游子吟 Youzi Yin: Song of the Wanderer
Friday April 27th, 2012 by Gemma Thorpe ・ 2 Comments[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Audio : Yindan reading 游子吟. When I first met Yindan I mentioned that we were thinking of using the word youzi for our project. She introduced me to this well known poem which has a deep meaning for Chinese people living abroad. The poem was written in the Tang » Read On
Initial images
Tuesday April 24th, 2012 by Gemma Thorpe ・ No CommentsThese images are scans of film from the first few shoots with participants Nina, Li Zhen, and Wenjun. Since working with Alex Zhang I have been using mostly medium format film for this project, which allows me to slow down and better consider the process of photographing, and framing. In some situations this is not » Read On
Beginning to photograph
Tuesday April 24th, 2012 by Gemma Thorpe ・ 3 Comments‘It seemed preposterous to me that I could ever say anything authoritatively about my subjects or the culture as a whole’ (Paul D’Amato) Although I have had this project in mind for some time, when I think about it, since as long as I came back from China in 2009, it still wasn’t easier to » Read On
Alex Zhang: ‘I want to take control of my own life’
Wednesday April 18th, 2012 by Gemma Thorpe ・ No CommentsAlex Zhang audio clip: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Alex Zhang was the first Chinese mainland student to run for the University elections. Alex is from Anhui Province, in Eastern China and is studying for an MA in Business Studies. He campaigned for the role of International Students Officer. This was the first » Read On
Reflections on a Conversation
Thursday April 5th, 2012 by David Forrest ・ No CommentsWe wanted to identify how our own approaches to the project – practice-led and academic – might cohere and inform one another. Here, I pick out and tentatively explore those areas from our exchange which have been particularly useful. The power of story? In clarifying my hopes for the work, I emphasised my interest in » Read On
A Conversation between Gemma Thorpe and David Forrest
Wednesday April 4th, 2012 by yóu zǐ ・ No CommentsTranscription of one of our initial meetings discussing the collaboration. DF: I see the project as an opportunity to look at the way in which storytelling, in its broadest sense, can empower people; to hear voices, stories, narratives that have not been previously heard. There’s a really interesting opportunity with working with the Chinese student » Read On
Reflections on Dr. Qing Gu’s work
Tuesday April 3rd, 2012 by David Forrest ・ No CommentsOn February 1st 2012, Gemma and I visited the School of Education at The University of Sheffield to hear a presentation by Dr Qing Gu from Nottingham University. Dr Qing Gu’s research explored the nature of Chinese students transitional experiences when studying at UK universities. Here, I want to reflect on some of the aspects » Read On
游子 yóu zǐ
Monday April 2nd, 2012 by Gemma Thorpe ・ No Comments游子 yóu zǐ (pronounced ‘yo-zuh’), is a Chinese word that can be translated as ‘wanderer’. It indicates people who are living far away, but who have a strong connection to home. The root of the first character is in water, and is suggestive of travelling, or drifting. This word was suggested by Nina, one of » Read On