Buddha Bless America Background Theory Tiffany Huang Background

Buddha Bless America

Background & Theory Tiffany Huang

Background Time: 1960 s Place: One traditional village in southern Taiwan Adapted from one of the director’s friends’ life Main Scene: Under America’s great political, economic and cultural influence, how did Taiwanese react to the power? And how deep the influence is on Taiwan society at that time.

Post-colonialism Time: 1980 s Definition: The social, political, economic, and cultural practices which arise in response and resistance to colonialism.

Neocolonialism Time: After 1940 s The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2000 edition) defines “Neocolonialism” as “the economic and political influence which a powerful country uses to control another country. ”

Major Argument The obstacles between the powerful and the powerless The acceptance and resistance shown by different positions in the film American & KMT government’s attitude Symbolic images and scenes

Obstacle Willa Chang

Obstacles/Miscommunication: Reason-Unequal status 1. Space 2. Language 3. Beliefs/Values of life

obstacles American troops Language English Space Camp, The bar Values & Science, beliefs of Medicine, National superiority life Villagers Effects Taiwanese, Mandarin a. b. c. Mimicry Miscommunication Hoodwinked by illinterpretation-Threatened School, Village a. b. Curiosity Imbalance- Grabbing, Restricted (area), Marginalization Tombstones- idea of home, Farmlands- way of living a. b. c. d. Unrealistic expectation Discontentedness, offended Reaction (fighting, thief) Victimization, Punishment

Acceptance: Mimicry Amy Tsai

1. 2. Unconsciously accept the influence from America Cultural colonization > Military Control (unconsciously) (consciously)

Language Mimicry 1. 國家機密 2. Hello! 哈囉!--- unify the way for greeting 3. Hey you! --- the U. S. military ↓ Hey you 啦你! ---Children

Conscious Mimicry 1. Protagonist 仙仔 a. Intellectual b. Objective viewpoint the high-tech and medical technology 2. Military Translator a. Speaks English b. flatterer 3. Prostitute a. Realistic- money

Cultural Mimicry 1. Music: broadcast of American music 2. Food: peach can, cigarette 3. Style: -Stolen clothes -阿憲’s western style- hair and clothes -Western interior style in Bar -Western style of dancing -Playboy magazine

Resistance of the Villagers Constance Chang

Children Threw Stones at Soldiers Went to the field to find shell cases Military drill

Villagers Confront the Army Cinerary urn ran over by tanks Crops ruined

Grandmother Directing the Tanks

Grandmother Guards her Field

Theft Villagers stole canned food and other resources from the U. S. Army

American & KMT Government’s Attitude Toward the Lands of TW Billy Lu

American Ruin of the tomb(阿婆‘s husband)– which symbolizes American’s disrespect and ignorance toward Taiwanese tradition and culture. Troops on the farm– they do whatever they want on the land=their football field. Easy come, easy go— Taiwanese land as their gym, after the training they just left.

KMT “政府支持人民, 人民就該支持政府”– however, KMT government is “using” the village people instead of “supporting” them.

Symbolic Image Doris Hsu

Dream 阿婆’s dream of her husband who has passed away Sexual hint Superstition Vitality and lust

Reversed Words (23: 16) WELCOME EMOCLEW Villagers’ assumption of Western culture Irony: They do Not welcome Americans!!!

Broken Fingers His fingers are broken while he is working in the Japanese factory. There’s no well indemnification or medical protection for the native labors. “At least you won’t serve as a solider. ” Most Taiwanese accept their own fate

The Black Man and Kid The kid is in the “restricted” area, leaning on the black soldier. Benefit exchange (? ) Paedophilia (? )

Throwing Stones Kids’ throwing stones at kids: Taiwanese Split in the group

Dead American Soldiers (1: 21: 02) Coffin Dead soldiers Advanced technology and medical development in America? Peaceful America?

Coin Army left a coin on the road after retreat. Western culture is left. they

Music Vertical bamboo flute (28: 24 -29: 14) “Crying in a Storm” (1: 47: 17) -Singer: Emy Jackson (Japanese American) -Background

Crying in a Storm Take me, take my heart and all I was born to be yours. Love me, love me, get me hold me tight Now I'm crying in a storm I know that You've got a crazy sports car Kitty Cris and Ronnie Jully, Nancy and Patsy. Why, why, not me

Symbolic Scene Melody Jeng

Symbolic Scenes The tomb scenes appear at the beginning and toward the end.

The helicopter flies across the sky. Tradition modern Invasion

Tradition: tomb, cart Modern: helicopter, combat aircraft

Prostrate Scared

Bar vs. villagers’ accommodation

Huge tanks vs. small children and 阿婆

flights with some villagers. Blurred 阿憲

仙仔’s reaction…

Friendship?

1: 35: 36~1: 36: 40

Word Cards as Interludes

Purposes Narrator The use of comical handwriting common people with low level education more delighted

Questions for You 1. Did the US Army really leave Taiwan? What do you think? 2. Do you think American culture or other western cultures and globalization inevitably affects us? 3. How can we preserve our own culture and learn others' culture at the same time?

Thanks for listening!