As a senior of the English Literature Department student, I set up a blog here to turn over my homework of Advanced Language Training (Ⅱ) and sharing my interested affairs as well. In this case, I seperated them into two parts-Tourism and Art: the former almost began from Oct.2009 to Jan.2010, and the later started from March,2010 to May,2010.
Therefore, I was glad and had much fun when I choosed Art (design) as my topic this semester. From the beginning, I went to listen to the outstanding Taiwan painter (and writer) Chiang Hsun talking about the famous painter Van Gogh. Secondly, I introduce the Paper Church in Naintou for memorizing the 921 Earth Quake for expiring 10 years. Thirdly, the recently popular movie directed by Sisy Chen(陳文茜) was draw into the comic pictures by Jimmy. And then, with the opening of Shanghai World Expo, I give some detail introductions about Asian pavilions and Taiwan pavilion.
These articles may help readers to learn more information around the world; besides, it can help readers to improve English reading and some of writing skills as well. As my expectation to this class at the begining of this semester, this is what I have learned from my blog. If you have any suggestions, welcome to leave the comments to encourage or interect with me! : )
It has been 5 years since the last World Expo was held in Japan. The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai starting from May 1th to October 31. Over 240 countries and organizations attend this exposition which may become the most attentive global event this year. Here I am going to introduce World Expo briefly and clearly in the following paragraphes.
Use "City" as the theme "Better City, better Life", the theme of World Expo this year, is said to be the first time using "City" as the theme. Because the urbanization around the world is so popular nowadays that it could attract attention of folks. With the international event, human beings could show their imagination of life in the future urban, and they could get theree expectations: scentific way of life, creativity of life, art of living.
Inside of Expo Axis
Night Sight of Expo Axis
Full Sight of Expo Axis
Mascot and Logo Refering to the mascot of the World Expo, Taiwaness would be proud of the "Treasure"(海寶) which is designed by Taiwan designer Wu Yong-Jian. The blue symbolizes the ocean, future and elements of technology. The design idea is based on "human" which symbolizes "the treasure of four ocean"; it represents human being are not only the creator of wonderful life but also the experienced one. Besides, the logo of World Expo is inspired by Chinese character "世", interpretated three people open thier arms to hug each others. It refers to lovely family or generanized defines human being pursuing the harmony life.
The Mascot of the 2010 World Expo
The Logo of 2010 World Expo
Pavilion There are mainly 6 areas in the World Expo from A area to E area and Expo Axis as well. Each area includes many pavilions which seperately situated nearby Huangpu River. First, I will introduce the pavilion which most relative to me:
Taiwan Pavilion
Theme Song /MV of Taiwan Pavilion_ Heartbeat of Taiwan (台灣心跳聲)
Before the opening ceremony of Shanghai World Expo, the intact theme song MV was first published; the leader singer, Jolin, mentioned that the sky latern scene in MV is most moving part. The lyric was writed by famous writer, Fang Wen-Shan. The MV recorded the beautiful moutains and rivers in Taiwan, the quaint streets, traditional custom of sky latern, and the sincere religion, that show the characteristic impression of Taiwanese. Jolin sensitively asked blessing for whole citizens by sky laterns in the MV, and expected the island where we grow could be more beautiful and peaceful. The writer of the"Heartbeat of Taiwan", Fang Wen-Shan, depicted Taiwan with the most presentative elements including: Yonghe soya bean milk, the lively night markets, old wall in Longshan Temple, Pingtung Bluefin tuna, Sanyi wood carving, Mino paper umbrella, the magnificent Taroko, the winding Tamsui River, Hongye juvenile league, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
---------------------- My impression:
Listening to "Heartbeat of Taiwan", my heart is beating seriously, too. I like it because Fang Wen-Shan always writes the lyrics into my heart; Lin Mike, melody. Besides, I am glad that Taiwan could attend the international envents this time. Watching the MV make me memorize the traditional aspect and hopefulness of Taiwan that differs from the topics I published last. However, I am really found of the music that could encourage Taiwanese so much. Take SARS as an example, it raged in Taiwan during 2003. At the time, many Taiwan singer gethered to sing Hand-in-hand for charity. Suffering so much disasters these years, Taiwanese help each others to survive. Admiring to this rare spirits, I appreciate those sacraficed medical heros. In this case, I am willing to introduce the characters of Taiwan to others. That is why when I saw this MV, I feel so affectived and impressed. Besides, I have a plan to go to World Expo with my friend in the end of May. In addition to enlarge my horizen, I also expect myself to introduce beautiful Taiwan to the world. Before the tour setting out on May 26, I have to prepare a lot of things: finishing my homeworks and reports, search for the pavilions information, booking the tickets and admissions, keeping in touch with tour agency, making the itinerary, preparing luggage...... Even I have a lot of things to do, I am still excited about that. Hope we could have a nice tour in Shanghai before graduating!
Other Asian Pavilion:
The following pictures are pavilions that closed to us-the pavilions in Asia including the host country Chinese and Macau, Northern Asia area including Korea and Japan, Southern Asia area including India. At the end, there is the video introduce all the pavilion of the World Expo this time.
In this class, I would like to improve my writing skills including the ability of the paragraph organizing and the grammars of my sentences. I expect not only to maintain my writing and speaking abilities as before but also could become better. Since I have an intermediate GEPT test in this June, and I really have to get this certifications to getting the job.
Besides, I want to learn more about the art design, typography, painting, and photographing. Although it seems like entertainments in our life, it is also important for us to get some creative ideals from them. Some people say that choosing English department as the major department is easier to get good jobs than other ones. Indeed, I really not agree with this saying, because English is only a tool for us now a day in strong-competitive and cruel society if we don’t get into graduate school to get professional English area. In this case, the more other skills we have, the more chances we may get. Returning to the article, I would like to choose my interest as the topic in this class this semester. In this case, I prefer to introduce something about “art” and “movie” which could always cheer me up.
2.
In this semester, I would like to know more about the topics like science fictions, photographor software, environment changing, tourism and any news interest me. Refering to the science fictions, I want to know Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon……ect. The Twilight is the story about vampires and love. However, it becomes popular and discussed widely around the world these days.
3.
The two movies I would like to see are The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel( the sequel). The first movies are fiction movie, and it mainly talked about the magician Pamassus and his imaginary theatre always brings the surprises to audiences around the world. Actually, Pamassus knows a secrete—one thousand years ago, he bet with demon and get a eternal life; moreover, few centuries past, Pamassus found out his true love, and had a deal with demon for getting the youth and take his daughter’s life after her sixteen-year-old as the price. Then after sixteen years, Pamassus bet with demon again in order to protect his daughter—who get 5 souls earlier could take Pamassus’s daughter away. …….
Another movie I would like to watch is the comedy, Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. To introduce this film in short, it is about the story of three squeals. Their lord, David, plans to send Alvin, Simon and Theodore into high school for study instead of letting them keep their musical work. The music course is forced to stopped for some troubles. Therefore, these three squeals attend a series of songs PK in order to maintain their music course. Whenever they have come across a charming and beauty girl group as their match, and all of them seems attracted by the girls…..
The first time I saw the movie ±2℃ is at the Friday meeting with classmates this March. In fact, it is heartbroken and terrifying for Taiwaness to watch this movie; not only because the reality we encountered are dangerous for living, but many people do not notice the disappear crisis of Taiwan and they still think the situation is not relative to them.
I was impressed by the experiences last summer for how 88 typhoon disaster distroyed southern Taiwan. In fact, it was not the strongest level typhoon, but it created the highest destroying in econimic lost in history. I am a southern Taiwan resident indeed. Therefore, I was locked at home for 3 days from Augest 7 to Augest 9, since the rain didn't stop at the time. I remembered the day in the mid-night about 2AM, I just finished taking a shower on second floor at home and was going to another room for drying my hair. The water has entered into my room so fast that I didn't know when it started. Later I was hurried screaming to my brother who are in third floor for help. The first floor was not overwhelm; indeed, it is because the main scupper on the balcony outside our second floor was blocked in. In this case, we just stayed up for 2 hours to ladle out water out of the house on the second floor and then we felt safe. But it is still confused for me to figure out how a mid level typhoon could make us so nervous until I watch this movie.
It is said:" Rome is not created in one day." The resault of the 88 typhoon disaster is the same. The Formosa is nowaday a hell rather than a beautiful island. Since Taiwaness didn't cherish the resources; for example, they plant betel nuts from acreages to acreages rather than plant deep-root plant, they explode mountains again and again in order to build roads or reservoirs. More and more citizens in Taiwan became so selfish only that they plan many projects only thought about benifits as their intention and not take others's benifits and safeness into considerations. ±2℃ really touched my soul and reminded me of some affairs happened last summer as well. In this case, I appreciate the famous Taiwan hand painterer, Jimmy make the scences of the movie into cartoon and ad. I'd like to show you below: Video Ad. about±2℃ "Overwhelming" draw by Jimmy
New vocabulary world: 1.overwhelm 淹沒 2.betel nut/ betel palm 檳榔 3.acreage 畝 4.reservoir n. 水庫 5.ladle out v.舀水
The Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is one of the international and famous architects of the world. We could see his composition around the world: Tokyo, Paris, German, New York, Rwanda (in Africa), Kobe(in Japan), Nantoa(in central Taiwan), Turkey, India.
Shigeru Ban is famous for his using with paper tube as building structure to combine nature environment and wisdom. The
paper church composed by Shigeru Ban shows the inventiveness; the background why Shigeru Ban creates the church impressed me more. He devises shelter for refugees in Inner War of Rwanda, earth quake in Turkey and Kobe(in Japan) made of slender paper tubes. This contribution of making temporary
housing for disaster victims first in response to the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, where he also build a paper church, and later his idea was spread to Taiwan.
The paper church in Taiwan located in Taomis ecology area in Nantou of Taiwan which was build ed after the 921 Earth Quake happened in 1999. In this case, Taomis's Paper Church is a symbol of rebirth which passing the humanitarian spirit from the paper church in Kobe in Japan.
Opinion: I know the Paper Church from one of Taiwan dramas called "桃花小妹". It impressed me for bringing the hope to people no matter what they suffered. At first, I didn't understand why it constructed with paper, and then I google it. What make me admired is Ban not only overcome the difficulty of against the nature principle for using this kind of materials to construct, but also gives the holy meaning to the church. I really hope one day I could visit this outstanding and special Paper Church in Nantou!
Two weeks ago, I went to a lecture talking about Van Gogh. It's a wonderful speech not only because the lecturer is the famous litterateur but also he has a attractive voice! Indeed, I have read 蔣勳's composition before, so I decide to go to the lecture right away when I heard Patty tell me the lecture information in DonHua University.
The topic about Van Gogh is very popular recently, so I expect to know more about how the outstanding litterateur introduce Van Gogh. When he talked about the outstanding artist Van Gogh, I am surprised even Van Gogh is not living in our time, he could describe him so detail and touchful like he is Van Gogh's closed friend. This is the first time I am so familiar to Van Gogh even I have imitated to draw Van Gogh's pictures before. Van Gogh has the qualities we don't have that he always feels lonely when he was creating. Thus, most of his lanscape painting like The Night Cafe in the Place Lamartine in Arles and most of his self-portrait reveal the depression he suffers. An artist like Van Gogh never consider to compromise to reality; in this case, he get into a difficult lifehood because of not indentified by the people at the time.
Nowaday, many audiences who claim he or she admire Van Gogh so much; actually, it is so ridiculous for us to make friends with a schizoid, isn't it? However, I dare not to declare how I like Van Gogh but I feel sorry and pitty for him having frustrated talent until his passed away. What I learn from this lecture are abilities of emotion expression and having a different viewpoint on depressed person or schizoid. Which means I would like tp try to find a suitable way to express myself and also help the sick people who are in need.
New Vocabulary: 1.schizoid精神分裂症患者 2.have frastrated talent 懷才不遇
Information about Van Gogh:
1. The Famous Picture File http://www.ss.net.tw/art/
2.Van Gogh's exhibition from 2009.12.11-2010.0318 at Taipei
