5/25~5/31

This Sunday, May 30, is the presentation of our Cloud Gate 2 curriculum. Before the performance, we have been attending the class for two weeks and working together every night. At first, our teachers, the professional dancers of the Cloud Gate 2 taught us to explore and get familiar with our body. And then fall in love with every inches of our body, even finger tips. During the process, we found many possibilities of our physical limitation and the relationship between man to man and man to environment. We also did many experimental minor performances and improvisations. For instance, at the first weekend, we tried to make a presentation which was one of the works in the performances of Cloud Gate 2 this spring. The dance was called “the floating room”. The work conveyed the relationship between a person and his or her room. The objects were influenced by their owner and became emotional and alive. In our own presentation, we combined the impromptu and the original edition. I thought it was an amazing experience. We learned not only dance but also the team work and listen to other’s body. We worked together and helped one another. The cooperation made us become closer. On this weekend, we are going to do our major performance at gym. Precisely, we will dance in the whole building, at every unexpected corners and spaces. The presentation will last 2 hours and the idea of it is about the relationship and spaciousness between man and environment. Combined with unpredictable potentials such as weather, light, passerby and other conditions, our presentation will be full of surprises and creativity. It is a whole new innovation and challenge to both students and dancers. The original idea carves out our imagination and physical limitation. I can be very sure that this performance will be worth expecting!

5/18~5/24

Recently, I read another book that I loved very much and wanted to recommend it to my friends. Actually, I had already read it when I was a junior high school student for so many times. That is “Battle Royale,” which is the master piece written by Koushun Takami. It is a realistic and horrible but extremely spectacular novel. However I do not think it appropriate to all the readers since its description is bloody and disgusting. The setting of the story was in Japan, after World War II. The government raise a project which is applied to the junior high school students in the whole country. First, they would draw lots and choose a school as the experimental subject. During the graduation trip, the students will be taken to an island and start the massacre competition. It sounds ridiculous but no one dare to rebel against the government. After all, the only way of survival is to put all your classmates into death! The novel is very photographic and the plot is bloody but vivid. The author stretches the mental conditions and personalities of each character, as well as their relationship with other classmates and their family background. In the book, I can see the deepest evil in human’s heart and the psychological state of people in anxiety and thorough crazy. When human expose in the danger, they will behave irrational and become skeptical. Whereas, there are still some expression of good side of humanity, some roles sacrifice for the one they love or help each other to get through the difficulties. The weakness of humanity in this book is clearly embodied and so do the struggle in human’s heart. Although the book is a bit disgusting and the slaughter is terrifying, still think it a good story for the profound meaning behind and outstanding description. It is indeed a book worth reading.

5/10~5/17

Recently, I have read a book called “69, sixty-nine”. Written by a significant writer, 村上龍, the book is hailed as the a most popular and best-selling Japanese novel in that age. “69” is also adapted to movie version and cause a great sensation. The setting of the story is based on 1969 (that’s also the reason of the name of the novel.), a remote, coastal town in Japan. 1969 is a year of controversy since it’s duration of the Vietnam War and the holding of Woodstock Music Festival, an age of anti-war, hippies and rock ‘n’ roll. In the remote small town of Japan coast, three high school students come up with some crazy ideas. They decide to make their own carnival, just like the music festival in USA, and raise the revolt toward their school as well as the whole educational system. Being inspired western culture, such as rock music, literature and the New Wave, those youngster determine to start a small revolution. With simple motivation, bold action and excessive energy, the small revolution cause an incredible aftermath. The plot is very incentive and interesting and so do the dialogue. I think the Japanese-Chinese translated novels are inclined to have a unique intonation, especial at the end of the sentence. For me, the particle and speaking tone are both the most intriguing parts of Japanese novels and movies. The story is full of imagination and creation. The setting and the plot are all innovative. The combination of a lag-behind small town in Japan and the colorful and exciting western culture are queer but remarkable. 村上龍 is an amazing pioneer and a talented writer. His works always bring a whole new vision to literary and movie field. The story “69” is one of the best models. No matter the text or the movie, this story shares both great popularity and the value of literature.




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