Mastering Su Dongpo: A Cultural Exchange between the East and the West
Su Dongpo was a literary superstar. He excelled academically, was favored by his seniors, appreciated by his leaders, and had friends all over the world. However, this extraordinarily talented individual had a life full of ups and downs, constantly facing banishment or being on the way to be banished. Amidst his tumultuous life, he left a vast array of texts for students throughout the ages to study and memorize, which also contained spiritual treasures that could benefit Chinese people throughout their lives. He was genuine, optimistic, positive, resilient, and never self-defeating. This extraordinary mindset could help students overcome any adversity. Moreover, understanding Su Dongpo would enable students to comprehend the core values of Chinese civilization, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, achieving a deep cultural understanding and identification.
This bilingual project consists of three parts: reading, discussion, and scriptwriting. Through a series of in-depth readings, including The Biography of Su Tungpo (Lin Yutang), A New Biography of Su Dongpo (Li Yibing), Su Shi's Poetry Translated by Xu Yuanchong, Delicious, Su Dongpo (Liu Yang), The Norton Anthology of Chinese Literature (Stephen Owen), Intuition (Claude Roy), and multimedia materials, as well as a wide range of activities such as close reading and exploration, musical and drama appreciation, improvisational performance, creative writing, and debates, we will help contemporary students connect with Su Dongpo. Based on this connection, they will complete discussions and presentations, introducing this Eastern "idol" to the West. Before the end of the course, each student will also complete a part of scriptwriting, which may be used in the annual Chinese drama script, allowing them to experience the transformation from literature to performance and further enhance their public speaking and creativity.
When is the program? July 21 to July 25, Monday to Friday, 8:30AM-3:20PM
Whom does the program serve? Current G6-10