Chapter 10

I think that the Chinese attitude toward other civilizations can really be summed up as general distain. I feel that this kind of petty thinking really hinders how China is able to even operate within itself! The fact that it seems universal within the general public to hate everything that is not only Chinese really does make me mad. It is not an understandable behavior - even in people we may know casually or formally - and it is defiantly exasperated in the scope of an entire country. The fact that the Chinese people really feel that their county has always been on the short end of the stick is really bluntly just immature.
I think that the entire country and her people honking hat they are weak enough to have always been bullied is kind of a silly stance, especially if it was thought up by the government itself.
I think the best story Dodson told that illustrated this point was the story surrounding he Tiniman Square incident. Granted that this was a situation that the government had wanted to keep quiet, I still feel that the people took it to a whole new level. They wanted to silence one of their own just because she was brave enough to act out about the things that she saw taking place. However, I think that with how much the government knows about hanging together versus hanging separately, they were able to effectively divide their public - however the majority of the people were still on the side of the government. Overall, I do not think that the Chinese people are stupid, however I do believe their thinking is outdated in a very unnecessary way.

afterword

Dodson's afterward is the typical wrap up for a book like this. He restates what he's said in the book, which I think is always important for a conclusion. I think this is one part that we can model our conclusions after. Reminding readers of all the things they've just read is important, especially in long pieces that readers may read over an extended period of time, like we did with Dodson's book. In contrast with what we're thinking about for our conclusions, Dodson doesn't really reflect or remember any of the stories in his book, he instead just gives us more information to take in. I feel like this could've been the perfect time for Dodson to tell us why he did this overwhelming amount of research on China. He could've taken us back to one of the little stories in the book and told us why those experiences were so personal to him. That shows me that it's definitely something that I want to remember in my conclusion. I think it's important for my readers to know why I spent three months trying to define a topic that is ultimately indefinable.

Afterward

The afterward of China Inside Out is mostly a review and wrap up of the ten previous chapters.  Dodson makes smooth transitions from giving a quick summary of what was stated in the chapter, sometimes even repeating what was said in the chapter, like when he mentioned China is the canary in the coalmine of the world again, and giving some new information on the topic to help conclude what he has to say.  Dodson does in a way explain why his whole book presents important information for other people, but I feel it is more so done in the way of presenting facts about what China is doing and how it will affect others, including us in the United States.  Dodson does not really mention what doing this research meant to him personally, which is a big part of our research papers.  I’m sure it did have an importance to him since he wrote a whole 200+ page book, but maybe the most important thing to him was informing his readers.

Dodson Afterword Response

Dodson's conclusion, when compared to the one we are to be writing for our braided essay, seems much more like a business closure rather than a wrap up. Indeed, it somewhat sums up what the entire book was supposed to mean, as well as the implications of the trends he had outlined upon the world, it does seem to have a slight disconnect to our own conclusion statements. I suppose they are similar in that they both wrap up the works they proceed, and both consider the weight of the writing against the greater public, but I feel like my own carries more personal reflection than it does business and global reflection as the conclusion written by Dodson does. Dodson leaves too much of a business like flavor in my mouth upon reading the afterword, which is something I want to avoid in my own conclusion. In my writing, I hope to inspire something more akin to an emotional reaction- something to speak not to the head and global awareness, but a more central introspective feeling in regards to something global. I suppose in that, Dodson's conclusion and my own are very similar, yet just as different.

Afterword

Dodson's afterward was very much a reflection and summary of what his entire book entailed. He synthesized many of his main points down into a sentence or two and made his final remarks. Much of his afterword was his own thoughts on the status of China. He closes with a very matter-of-fact synopsis of where China currently stands. Dodson's afterword compares with my conclusion in that it revisits the original concept and aim for the writing. Dodson's afterword also in many ways shows the reader why his writing is relevant. He clearly highlights what a growing power China is becoming which in itself displays the importance in understanding China more deeply. The personal aspect of my conclusion is where it differs from Dodson's afterward, in my conclusion I spoke a significant amount about what my research meant to be, whereas Dodson keeps his closing remarks more factual. Overall, both Dodson's afterword and my conclusion aim to regroup after presenting the reader with extensive information on one main topic. Both also strive to make the reader understand why what they have read is relevant and beneficial.

Afterword Response

Dodson's Afterword ends up wrapping up the overall topics he focused on throughout the chapters. He words what he stated in previous chapters differently by summing up and analyzing what he thinks might occur in reaction to China's society. I found that the language he used in his Afterword was not very personal, it pretty much focused on China in itself. Dodson's Afterword can relate to the kind of conclusion we are being asked to write for the essay in the way it sums up what was previously discussed and comes up with a general conclusion for the entire piece of writing. It is very similar in that sense, yet the focus on the conclusion of our ethnography seems to me like it is much more personal. We are being asked to not only analyze what we have found within each part of our strand, but to also consider the local and global implications that have resulted from our findings. We don't necessarily have to find a solution to a problem we ran into, but merely examine the effects of what we found and the possible relation it can have personally and globally. 

Dodson's Afterword

In a brief post, compare and contrast Dodson's Afterword with the kind of conclusion you are being asked to write for your essay.  150-250 words

Chapter 9

First, I really found that the way the Chinese people have to fight to keep their babies interesting. The fact that a Chinese families are required to pay a fee in order to keep their children, or bribe officials, seems completely ridiculous to me. I found this information so interesting because, as we discussed in class, it seems crazy that people would try to regulate something as basic as childbirth and parenting.

Next, I found that the Chinese stance on marriage and child reproduction. With so many people are being forced out of the country to find wives and kidnap them back into the country. If someone is so unfortunate not to get a wife by a certain age, they are deemed by society as a failure. This message is so contradictory to their one child law and fees and restrictions that it makes no sense. Personally, I find these two opposing policies very confusing and if I lived there I know I would be endlessly frustrated with these policies.

Finally, I found the fact that the population issues in China were caused by Mao’s policies alone. This surprised me because of how ingrained his polices seemed to become to the people and the culture of China.

I think the main difference is that the United States population boom and decline seems to the caused by the economy’s ups and downs. This is a self regulating system, I feel, that exists in our capitalist country. However, in China, where capitalism is there, but communism still prevails, I feel there is a much larger struggle for people to face.

Ch. 10

From what Dodson sad about China, I got the impression that they are very full of themselves and don’t think that they ever do anything wrong.  The whole Spy Plane Incident is rather ridiculous and kind of reminded me of a cat when they don’t make it to where they are trying to jump and end up falling, walking away, and start grooming themselves playing the while thing off like nothing went wrong.  From Dodson’s telling of this story is obvious that Lieutenant Commander Wang Wei made a mistake, but China doesn’t want to admit that and tries to put the blame on the US.   Also the television programs kind of gave me the impression that China thinks they are perfect because the programs mentioned are all about how China has been wronged by others, never something they themselves did wrong.  The, I just got confused on the logic behind them having the most cultivated language just because it’s difficult to learn. 

            So from the way I read this chapter, Dodson is saying that China basically thinks they are perfect and can do no wrong.  I have no idea if this is true or not, I would need to read more about Chinese culture and they way they have reacted to other situations where they are at fault.   

ch 10

From reading chapter ten, I feel like China has a very protective psychological view of their country. Considering their identity is currently “at stake”, as Dodson says, the country is currently developing and seems very aware of that fact. They try really hard to protect themselves from other governments, like the US, from accessing their information. They do this by putting a fire wall on their internet, referred to as the “Great Firewall of China”. They also seem to be somewhat pretentious about their image. They see themselves as the most culturally advanced country in the world, because their language is so complex. They also see the history of Imperial China as a very important piece of them. Dodson says that even those who are the most socially inept consider the imperial line respectable. They have an insane amount of national sovereignty. I feel like they kind of look at themselves as a  blank slight, because they are proud of any progress they make in the socioeconomic world. Although they know they can’t beat the US, China sees victory in any advancement they make. As they search to recreate their own history, China struggles to move forward without starting a revolution over the past. I think I agree with the way Dodson is portraying the Chinese psychology because it reflects the perception I have of the attitude of the Chinese.

Dodson Ch.10 Response

It seems that Chinese psychology is one of supremacy. By the way Dodson describes, it seems China takes a stand point that, if it were more volatile, seems dangerous to me. I've never liked the idea of a society thinking anything close to some of the thoughts Dodson expressed were present in the Chinese mind. Dodson stated that in Chinese psychology speaking another language made one feel more barbaric, and that they tended to elevate themselves above other people. This is a practice with which, in a world trying to reach equality, I do not find okay. Patriotism or nationalism is one thing, but a supremist mindset is a horse of a different color.

I am not sure whether or not I believe this idea that Dodson puts forth, however. Simply put, I haven't quite seen it demonstrated before, an thus I am willing to give China the benefit of the doubt. To experiment this, I feel you would need to do a sort of survey-and-interview of a representative sample of the Chinese people on their feelings towards foreigners, as well as maybe put some Chinese in the situation of dealing with a foreigner or foreigners and gauging their behaviors towards this person as opposed to another Chinese person.

All in all, can we truly know what is in the mind of the whole country based on just a few claims? Not a mere fraction can always represent the whole, something I felt was apparent in society today. Thus, my conclusion is one of uncertainty...I suppose without being Chinese myself, I don't quite have access to the Chinese mindset.

Chapter 10

The way the Chinese perceive themselves seems to be as Dodson describes, the "perpetual underdog". In a sense they seem to always feel sorry for themselves, while perhaps not blatantly, this comes across in their defensive nature about things. Their demand for respect is growing as they grow and develop as a country, mostly due to technological advances. In relation to the rest of the world they see themselves and being constantly duped by more powerful countries that simply abuse China's resources in order to stay on top. China feels that it is being pushed around by nations such as the United States. They place themselves on the opposite end of the scale from the rest of the world and view themselves in some sort of stand off with everyone else. I mostly agree with Dodson's assessment solely on the fact that he obviously knows a lot more about China and global relations in general than I could ever dream of knowing. His assessment did seem to generalize a lot and was seemingly very harsh on China throughout. The way he presented the fact that Chinese citizens are too "downtrodden" by their government to really even synthesize what is going on in their country presented a reality in an almost condescending way. However, overall I find that Dodson is good at keeping on the topic at hand and not deviating to his own personal opinions. I could do research into a specific study done on the psychology of citizens in China if I wanted to verify his assertions. Possibly if I looked into how real Chinese individuals feel about their nation I could better understand what their psychology is on a personal level rather than an outward national level.

Chapter 10 Response

It has been so surprising to me the way in which the Chinese regard themselves in relation to the rest of the world. They seem to minimize the power of other nations and mainly focus on how high they are as a society. One of the things that reinforce the way they perceive themselves is the way in which the Chinese media portrays foreigners. The majority of soap operas and Chinese films glorify the heroism if Communist Party personalities and show the negativity of foreign powers. They always claim the foreigners as the “bad guys”, a form of propaganda used to despise outside influences. Dodson labels the part of the chapter in which most of these things are portrayed as “Plastic Mythologies”. Dodson later goes on to explain the different situations in which such an idea of national sovereignty is found in China. Nonetheless, America has also gone through this type of mentality in its history. Manifest Destiny was something that very well relate to this idea of national sovereignty. I can partly agree with Dodson’s assessment. Though many of his arguments are supported by statistics, I feel that many of the things he has mentioned can come merely his own opinions. 

Chapter 10

Please describe in your own words the "Chinese psychology," meaning the way Chinese think about themselves in relation to the rest of the world, that emerges from this chapter.  Do you agree with Dodson's assessment? Why or why not? How might you question it, or do research to verify what he says?  (250 words)

ch 9

With all the talk of the “popcorn population” in Dodson’s chapter nine, it really surprises and intrigues me that the people of China didn’t escape the over-populated area before the situation became a problem. I feel as if the population would’ve spread itself out before it got so incredibly big. I think this shows how obedient the previous generations of China were – they followed what their rulers told them without question, it seems. When they were told to multiply to build a stronger country, they did so, and when they were told they could only have one child, with a slight resent, they did so. I think it’s really interesting to compare this to how China seems to react to rules now. It seems, from following Dodson and also watching The Last Train Home, that the new generation of Chinese is really resentful towards the rules of their leaders.

I also find it interesting how much of what Dodson says in chapter nine shows the progression of China towards a more Westernized culture. It’s true that the way Dodson describes the children who are results of the one child policy is very similar to American children that other countries typically make fun of. I think it’s not just the Chinese government and economy that is trying to Westernize, but even more so the new generation of kids. I see this in the newfound need to marry for love and also the idea of divorce in China. I feel as if the new generation longs not only for the economic stability and freedom of the Western world, but also our air of independence, relaxation, and even our tendencies to experiment and change our minds in marriage. It’s really intriguing to watch the progress that China makes toward westernization.