Hero: Class Outline
Hero: Class Outline
The following notes are based on the PowerPoint slides shown in class. They give an outline of the lecture, but they do not represent the class meeting in full, which includes a more elaborate discussion of the topics and analysis of specific images.
TUESDAY
Hero (Yingxiong), dir. Zhang Yimou, 2002
Premiere at Great Hall of the People in Beijing, December 2002
United States premiere, August 2004
Sima Qian, Records of the Historian, 2nd century BC (Han Dynasty)
Work of history
“Biographies” section includes:
Wandering Knights (youxia)
Assassins (cike)
Establishes essential characteristics of martial heroes
Provides material for later adaptations
Sima Qian’s “Assassins”: Jing Ke
The Warring States, 3rd century B.C.
Jing Ke’s character:
In the course of his travels, Jing Ke reached the state of Yan. He became close friends with a dog butcher and a man named Gao Jianli who was good at playing the lute. Jing Ke was fond of wine, and every day he would join his friends to drink in the market place of the Yan capital. After the wine had begun to take effect, Gao Jianli would strike up the lute and Jing Ke would join in with a song. In the middle of the crowded market place they would happily amuse themselves, or, if their mood changed, break into tears, just as if there were no one else about.
But although Jing Ke spent his time with drunkards, he was a man of depth and learning. Whatever feudal state he traveled to, he always became close friends with the most worthy and influential men.
Jing Ke visits General Fan:
Jing Ke spoke. “Suppose I said that one word from you could dispel the troubles of the state of Yan and avenge the wrong you have suffered?” General Fan leaned forward. “What is it?” he asked. “Give me your head, so that I can present it to the King of Qin. He will surely be delighted to receive me. With my left hand I will seize hold of his sleeve, with my right I’ll stab him in the breast. All your
The following notes are based on the PowerPoint slides shown in class. They give an outline of the lecture, but they do not represent the class meeting in full, which includes a more elaborate discussion of the topics and analysis of specific images.
TUESDAY
Hero (Yingxiong), dir. Zhang Yimou, 2002
Premiere at Great Hall of the People in Beijing, December 2002
United States premiere, August 2004
Sima Qian, Records of the Historian, 2nd century BC (Han Dynasty)
Work of history
“Biographies” section includes:
Wandering Knights (youxia)
Assassins (cike)
Establishes essential characteristics of martial heroes
Provides material for later adaptations
Sima Qian’s “Assassins”: Jing Ke
The Warring States, 3rd century B.C.
Jing Ke’s character:
In the course of his travels, Jing Ke reached the state of Yan. He became close friends with a dog butcher and a man named Gao Jianli who was good at playing the lute. Jing Ke was fond of wine, and every day he would join his friends to drink in the market place of the Yan capital. After the wine had begun to take effect, Gao Jianli would strike up the lute and Jing Ke would join in with a song. In the middle of the crowded market place they would happily amuse themselves, or, if their mood changed, break into tears, just as if there were no one else about.
But although Jing Ke spent his time with drunkards, he was a man of depth and learning. Whatever feudal state he traveled to, he always became close friends with the most worthy and influential men.
Jing Ke visits General Fan:
Jing Ke spoke. “Suppose I said that one word from you could dispel the troubles of the state of Yan and avenge the wrong you have suffered?” General Fan leaned forward. “What is it?” he asked. “Give me your head, so that I can present it to the King of Qin. He will surely be delighted to receive me. With my left hand I will seize hold of his sleeve, with my right I’ll stab him in the breast. All your