(Re)presentation and (Dis)Identification

An idea that was brought up last class that really stuck out to me was the idea that in order to represent someone, we must "other" them. It reminded me of Burke's idea of identification, but applied it to the issue of representation. According to Burke, identification occurs when a person is persuaded to see themselves as like or similar to another person or object. There must be an opposite outcome to this theory as well where, in the process of identifying with one person or thing, a person dis-identifies with someone, something, or some group. The process of identification, and thus di-sidentiication, can be directly observed in Up the Yangtze.

The contrast between social castes in Up the Yangtze provided a great example of identification vs. dis-identification. Cindy and Jerry were both focused on separately. When Jerry was on screen, he was represented, and thus "othered". In the process of othering Jerry from his peers on the boat, he was differentiated based on his social class. He was middle class while some other workers on the boat were very poor. The juxtaposition of Jerry's lack of motivation about work and easy ability to return to school with Cindy's inability to return to school when she so desperately wanted to. This contrast between the two characters of vastly different social classes othered them, or dis-identified them, from each other in the process of representing them for the film's audience and identifying them with other workers of their same social classes.

Another scene of identification/dis-identification was the scene where the Western tourists tried on the traditional Chinese costumes and reflected on their thoughts about the country and its people and culture. In the process of their representation, the tourists were identifying with the film's target audience of Westerners. Up until that point, all the people represented in the film were of Chinese descent, so the tourists could identify with the audience on a racial level. However, in the process of trying on the clothes that clearly belonged to a culture outside of their own, the tourists dis-identified themselves from the Chinese workers on the boat.

There always has to be some manner of sacrifice when it comes to representation. In representing one group, the out group who they dis-identify with falls to the wayside. There are contrasting paradigms everywhere, and those in charge of representing people often struggle to represent both sides of an issue or paradigm. If only one side is represented, the other is neglected. It is up to people in charge of representation (filmmakers, authors, etc.) to try to represent both sides in order to create a non-biased representation. For example, if Yung Chang had chosen to only interview Jerry for Up the Yangtze, he would have only represented the wealthier classes of China, thus neglecting the lower classes. That would dis-identify and thos disengage much of the film's audience. Likewise, had Chang only interviewed Cindy, he would have provided an equally warped representation (or misrepresentation rather) of China at large since not everyone is poor. This would dis-identify people of higher classes. In order to properly represent the film's subjects and China as a whole, both ends of the caste system would have to be represented.

The Three Gorges Dam serves as an interesting metaphor for representation within the film. The dam could benefit a great deal of people as well as the environment by generating hydroelectric power. However, in the process of benefitting so many people, the dam would destroy an entire community by flooding it. In some circumstances, only one group of a contrasting paradigm can be represented. If one group is othered, the other is neglected. In these circumstances, it usually makes sense to choose to represent the larger group in order to benefit the most people possible. For dam builders, it is a difficult decision to make to flood peoples' homes in order to aide even more people. Those who are benefitted identify with the dam, but those whose homes are destroyed are dis-identified and lose their representation.

A question brought up towards the end of last class was if you have to other someone in order to represent them, is any representation true or accurate? This is a difficult question to grapple with since we never really see those who are dis-identified when their contrasting group is othered. But if this is always the case, there may be some circumstances in which it is possible to represent both sides of a paradigm. One can't represent both sides at the same time necessarily, but they ca represent them separately to give the audience room to make their own assumptions and form their own ideas to get the most accurate representation possible. Audience members can shoe who they identify with and who they dis-identify with. Yung Chang is fairly successful with this type of bipartisan representation since he represented the poorer castes with Cindy and the wealthier castes with Jerry. The characters present themselves differently on screen and are not usually seen together, but audience members get a taste of both characters and both castes so that they can figure out who they most identify with. 

Kayla Goldstein