Up the Yangtze and the LCD

In my first critical discussion, I criticized Campbell’s article about agency and explored the relationship between the term and power. I ultimately concluded that Campbell’s article did a tremendous job of characterizing agency but did little more than describe what we already knew. It seems that agents must have a reason for engaging in agency, and I propose that is to gain power. From Burke, agency is loosely defined as the ability to influence or sway an audience. Power is actually exerting that influence successfully. I see a relationship in which actors utilize agency for some sort of social gain, associated with Burke’s studies in symbolic action. After writing my first critical discussion I thought I had somewhat of a mental grasp on agency and its relation to power but my world came crashing down when I started writing critical discussion two.

            Looking at Burke and Miller, I could not get away from the stronghold language has on our perception. Burke describes the notion of “sizing things up” and Miller discusses Shutz’s idea of typification, both rely heavily on language and the symbolic act of defining. I established that when we believe we perceive reality, we are simply defining what we already know (similar to what Campbell did?). Thus, I have come to the point where language must be considered when exploring agency and power. Now these ideas are still in the working stages so bear with me as I try to draw parallels with Up The Yangtze.

            One of the biggest problems Cindy’s family faces, besides losing their home to rising water levels, is the fact that they are not considered Chinese citizens. Since they are not citizens, they do not have the same benefits as the rest of Chinese society and are almost considered inhuman. It is clear in the film that they are not only forced into this submissive role, but they seem to perpetuate it (ie meeting Cindy’s boss). This is a clear example of language, agency and power all interacting and impacting reality. The language creates Cindy’s family as the “Other” and the Chinese government utilizes the agency of this othering to impose power on the family. The agency is utilized to enhance power, but it is still contingent upon the language used. As I said these ideas are still in the developmental process and may sound like gibberish but if you have any thoughts pertaining to agency, power and language please comment below.