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Literature & Language
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Chinese film. Literature and Language Assignment

Essay Instructions:

This coming weekend, please finish watching The Last Emperor and send me your brief answers to the following questions. Your answers will help me find out your true attendance and engagement as well as your intellectual capacity.
One student said very well, that Mao's Last Dancer was an interesting film, but not a great one.
The Last Emperor (1987), however, has been widely recognized as one of the greatest films in history, having won 9 Academy Awards.
Questions:
Historic Authenticity:
1) In many scenes, we find that important characters speak English, such as Empress dowager Cixi, the little emperor, his ministers, eunuch servants, his nanny, etc. while the extras in the background may speak Mandarin. Do you feel it is weird? Does it affect your appreciation of the film? Why or what not?
2) According to history, Reginald Johnston spoken fluent Mandarin and was to teach Puyi English and other subjects. But in the movie, when they meet with each other, Puyi already speaks fluent English. Do you think that might undermine the historic authenticity of the film? Why or why not?
Storyline:
1) It is said that Puyi became an emperor "three times" in his life. According to the movie, can you list at least two of the three times? On what occasions each time?
2) Why did the Japanese want to set his brother Pujie up with a Japanese wife? Did it work?
3) The movie suggests that the last empress Wan Rong (Wan Jung) had at least two extramarital affairs. What are these two affairs like? With whom? How?
Dramatization:
1) The film is famous for its masterly treatments of certain details to dramatize the history. Although those details may have never actually happened (nor were they possible), they work quite well in the movie. Can you list at least three details? (Hint: cricket, etc.)
2) Many people say the Cultural Revolution scene in the film is extremely dramatic. Please describe the sharp contrast provided in the scene between Mao's cult personality and the humble and plain emperor-turned-gardener.
Significance:
The film basically spans across Puyi's whole life. What is the significance of the story. What have you learned?
Your questions
Please prepare three questions you would like to ask and/or discuss with your classmates.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

The Last Emperor
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Historic Authenticity
Yes, I find it weird that the servants speak Mandarin and the important characters speak English. It indirectly makes the language Mandarin seem inferior to English. However, my appreciation for the film still remains because I understand the need for main characters to speak in a more universal language. Also, they showcase the Chinese culture in so many other scenes that it is possible to overlook it. Regarding the historical authenticity of the film, it is known that Reginald Johnston is fluent in English and he teaches Puyi. By overlooking this, they failed to give the audience a connection between Reginald and Puyi in this regard. It is a simple detail that could have introduced the relationship of both characters with ease because that is what transpired according to history. CITATION Ber87 \l 1033 (Bertolucci, 1987)
Storyline
Puyi’s first enthronement was from 1908 to 1912 at just two years old following the death of Guangxu Emperor. He was then summoned into the Forbidden City handpicked by Empress Dowager Cixi. He lost power after the Xinhai Revolution which overthrew the last imperial dynasty. His other enthronement in the movie is in 1934 when the Japanese name him the Emperor to their ‘puppet state’ of Manchukuo however, his authority was constantly being undermined. CITATION 8In20 \l 1033 (8 Interesting Facts on the Last Emperor of China — Puyi, 2020)
The arranged marriage between Pujie and Hiro Saga, his Japanese wife was meant to have huge political ramifications. This is because Puyi had no children and therefore he throne was to be passed down to his younger brother Pujie. The Japanese intended to use the marriage to join the Manchu imperial family by blood. After their wedding, they had two daughters Huisheng and Husheng but the emperor fell before they could rule. The arranged...
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