What really made this social issue resonate throughout this clip was the way that everyone treated Dr. Wang, a doctor who was labeled as a “reactionary”. Even though he had most of the power in this situation as he was the only one who had the skills and experience to deliver babies, he was still regarded as just a tool to use and discard. The “doctors” who were delivering the baby were incredibly young, inexperienced, and unprofessional. Instead of focusing on stopping the baby and saving Feng Xia, they crumbled under pressure, repetitively saying that “we don’t know what to do” (2:01:23-2:01:33). As doctors, they should be the ones comforting the patient’s relatives, yet in this scene, we see Er Xi holding one of the “doctors” firmly by the shoulders, telling her to “Don’t panic. Think of something” (2:01:35-2:01:37). Here, it is as if the roles have been reversed and this ironic behavior shows how immature and ignorant these youngsters are when in reality, they cannot handle the stress when lives are literally in their hands. In fact, they still have the audacity to respond with “We’re just students” (2:01:37-2:01:43). Within a minute, these once arrogant and confident “doctors” are now merely students; they have pushed the blame away from them and forced the responsibility of two lives upon Dr. Wang’s shoulders, displaying how quickly one is able to turn to people who they normally humiliated and shamed for help.

 

Yet even when the “doctors” needed him, not only was Dr. Wang physically dragged across the floor when practically unconscious but was left there when hospital staff asked for them to assist in stopping the bleeding. Dr. Wang was clearly having trouble breathing himself, yet he was neglected, and his life viewed less in value due to the beliefs that people held during the revolution. In fact, Dr. Wang even became accustomed to the treatment that he receives as he even assures Er Xi that it’ll be better for him to wear the humiliating sign that hung from his neck: Reactionary against academic authority. With his name crossed out in red, Dr. Wang is being viewed as less of a human than others. Again, it is shown here how Dr. Wang was nothing more than a tool that can be disposed of. 

 

Another social and political issue that this scene captured was how indoctrination can transform the mindsets of so many people in such a short amount of time. The people of China are well-known for their respect towards elders, yet here, the eldest and most experienced person present was treated inhumanly. Throughout the history of China, an essential value was to respect the elders. Generation through generation, the people of China were taught about filial piety: to be good to and to take care of one’s parents, elders, and ancestors. However, in contrast to this ultimate practice, many of the elder generations were degraded and stripped of power during the revolution. In fact, later in the cultural revolution, people were told to get rid of the four olds: old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas. Hence, the ways Dr. Wang was treated in this clip shows how quickly people are able to abandon and adopt new beliefs and values after being indoctrinated in them. 

 

All in all, this clip was effective in allowing two main global issues to seep through: how one is able to turn to another only when searching for help and support and how fast one can be to adopt a new set of values when they have been indoctrinated by them. While this scene, in particular, portrayed these two global issues effectively, they also resonate throughout the whole film, especially towards the end when the cultural revolution really started to have an impact on the lives of the people. Evidence of how specialists were being overthrown and the adoption of new principles was displayed over and over again. 

 

While not as prominent, these two global issues can still be identified today and all through history. Corrupt individuals seeking power and control are constantly using and brainwashing others to their own advantage. It isn’t uncommon for those in competitive industries to collaborate with another before throwing them under the bus and taking all the credit. It’s even more common for one to brainwash others. One popular technique in the modern age takes the form of advertisements. Companies have learned to twist their words to shape the ways costumers feel about their products. Though not necessarily true, slogans, logos, and mottos printed on posters and brandings are able to persuade audience members to desire the item, similar to how the Chinese government was shaping the minds of their citizens. 

 

Zhang, Yimou, director. To Live. To Live Huo Zhe, Shanghai Film Studio, 1994, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKttEgcGZsM. 

“a slight figure…” to “…not used to squatting down in such informal circumstances.”

 

Global Issue- the rich enforces the division of social classes by refusing to interact with nonother but other wealthy people

 

 

Quotes-

·      Body language/appearance

o   She was an “undoubtedly, rich woman, who wasn’t going to be taken aback by anything”

o   “At this she got out of her chair and, still holding her knitting, came over to sit by my fire.”

o   “She was clearly not used to squatting down in such informal circumstances.”

·      Tone of voice

o   “her porter decided to have a rest… the woman simply went on knitting, making no move to get down from her chair” 

o   “she didn’t even glance at what I was doing, nor did she exchange a single word with her porter”

o   “Using the local accent, I asked her if she had spent the night at the hotel in Yong Jing. She nodded her head in confirmation and resumed her knitting.”

o   “You speak with a Chengdu accent!” she exclaimed. Her voice was gentle and melodic.”

 

This excerpt from Balzac is when the narrator meets Four-Eye’s mother near the cemetery. As the narrator approaches her to offer a piece of sweet potato there is a noticeable change in attitude before and after he changes from a local dialect to his Chengdu accent. Through Dai Sijie’s coherent descriptions of Four-Eye’s mother, it is clear how the global issue, the rich enforces the division of social classes by refusing to interact with nonother but other wealthy people, has been reflected. 

 

A significant change can be observed through the body language and attitude of Four-Eye’s mother to the narrator. At first glance, the narrator noted how she was an “undoubtedly, rich woman, who wasn’t going to be taken aback by anything” (84). In fact, when “her porter decided to have a rest… the woman simply went on knitting, making no move to get down from her chair” and showing complete disregard towards those who are working for her (83). Such an observation already evokes the imagery of an arrogant and stubborn woman. As the narrator approaches Four-Eye’s mother, she, again, “didn’t even glance at what I was doing, nor did she exchange a single word with her porter” (83). All she could manage was a nod of “her head in confirmation” before she “resumed her knitting” when the narrator “asked her if she had spent the night at the hotel in Yong Jing” in a local accent (84). Upon hearing his accent and seeing his overall appearance, Four-Eye’s mother confirmed that the narrator was merely another low-class citizen and hence, doesn’t even bother to lift her head or respond with words. Such prejudice against the poor was further emphasized when contrasted with Four-Eye’s mother’s reaction upon hearing the narrator take on a Chengdu accent: ““You speak with a Chengdu accent!” she exclaimed. Her voice was gentle and melodic” (84). Here, words such as “exclaimed”, “gentle”, and “melodic” all come together to transform this once disrespectful woman into a friendly one. This sudden change in tone of voice and body language shows how narrow-minded and discriminatory wealthy people can be towards the poor. Suddenly, Four-eye’s mother was interested in this dirty boy standing before her. “She got out of her chair and… came over to sit” by the narrator, showing an interest in his hometown (84). For her to go from neglecting him to being able to squat down next to him really highlights the difference a person can be treated based on their social status.

 

The discrimination against lower classes was hinted across the novel “Balzac”. Many times, people of power have looked down upon those who served them. As a matter of fact, it was suggested that even the narrator and his friend, Luo, have subconsciously undermined the villagers as they were still not accustomed to not living in the city and being able to afford everything. 

 

This social issue is still notable in some areas where the poverty gap is especially large. Wealthy people tend to abuse their power and neglect those who work below them. For example, there have been multiple incidences where people have asked homeless individuals to leave public areas when they have every right to be there. In fact, some even went as far as to construct “anti-homeless” areas. This is clearly an issue as the society is not only leaving those who are in need to fend for themselves, but they are also belittling and making their lives even harder than it already is. 

 

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie, Vintage, 2002, pp. 83–84.