Floating Life Director: Clara Law Chinese Diaspora Amber, Claire, Eric, Isabel, Jessi, Sibyl.

32
Floating Life Floating Life Director: Clara Law Director: Clara Law Chinese Diaspor Chinese Diaspor a a Amber, Claire, Eric, Amber, Claire, Eric, Isabel, Jessi, Sibyl Isabel, Jessi, Sibyl
  • date post

    21-Dec-2015
  • Category

    Documents

  • view

    219
  • download

    1

Transcript of Floating Life Director: Clara Law Chinese Diaspora Amber, Claire, Eric, Isabel, Jessi, Sibyl.

Floating LifeFloating LifeDirector: Clara LawDirector: Clara Law

Chinese DiasporaChinese DiasporaAmber, Claire, Eric, Amber, Claire, Eric, Isabel, Jessi, SibylIsabel, Jessi, Sibyl

What are the differences?What are the differences?

1) Diaspora(s) (diasporic- adj.) 1) Diaspora(s) (diasporic- adj.) Settled for many generations Settled for many generations with them their own history and cultural experience with them their own history and cultural experience new (hybrid) group and individual subjectivities emerge new (hybrid) group and individual subjectivities emerge concept of multiple migratory processes and diasporizations. concept of multiple migratory processes and diasporizations.

2)2) Immigrants: Immigrants: Under some circumstances people could correct Under some circumstances people could correctly be described as ly be described as

immigrants - if they are in-migrants from one place to another.immigrants - if they are in-migrants from one place to another.

3)3) Emigrants Emigrants: they have just left a traditional home place to live : they have just left a traditional home place to live elsewhere within the same state.elsewhere within the same state.

Why do they root in other Why do they root in other countries?countries?

1)1) Never moved but boundary changes: Never moved but boundary changes: wars wars world politics world politics decolonization decolonization collapsing empirescollapsing empires

2)2) Moved out : Moved out : economic economic private reasons private reasons cultural reasons cultural reasons sought safe haven sought safe haven

History of Chinese Diaspora in History of Chinese Diaspora in Australia:Australia:

19th century 19th century given jobs given jobs laborers and domestic servantslaborers and domestic servants

Latter part of the 1800s Latter part of the 1800s gold rush gold rush widespread famine and social unrest in widespread famine and social unrest in

ChinaChina

Life of these pioneers in AustraliaLife of these pioneers in Australia::

Extremely challengingExtremely challenging Victims of racismVictims of racism Discrimination continued at an official levelDiscrimination continued at an official level Long-term decline in the Chinese Long-term decline in the Chinese

community in Australiacommunity in Australia

Population of Chinese Diasporas Population of Chinese Diasporas in Australia:in Australia:

2004, just over 11,000 Chinese settlers 2004, just over 11,000 Chinese settlers arrived in Australiaarrived in Australia

10% of the total Australian population10% of the total Australian population Half a million Australians identify themselves Half a million Australians identify themselves

as having Chinese ancestry.as having Chinese ancestry.

Problems faced by the newly Problems faced by the newly arrived:arrived:

CareerCareer SchoolingSchooling AccommodationAccommodation Separation from family Separation from family Friends/support systemFriends/support system Time distributionTime distribution A language differenceA language difference

More than a lifetime lease:More than a lifetime lease:

Hong Kong, which includes Hong Kong IslanHong Kong, which includes Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territoriesd, Kowloon and the New Territories

In l898, western imperialist powers scrambliIn l898, western imperialist powers scrambling to carve up Chinese territory, Britain againg to carve up Chinese territory, Britain again forced the Qing government to sign the "Cn forced the Qing government to sign the "Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Tonvention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory"erritory"

This 99-year lease would expire on June 30, This 99-year lease would expire on June 30, l997.l997.

Crisis after 199Crisis after 19977

* Economic Downfall in August 1997.* Economic Downfall in August 1997.Unemployment rate had increased to 6%.Unemployment rate had increased to 6%.

80% of the families in Hong Kong are now much poorer than before the 80% of the families in Hong Kong are now much poorer than before the handover.handover.

Conflicts between the public and the governments.Conflicts between the public and the governments.

Government officials did not consult public opinion when they made Government officials did not consult public opinion when they made decision on the new policies.decision on the new policies.

* Quality of the City* Quality of the CityThere is only stress on economic achievement in the society, and none of There is only stress on economic achievement in the society, and none of

the plans touch on the spiritual life and quality of Hong Kong.the plans touch on the spiritual life and quality of Hong Kong.

High divorce rate, family violence, young drug addictsHigh divorce rate, family violence, young drug addicts, gambling., gambling.

The White Australia Policy: Cause The White Australia Policy: Cause of this legislationof this legislation

““On the gold diggings there were a number of On the gold diggings there were a number of instances of violence against Chinese prospectors instances of violence against Chinese prospectors - where thousands of Chinese were run off the - where thousands of Chinese were run off the diggings by non-Chinese. The diggers argued the diggings by non-Chinese. The diggers argued the Chinese used too much precious water and were Chinese used too much precious water and were taking opportunities away from Europeans.”taking opportunities away from Europeans.”

aim : remove immigrants and labourers from aim : remove immigrants and labourers from austalia ,and prevent more from arriving. austalia ,and prevent more from arriving.

The Act was born :The Act was born :

Australia's 'White Australia' policy. The Governor-Australia's 'White Australia' policy. The Governor-General signed the document two days before General signed the document two days before Christmas Day 1901Christmas Day 1901

The Dictation Test was administered 805 timesThe Dictation Test was administered 805 times 1902–03 with 46 people passing and 554 times1902–03 with 46 people passing and 554 times 1904–09 with only six people successful1904–09 with only six people successful 1909 no person passed the Dictation Test1909 no person passed the Dictation Test People who failed were refused entry or deported.People who failed were refused entry or deported. The Act, frequently amended, remained in force The Act, frequently amended, remained in force

until 1958.until 1958.

Family Tree

Concept of Flexible Citizenship

Effects of Diaspora

Trying to keep own customs-Feng Shui-Eating Chinese food-Learning Chinese

Assimilation-Learning English-Forgetting Chinese-Socializing with Australians

Effects of Diaspora

Belonging-Longing to go back to HK-Identity issue

Asian Image-Looks-Independence-Facing racism

Customs dwindle-Food (oily)-Burning incense-Tomb sweeping day

Settings & ColorsSettings & Colors

*opening scene: bright, ppl emerge*opening scene: bright, ppl emerge

H.K: brown, warm, dim lightH.K: brown, warm, dim light Oz: white, vagueOz: white, vague Germany: blue, winter hueGermany: blue, winter hue

*final scene: Mui Mui’s house*final scene: Mui Mui’s house(( 小女兒的家小女兒的家 ): dream): dream world world

Transition: different HousesTransition: different Houses

A house in HK, Oz, Germany, ChiA house in HK, Oz, Germany, China, na, 家變家變 , , 無樹的屋無樹的屋 , , 小女兒的家小女兒的家

*echo the title*echo the title*background: Chinese painting*background: Chinese painting*calligraphy*calligraphy

Symbols of Chinese RootSymbols of Chinese Root

• TeaTea--Long-jing tea--Long-jing tea

--A green house for growing tea trees--A green house for growing tea trees

Tomb sweeping DayTomb sweeping Day and the memorial tablet and the memorial tablet

--Feeling guilty for not arranging a memorial ta--Feeling guilty for not arranging a memorial tablet and visiting the ancestors’ gravesblet and visiting the ancestors’ graves

Feng shuiFeng shui 風水風水

--Yan’s belief in Feng shui--Yan’s belief in Feng shui

--Itching--Itching

A lotus pond

--A house in China --A home in Australia

A house with trees/ A house without A house with trees/ A house without treetree

Bing’s house V.S. Pa and Ma’s houseBing’s house V.S. Pa and Ma’s house

bone pickingbone picking

--The connection between bone collecting and --The connection between bone collecting and foetus burialfoetus burial

Chinese New Year songs, Chinese Chinese New Year songs, Chinese foodfood

--Bing’s early years in Australia--Bing’s early years in Australia

Ming vs. Bing:Ming vs. Bing:Some Gender DifferencesSome Gender Differences

Jia-mingJia-ming BingBingMaleMale FemaleFemale

Identity Crisis Identity Crisis (conscious)(conscious)

Identity Crisis Identity Crisis (subconscious)(subconscious)

Old Order Collapsing in Old Order Collapsing in HKHK

New Order Dooming in AusNew Order Dooming in Aus

Carnal InfernoCarnal Inferno Thorny HeavenThorny Heaven

Aborted childAborted child Persuaded childPersuaded child

PardonedPardoned PunishedPunished

Life and DeathLife and Death Existence Existence

““ 其實我想表達的是其實我想表達的是 ,, 人存在的短暫人存在的短暫 ,, 以及在無根以及在無根的社會中如何生存的社會中如何生存 .” --Clara Law.” --Clara Law

Existence:Existence:

A. Placement / Displacement A. Placement / Displacement -- Refugee Image-- Refugee Image : : 「走難」「走難」 but not immigrantsbut not immigrants

-- Bone-Picking: -- Bone-Picking:

a. traditional a. traditional (Chinese traditional elements in the film)(Chinese traditional elements in the film)

b. b. 「「連骨也要搬連骨也要搬」」 : eradication from homeland: eradication from homeland

c. proper placement of the bone: c. proper placement of the bone:

death but not just death death but not just death (( 祖蔭祖蔭 for next generatiofor next generation)n)

image of life image of life

B. Spiritual / PhysicalB. Spiritual / Physical -- Physical-- Physical a. a. 射精射精 : material / hedonism: material / hedonism b. b. 陰莖陰莖 : sensational organ (pleasure of life): sensational organ (pleasure of life) * However has nothing to do with offspring continuity * However has nothing to do with offspring continuity

brings a sense of eradicationbrings a sense of eradication

-- Spiritual-- Spiritual a. a. 心痛心痛 : parents’ aging image : parents’ aging image (at heart not in brain)(at heart not in brain)

the two senses are connected through the death of the two senses are connected through the death of the baby, a result of the baby, a result of 射精 射精 (physical(physical spiritual) spiritual) pleasure comes from penis is “here” (brain) not pleasure comes from penis is “here” (brain) not “ “there” (heart)there” (heart) -- the brother’s interpretation: through the blonde-- the brother’s interpretation: through the blonde

(spiritual (spiritual physical) physical)

C. Life / DeathC. Life / Death

-- scene shifts from -- scene shifts from 射精射精 撿骨 撿骨 * * 射精射精 : the extreme pleasure of life: the extreme pleasure of life

* * 骨骨 : death : death

* * 撿骨撿骨 : next generation’s luck : next generation’s luck

(life(life death death life the continue of life) life the continue of life)

next scene: the abortion and dead baby (death)next scene: the abortion and dead baby (death)

-- the aging of parents -- the aging of parents the blonde the blonde * aging parents: lifeless image (after the burial)* aging parents: lifeless image (after the burial)

* the blonde: lively / sex* the blonde: lively / sex

The Floating of TimeThe Floating of Time -- the three ideas are developed through the counti-- the three ideas are developed through the counti

ng of “time”ng of “time”

Time vs.. PleasureTime vs.. Pleasure

* Pressure comes from time: * Pressure comes from time:

                     the approaching of 1997the approaching of 1997

* Pleasure from the penis: * Pleasure from the penis:

                     three minutesthree minutes three second three secondss

Female / Male Immigrants IdentityFemale / Male Immigrants Identity Female:Female: a. a. 冰冰 :: - Fear toward the new land: Evilized outside world- Fear toward the new land: Evilized outside world

a sense of isolationa sense of isolation

- Role of a frontier/dominator (westernized image)- Role of a frontier/dominator (westernized image)

needs to go back to Chinese traditioneeds to go back to Chinese traditio

b. b. 燕燕 :: - orphan image (no one can answers her question)- orphan image (no one can answers her question)

the situation of Hong Kongthe situation of Hong Kong

* Female: multiple identity * Female: multiple identity

(house but not a home of her family: with their husband’s family (house but not a home of her family: with their husband’s family

but not like male who will starts up a home of his own)but not like male who will starts up a home of his own)

ConclusionConclusion

Different degrees in culturaDifferent degrees in cultural mergence, but still Chinesl mergence, but still Chinese origin is the center.e origin is the center.

Dislocation Dislocation Home Home Mui Mui’s wishMui Mui’s wish

Conclusion: SinocentrismConclusion: Sinocentrism HK: abandoned home where male linagHK: abandoned home where male linag

e is impossible to carry on e is impossible to carry on

Aus: A house is not homeAus: A house is not home

New house: with Chinese root (children arNew house: with Chinese root (children around/ ancestor/ sons) branching &leafing ound/ ancestor/ sons) branching &leafing

out“out“ 開枝散葉開枝散葉” ” and union “and union “ 團圓團圓” ” The uncertain future: transformed unityThe uncertain future: transformed unity