See and hear : the journal on audio-visual learning (1945)

UNDERSTANDING CHINA AND THE FAR EAST THROUGH AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS by William G. Tyrell of Columbia University, New York City THE UPHE.W'Al. of seventeen years of war seems to be reaching its tragic climax in China todav. Throughoui other areas of the Far East, rcvohitionary forces are clianging the lives of countless millions of people. And in America, citizens, more than ever before, are turning their eyes and interests in the direction of the Far East to seek meaning in the events and to inc]uire about America's stake in the course the future may take. It is, therefore, necessary that the coming generation have clear objectives and human attitudes about these people living in different and unfamiliar circumstances. Teachers must make the children aware that they are real people living out their onlv lives. For a realistic and vivid understanding of people and their cultural and social institutions, a selection of worthwhile audio-visual materials is available. The careful use of these instructional aids should be valuable for establishing a direct and intimate knowledge of this important part of the world. These complex issues are presented vividly in an overall account of current developments in the area in When Asia Speaks (film, 20min., Brandon) i. Important introductory materials are also included in the series of transcriptions. Introducing the Peoples of Asia and the Far East (13min. each, FREC) . Produced by the public schools of the District of Columbia in cooperation with the United States Office of Education, the transcriptions are lectures by prominent authorities that have been abbreviated. Asia Calling (512" recordings, New World) is another comprehensive approach to understanding peoples of the Far East, providing, as it does, authentic musical selections, traditional in the area, combined with interviews with English-speaking, Christian leaders in the areas treated in this discussion— China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malay, and India. FILMS ABOUT CHINA • What is China? (film, 23min., TEC) is a brief but effective introduction to the subject. By the skilful editing of a cjuantity of materials— some of them from familiar Hollywood productions— and the use of maps and scenic views, this becomes a comprehensive account of topography, climate, living conditions in rural and urban areas, and especially of the people of China. It is a summary that should be as useful for young classes as for more advanced groups. .'\ follow-up film of the life of a middle-class Chinese family would be Peiping Family (21min.. IFF). This is the story of the family of Dr. VVu, an American-educated teacher of biology. Julien Bryan's production is a sympathetic view of the struggles faced by the parents and their seven children in the midst of the food-shortage and distressing inflation. Yet many daily activities go on iir spite of these problems: the children play American games and the family prepares for a traditional birthclay celebration. As only one aspect of life in China, however, it should be supplemented by other impressions. Oriental City (film, 20min., IJWF) reveals the habits and customs in an uri)an trade center. Canton. A unique exis'tence is that of the sampan-dwellers, those Chinese whose entire existence is spent on river boats, where living may be free but conditions are destitute. Sa77ipan Family (film, 16min., IFF) relates how one such typical family works and survives on the Min River. The hardships of humble peasants in the Si River vallev in their efforts to grow rice on the available acreage with only a few crude tools is presented graphicallv in Farming In Southern China (film, 20 min., UWF) . People of Western China (film, lOmin., EBF) shows life in another region of China where irrigation .and bamboo-culture are conspicuous activities along with handicraft work and silk-making. Similarly, the peasants of Yunnan Province spend part of their day away from the cruel farm work in the production of crafts objects that can be sold in a nearby market. This is shown in The Chinese Peasant Goes To Market (film, lOmin., Gateway) . Views of distinctive regional qualities of Chinese life are shown in Northern China, Parts, I and II and in Southern and Western China (strips, SVE) . There is in these materials considerable emphasis on the influence of custom and tradition in contemporary institutions. This mixture of the cultural heritage A scene from the Julien Bryan film "Peiping Family" 1 All references lo "hlms" .ire lo Ifimm sound motion pictures ttial .ire^ in black and white unless "color" is mentioned; "strips" are 35mm filmstrips; "recordings" are commercial ptlonograph records, played at the regular speed: "transcriptions" are 16" discs and require a 33Mi rpm machine. A key to the producers appears at the end of the section. "Our World Neighbors" 17