24/11/2015
By Leon Shepherd
“If a book is well written, I always find it too short”
Jane Austen
There has been a film, recently, called “Saving Mr. Wu”. Please forgive the name, it doesn't translate well. However, it is a film about a real case that happened regarding the kidnapping of a film star (the titular Mr. Wu). I'd highly suggest you go and watch it.
Don't be scared; the entire film is subtitled, and subtitled well. It's well acted, the characters are engaging, cinematography is beautiful and the storyline takes a few liberties with realism but it is a fantastic film with charismatic leads. As a student, you can watch it in some theatres for 30rmb. Don't forget your student ID.
Other fantastic Chinese films released in the past year include the bittersweet “Goodbye Mr. Tumour” about a young lady facing cancer and her enduring optimism, and the breathtaking “Lady of the Dynasty”, detailing the life of Yang GuiFei, often called the most beautiful woman in Chinese history and was made by the best of the Chinese film industry. You should go watch it.
China has four great novels, did you know? The most famous of these are “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, an epic detailing the Chinese Civil War, and “Journey to the West”, a book with as much cultural significance as the Bible has had for the West. They're also translated into English, and they're probably online for free. Have you read them?
At the moment, a Chinese T.V. program is sweeping the nation, called 爸爸去哪 (“Father, where are you going?”), an answer to the Chinese modern issue of fatherhood as fathers who spend no time with their children are forced to care for them in challenges all over China, explaining the culture and history behind the country. Seen an episode?
Hell, have you ever gotten drunk with a group of friends and gone to the (infamous) KTV? Sang a few songs in Chinese while knowing only half the words? It's quite the experience. If you can't sing, there are many places where people play music in bars for free; the newest of Chinese talent perform for little more than your pleasure and their ego.
Remember that China is the size of the United States of America, with a population of America and the European Union combined. Twice. Beijing has been a cultural capital of China for over 3000 years, and will be the first every city to host both the Winter and Summer Olympics. It is not short on things to do or experience.
As citizens of the world, we owe it to ourselves to educate and discipline our minds and bodies to the peak of their potential; to experience as much of the world as possible before we grow old and leave it. For many of us, we may be the only ones in our family to even come to China; it is our duty to learn as much of it as possible, and to understand the country that has hosted us. Culture is expanded through entertainment as much as anything else; watch the Simpsons for a slice of Americana, read Shakespeare for Britain, etc.
Don't be lazy; you're already in China. Get out there and figure out what makes it tick. It's a fun place.