The Good Earth The movie The Good Earth is based on Pearl Bucks novel, which has the same name. Basically, it is a life story of Chinese peasant Wang Lung, at the turn of the century. Throughout his life, Wan Lung struggles with poverty. Nevertheless, at the end, he is able to make a fortune. The newly acquired riches do not make him happy though, because he had lost his spiritual connection with land. In my opinion, movie is absolutely historical and it must be recommended for viewing to anyone who wants to get a better understanding of Chinese mindset. We cannot talk about Asian-American identity being featured in the film, because the action takes place in China. However, characters certain psychological traits do not leave a doubt about their Asian essence. First of all, Chinese people are known for being both hard working and materialistic. Wang Lung works hard, but his work is not being motivated by any high considerations.
He is portrayed as being psychologically connected to the land, yet, it is simply an irrational assumption, because Wang Lung is unable to operate with abstract categories. He does not care about social or political issues, for as long as they do not have an immediate effect on him. Wang Lungs biggest preoccupation is making children. The fact that he cannot provide them with enough food does not seem to bother him much. Asian-Americans are known to have hardest time integrating into American society, comparing to other minority groups. In fact, they do not integrate, preferring to create their own society within a society.
The Essay on The Lost Ones 8211 Young Chinese Americans
The Lost Ones – Young Chinese Americans Due to harsh immigration laws, in American history, Chinese have often relied on illegal means of entering the United States. For example, in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act (Chinese Exclusion Act, Documents on Anti-Chinese Immigration Policy.) was passed, the first and only act that restricted immigration from one particular ethnicity. This act ...
Every large American city has its own Chinatown. Wang Lung could have become a prominent member of Chinese-American community, but this about it, because he is simply incapable of thinking outside of his racial boundaries. Even a third generation of Chinese-Americans speaks with very noticeable accent, despite the fact that they were born in raised in this country. Older Chinese immigrants do not even bother to learn English, because they do not associate themselves with American culture. Therefore, I think that portrayal of China in movie is very real. Chinese rural community is shown as something absolutely static.
There is no even a hint of technological or cultural progress. This correlates to the historical truth. Throughout millennia, Chinese society could not progress further than feudalism. The only reason why Communism in modern China still remains as popular social doctrine is because it corresponds to the atomistic essence in Chinese people, who can be compared to ants, in metaphysical sense of this word. For as long as they together, ants have purpose and their society seem to be highly organized, but when it gets disturbed by foreign intrusion, ants begin to run around without any particular purpose. This is why democratic form of government is absolutely unnatural to China. In movie Chinese characters are played by American artists.
In my opinion, their artistic performance is supreme. Critics say that Chinese characters are portrayed as being one-dimensional, because European mentality prevented artists from fully incorporating into their characters. Still, playing Wang Lung, who is mostly preoccupied with satisfying his animalistic urges, cannot be more complicated than playing Prince Hamlet, in principle. Therefore, the accusations of biasness, on the part of actors, need to be brushed aside as unsubstantiated. Wang Lung and O-Lan are being presented to us exactly in the way it was originally intended by Pearl Buck. The character of Wang Lung did affect my attitude towards Asian-Americans by confirming my earlier understanding of Asian psyche.
On one hand, I respect Chinese people for being hard working. At the same time, it appears that they lack certain psychological qualities that would allow them to gain social prominence in this country. The most important of them is idealism. There are many Black and Hispanic politicians in America that are known to everybody, yet, it almost sounds sacrilegious that Chinese – American politician might be able to speak on behalf of all Americans. I do not think that this can be explained by racial prejudices, on the part of majority of people in this country. During the period of hardship, Wang Lung seriously considers selling his daughter as slave. O-Lan strangles another daughter in very cool and unemotional manner, because there is not enough food for everybody.
The Essay on Atrocity And The American People
An atrocity is defined as "An act of cruelty and violence inflicted by an enemy-armed force upon civilians or prisoners." Some believe this war in Kosovo is about politics. However, upon examination of the specifics of this conflict it is apparent that this is about religion. People must then decide whom, if anyone is committing these atrocities. Should the United States be involved in the ...
This would be unimaginable for any White parents to do, no matter how poor they might be. The Good Earth portrays Chinese people how they are, without politically-correct adjustments. We cannot talk about racial stereotyping as being absolutely irrational. These stereotypes are result of long term observations of the same behavioral patterns, exercised by particular ethnic group. Therefore, I think that movie The Good Earth does not distort our vision of Chinese-Americans. At the time it was being filmed, the notion of multiculturalism did not even exist. This is why, if we really want to get an objective analysis of racial issue, we need to watch movies and read books that did not go through political-correct censorship.
There is no doubt that Asian-Americans might become scapegoats, if serious economic or social problems begin to haunt this country. Although, I do not think that this is very likely to happen. The public attention is going to be focused on another ethnic minority, namely Jews. Nevertheless, Chinese people are often being referred to as Asian Jews, because of their attraction towards shady trade and market speculations, therefore, peoples frustration might express itself in few broken windows in Chinese stores. However, if international relations with China will deteriorate, which is very likely to happen, the Chinese minority here is going to be regarded as fifth column, which might draw far more serious consequences. In my opinion, it is wrong to emphasize on ones racial affiliation, as the mean of promoting diversity.
We are all Americans and if someone considers himself to be rather Chinese-American, than maybe he will feel much more comfortable back in China, working in a sweatshop for 5 dollars a day.
The Essay on The Good Earth: the book vs. the movie
The Good Earth, made in 1937, was an interesting portrayal of life in China during these times. Although I think it is a great movie for this era, I had a hard time relating to the film. The advancements in film have made it hard to go back to older movies; things like digital effects and color have really made older movies seem like ancient history. The characters seemed over dramatized and ...
Bibliography:
Hayford, Charles Whats So Bad About The Good Earth?. 1998. Education About Asia. 11 Apr. 2007. http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/hayford.htm Abstract: This paper discuses different aspects of movie The Good Earth and relates it to multicultural reality in America.
Outline: Introduction p. 1 Main part p. 2 Conclusion p. 3.
