the Anderson cannon, it does feel similar to its predecessors during multiple scenes. Luckily for the film, the similarities do not stray away from the visual spectacular Anderson paints onto his canvas.

Reflection #8

With the semester closing to the end, we are shifting gears towards our final paper. With that in mind our class is beginning our preparations. First thing we did was view a documentary in class called Captialism: A Love Story. The film was very captivating and at times shocking. Director and writer Michael Moore is no stranger to evasive and thought provoking film making, as his reputation as a sociopolitical documentation  is well known. His other films Bowling for Columbine, and Fahrenheit 9/11 are both in the similar vein as the film we viewed in class. The film itself revolves around the topic of capitalism, and first hand stories about people who have been harmed by it. After viewing the film, it makes me more aware and educated about the economical state of society and the role big business and the government ultimately has. I will make sure to use the film as a trusted resource in my final paper.

Reflection #7

Presentations have ended and we are now moving towards our next term paper. The semester feels as if it has flew by at this point. With the being said, coursework has begun to pile up. In a matter of two weeks I have three papers due, readings that need to be done, and somehow find time for a "spring break." Regardless of my hectic schedule, I am pleased with how I have done this semester. With one class (critical theory being the exception, my classes have been relatively pleasant and interesting. Here is to hoping the rest of the semester goes smoothly!

On a side note,

One of the benefits to college courses is the introduction to texts that I before would not have been familiar to. This past week I read three short stories by Tim O'Brien. All of which were amazing to read, the amount of detail and power O'Brien writes in is truly left me in awe. In the same vein, I currently am reading Native Son by Richard Wright for my African American literature class. The book has blown away my expectations. It is graphic, intense, and filled with layers of a deeper meanings.