China Film Symposium

April 29 & 30, 2011 - China Film Symposium

Time: Various
Location: Ford Hall 122
Free and open to the public

The Intangible Cultural Traditions along the Silk Road

-- A Symposium on Documentaries of Safeguarding Traditional Cultures in Modern China

Description: A symposium on the survival and safeguarding of ethnic traditions in modern China will be held in Willamette University.  The symposium focuses on two documentaries from two regions in China: Xinjiang and Sichuan.  Two additional films will be shown in the evenings.  Two scholars and two film directors from the two regions will join the discussion on these films.  The documentaries reflect traditional cultures, especially rituals, dealing with modern issues such as illness, drug, and law.  This symposium is part of the Silk Road Project carried out by the Asian Studies faculty with the support from the Center for Asian Studies.  

April 29^th

1:30 pm Welcome and Film:Master Falconer
This is a documentary on the life and struggle of a Kirgiz family at Pamir region in Central Asia

 April 30^th

8:30-10:15 am
Film: The Torch Festival
This is a short documentary on the tradition and changes of a Yi festival in modern times.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Film: Tiger’s Day
This is a short documentary about how local shamans use traditional rituals to cure drug addiction.

1:00- 3:00 pm
Film: Axiq: the Last Wandering Singers
A film records about life of Axiq, the Uighur bard live in southern border area of Takla Makan Desert.

7:00 pm
Film: Beside the River
This is the first film about a small ethnic group -- Keriyans who live in the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert.

Each film will be followed by a discussion.

For more information contact Pam Smith at 503.370.6060

Sponsored by Center for Asian Studies