MichelleBBlkASem2

=Michelle Bae's Reflections =

The Sino-Japanese War




 * Woodblock prints of the Sino-Japanese War**


 * How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?

The Chinese soldiers are portrayed as the ones that are defeated by the rest of the people. They are often the ones that are suffering from pain due to their weakness. The Japanese soldiers on the other hand looks mighty and never seems to get hit or shot by any weapon or anyone.


 * Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?

The weapons that the Japanese soldiers use seem to be westernized and stronger. However, the weapons that the Chinese soldiers use looks weaker and uses spears, which are weapons that have no influence of the west. This tells us that the Japanese considered themselves as the true path of modernity and progress. Japan were actually advanced technologically.


 * Baseball Club Rouser**


 * Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?

Sports become symbolic battlegrounds between nations because its passion and common interest gives the nation a sense of cultural superiority. This increases their nationalism and helps the nation’s unison.//Wouldn't you say that it gives us (the nation) a symbol to rally support for, and when that symbol is victorious, we too are winners?//


 * Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?

Imperialism is not only about military and politics, but also the proving of one’s nation’s cultural superiority. People gained national pride through victories of those symbolic battlegrounds.

The Russo-Japanese War




 * Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?

Artistic renditions or photographs do depict the heroics of war better. The depictions are done in a variety of ways. They are done by differentiating the size, color, or the posture. The color white symbolize innocence and goodness while black represent the opposite, mainly the evilness and immorality. Both colors still have the same meaning today. However, those symbols were reinforced more back then. Likewise, the color white were often used to depict the heroics while black was used for the rivals or the less important. Furthermore, the heroics of war tend to be drawn bigger while the people other than the heroics are drawn smaller. Not only are those people with less significance drawn smaller, but also weaker. Their postures look fearful and feeble, often being shot or hit by a weapon.


 * Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider __all__ photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)

Not all artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better, especially when considering the contemporary photographs. The technological advancements produced photos that could capture a scene in a more realistic matter. This meant that there were less artistic renditions that portrayed forced interpretations, but more of the photographs that would convey the outmost reality. There were less pictures that deliberately made the size of the heroics bigger and which emphasized their boldness. The photograph keeps the objectiveness of the occurrence. However, there are some difficulties that follow the contemporary. Most of the important incidents are kept private, not allowing any of the photos to be taken. Therefore, there are only a few photos that could be depicted of the horrors.


 * How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "the medium is the message"?

The medium affects the message by influencing the audience's viewpoint. For instance, a Japanese painter would not want to disappoint the Japanese by painting scenes of the Japanese soldiers getting injured or losing. Thus, the painter would draw the Japanese soldiers bolder and more victorious compared to the other nation's soldiers. Not only would have the painter wanted to not disappoint the Japanese, but also would have wanted the viewers to have the thought that the Japanese are superior. Thus, the painter's forced interpretation would have an influence on the viewer's perspective.


 * Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?

1905 is such a turning point in Japanese and world history because all the countries Korea, Japan, and Russia would have been very different from today. If Japan had lost the Russo-Japanese War, Japan would not have control over Korea. Thus, Korea would have have a lot of influence of Russia. Furthermore, Japan would have more conflicts with Russia to get back what they have lost. Due to Japan's victory, Japan gained more confidence and pride that led them to their decision to get involved in World War II. This means that Russia's victory would have not let Japan to be in war globally but with Russia. Overall, if the Russo-Japanese War did not end up with Japan's victory, Japan would have less power while Russia would have had more today.

Korea Timeline media type="custom" key="9405578" Michelle Bae and David Jeon