ipl-logo

Summary Of No Longer 'Sick' By Amanda Shuman

1327 Words6 Pages

In the article No Longer ‘Sick’: Visualizing ‘Victorious’ Athletes in 1950s Chinese Films, Amanda Shuman explores Chinese athletes in the 1950s, the origins of the “sick man” and its connection to tiyu, and three different sports films made by the Chinese. Shuman explores these subjects to explain the meaning behind the tiyu movement, or sports movment, in China. The tiyu movement in China is a significant part of Chinese history because it depicts how they overcame the “sick man” stereotype associated with their country. Shuman’s article analyses the significance that sports play in the world culture, and uncovers the meaning behind the use of sports by the Chinese government; to promote other ideas and ideologies.
The first arm in understanding …show more content…

Soviet-inspired mass sport programs. . . were adopted to encourage all round physical development at the lowest levels, while simultaneously helping identify and cultivate competitive athletes. As in the Soviet Union, everyone was obliged to participate in a range of tiyu activities and practices” (Shuman 225)
Mao used the ideas and practices already used in the Soviet Union to promote his “new’ China. This started the tiyu movement. The tiyu movement promoted healthy citizens, the importance of sports, and the importance of a physical culture. Mao used the tiyu movement to promote nationalism and socialism. In team sports, players sacrifice individual success in order for the team to succeed. To establish Mao’s “new” China, its citizens needed to have a pride in their nation. This nationalism movement eventually led China to wipe away the “sick man” …show more content…

Shuman highlights the films Girl Basketball Player No. 5, Ice Sisters, and Two Generations of Swimmers to explain how China promoted tiyu and nationalism. The film, Girl Basketball Player No. 5 features an underdog team that has to work hard and overcome a lot of adversity to succeed. The films Ice Sisters and Two Generations of Swimmers follow the same premise and have many similarities. Each of these films, serve to highlight the rewards a person gets for hard work, discipline, and effort. Within each film there is a romantic and audience-appealing love story. There are also several undertones of collectivism and socialist

More about Summary Of No Longer 'Sick' By Amanda Shuman

Open Document