Chinese Movies and History Education: The Case of Zhang Yimou’s ‘To Live’

Abstract

AbstractUsing film to promote historical understanding is not a new phenomenon. However, such use presents difficulty when dealing with non‐Western history, as sufficient care must be given to not engender historical misunderstanding and the reinforcement of stereotypes. Much of the research on teaching with film centers on Hollywood productions that typically embody a Western perspective. The problem is compounded by the fact that textbooks used in American classrooms offer only a limited presentation of such critical events in modern Chinese history as the Chinese Civil War, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. Teachers can therefore greatly benefit from the use of additional background materials to teach this content more effectively. Using existing research on film in the classroom, this paper explores briefly the histories represented in some popular Chinese film, with a specific focus on Zhang Yimou’s To Live. It discusses how use of this film in particular can be used to assist students in constructing historical knowledge and understanding about China.