Reflecting My Blog

I dared to create my own blog and to open my thoughts to the public because I thought that my writing skill in English was not good and I had to bear the burden of the responsibility of it.

However, I chose this class for my English composition class and I created my first blog. The first post and layout of my blog was very simple like a house without any decorations. I was learning how to maintain and upgrade the blog while learning computer skills in this class. It made me be excited to upgrade my blog step by step: the simple layout of my blog was transformed by the addition of pictures and designs. I felt that I became a professional blogger.

Blogging helped me a lot in developing my English composition skills through social interaction on the network. Following academic techniques in this blog made me also keep in mind that this blogging was used as an English composition class. The more I studied and researched about my topic “multiculturalism”, the more I could educate other bloggers with it being used as an informative guide. Comments from other bloggers corrected my prejudices or wrong information on cultures from other nations. Posting of each issue in the blog and the instant responses by other bloggers made this a very vivid class.

Before starting this class, I never thought about creating my own blog. Actually I have used others’ blogs to obtain information for several reasons. Maintaining my blog and reading others’ blogs has become a part of my daily life. I am not afraid to blog and search my thoughts to the public anymore. What a life enriching experience this was.

Chinese Movies in Hollywood

When I think of Hollywood, I think of blond haired actresses or blue eyed actors walking the red carpet. I had never thought that Chinese actors and actresses as well as Chinese directors would one day partake in the red carpet ceremonies in Hollywood. Actually a Chinese actor, Jackie Chan has acted in minor roles in Hollywood movie beginning in the 1980’s. Some of the international movies that won prizes in film festivals have been released in America, but these movies and actors/actresses were not seen as equal to Hollywood’s productions.

However, the fame and popularity of Chinese actress, Zhang Zhi Yi and a Chinese actor, Jet Li have brought recognition to China’s movie capabilities. The films that the actress and actor have stared in include a Chinese language movie, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Memoirs of A Geisha”, “Romeo Must Die”, and “Hero” have made an impact in ticket sales.

Hollywood movies such as “Broken Arrow”, “Matrix”, “Kill Bill”, “Brokeback Mountain”, and “Incredible Hulk” also have been influenced by Chinese film making talents of Chinese directors, martial arts directors, and special effect artists: John Woo, Lee Ang, Woo Yeun Ping, Zhang Yimou, and Jackie Chan.

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” by Lee Nag made a sensation in Hollywood in 2000. Not only do the movies show the martial arts of Kung Fu, but the movies also expose viewers to sentimental and legendary storylines, colorful traditional costumes, and nature’s beautiful background in this Chinese movie.

The fact that this Chinese movie has been a sensational popularity in Hollywood means “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” signals a major paradigm shift in Hollywood's repertoire as well as in the tastes of American audiences” (qtd in Pham). Orientalism, actually Chinese traditional philosophy and culture as well as exaggerated martial art scenes by Chinese film making talents in Chinese movie are enough to stimulate the American mind, not only through visual sensation.

According to Yingjin Zhang, Chinese movie connotes “a more meaningful way” beyond only entertainment: “nor merely in one of 'authentic' Chinese culture and history, but ultimately in the context of cross-cultural, multiethnic”(qtd in Pham). Nowadays Chinese films are aimed at the global market, especially Hollywood: that Chinese movies have invaded Hollywood is not accidental.

Therefore, appropriate harmony of Eastern and Western tastes is intended in order to assimilate the Chinese culture in the world as well as in America.

References:

“Chinese movies and Hollywood.”

<http://www.chinese-culture.net/html/chinese_movies.html>

Pham, Minh-Ha T. “The Asian invasion (of multiculturalism) in Hollywood.” Journal of Popular Film and Television. 22 September 2004. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-123589388.html

“Hong Kong movie skills grow in Hollywood.” International Market News. 11 July 2002. <http://www.piercelawgroupllp.com/hongkong_movie_skills.PDF>

Mafia's deep-rooted Power in America

In the passage from “Training for Statesmanship” written 1953, George F. Kennan’s most compelling observation is the diffusion of “power” that exists in political organizations, the economy, the criminal justice system, and to the other extreme, the criminal element in the United States. It still holds true for the United States today.

I did not recognize that the power of irregular forces and their influence on our society until I read George F. Kennan’s passage. There have been many kinds of immigrant mobs such as African, Hispanic, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese gangsters as well as American gangsters in America. Among irregular forces that possess the power, I will focus on Italian mob and its power in America. In the movie, “The Godfather” and some of articles about the Mafia: “Five Families: Made Men in America”, and “Special Investigative Report: American Mafia Recruit Sicilian Mafia”, I have been fascinated by the Mafia’s empire, organized crime, business, and history of Sicilian mafia.

The Italian American mafia began with the adoption of most of its Sicilian heritage. The mafia had known that there was money to be made in the United States through extortion, prostitution, gambling, and bootlegging. Mafia occupied every big city in the United States from early 1900’s. Some of the corporate empires established in this way came to dominate the heart of the America economy but still operated in ways that involved destructive criminals.

Furthermore, the mafia has connected members of our government and law enforcement agencies with the lure of money. “This image is public perception of Italian Americans, especially politicians” (Buenker and Ratner 185). However, “it is only a minuscule percentage of the twelve million Italian Americans could possibly be part of the organized crime network” (Buenker and Ratner 185).

In the early 20th century, our government made efforts to bring a new order, stability, and honesty to American businesses by enacting and enforcing laws. These efforts, however, did not reduce the Mafia’s business crime.

Even now in 21 century, the American mafia is still recruiting Sicilian mafia members. According to Clarence Walker, “Sicilian mafia criminal’s migration into America has alarmed U.S. authorities” in his article, “Special Investigative Report”.

The mafia’s deep-rooted power has been established for many generations in America. The mafia is one of the most successful organized crime syndicates and has fascinated many people in our society. Our government probably will never get rid of organized crime, but we can limit their effectiveness by on-going and persistent prosecution.

References:

Kennan, George F. “Training for Statesmanship”

<http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/english/ap05_frq_english_lang.pdf >

Buenker, John A., Lorman A. Ratner., ed. Multiculturalism in the United States. New York: Greenwood Press, 1992.

Raab, Selwyn. “Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires.” The New York Times.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/books/review/11burrough.html>

Walker, Clarence. “A Special Investigative Report: American Mafia Recruits Sicilian Mafia.” Feature Articles. August 2004. http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_272.html>