“Please Vote For Me” Review
This is one of the articles that I wrote for www.theasiafiles.com on a documentary. Check us out to learn more about Asia and its cultures.
“What does it mean to vote?” To many of our English-speaking readers, it’s a way of participating in a democratic decision—one vote to help shape our country’s laws in the hopes that the nation will benefit as a whole. Democracy is an ideology, where the hope is that every citizen is informed and has equal opportunity to make decisions, though none of the nations in the world can claim to have a “perfect democracy.” So, what does it mean to a third-grade class in Communist China to vote? Filmmaker Weijin Chen documents a democratic experiment in communist China in his 2007 documentary, Please Vote for Me.
Although the extent of democracy in Communist China is only visible through elections within the Communist party, for a third-grade class at Evergreen Primary School in Wuhan, China, a democratic election is held to elect the prestigious role of class monitor. Three eight-year-old nominees, two boys and a girl, are selected to run: easy-going Cheng Cheng, strict incumbent Luo Lei, and softspoken Xiaofei. The three students try to convince their classmates to vote for them with familiar election strategies: a talent show, debates, and speeches.
With the phenomenon of Pop Idol TV shows akin toAmerican Idol, China participated in its own version of the show where citizens voted for their favorite singer, a concept that outsiders must imagine to be foreign to the Chinese. This rings clear in the students’ initial question, “What does it mean to vote?” As the students learn what it means to campaign, we find methods similar to our own democratic campaign strategies, be it lobbying, polling, or even smearing. Perhaps what strikes a raw nerve is that these methods are executed by those who we consider innocent—children.
The students’ personalities are portrayed clearly in Please Vote for Me. Each has faults and strengths, and their actions sure to raise a few eyebrows. Cheng Cheng is a confident, chubby kid who often strips down to his underwear in his home. He’s a born politician, campaigning with confidence. Luo Lei, the incumbent class monitor, is known for his harsh and strict rule enforcement, hitting his classmates if they misbehave. For example, he uses a pillow to straighten out a student.
But even at his young age, he has an intense demeanor that kept me wondering what he is thinking. The last is Xu Xiaofei, a delicate girl who struggles to find her own voice. Truly the underdog, Xiaofei campaigns against the likes of these two boys. So begs the question, are they any different from candidates in our own countries?
Anyone familiar with the political philosophies of democratic nations and communist China might find this premise interesting enough to put Please Vote for Me on their “films to watch” list. Some might enjoy Weijin Chen’s film for the antics of the adorable children. On one hand, it’s a political film, the results of a democratic experiment conducted in an elementary school.
On the other, it is a story of three young children trying to gain the approval of their peers. However entertaining it might be, I believe the most important takeaway from Please Vote for Me is that even among children, campaigning is an ugly business.
Please Vote for Me is available on DVD through Amazon.com and shopPBS.org. You can also stream this documentary instantly through Netflix.
"Limit Break: Trance" playlist online now
The second playlist I recorded off of Virtual DJ is online now! It features Kaskade, ATB, Armin Van Buuren and more. Details can be found on the playlist page of my blog.
Day 7: Favorite Video Game Couple: Link & Zelda
Isn’t it a fan favorite? The classic “rescue the princess” plot has been done over and over but met with critical acclaim each time. Plus the two characters and how they interact have always fascinated me. It’s funny how Zelda’s constantly in need of being rescued or of the like but at the same time is a strong character in herself: a leader of her country. There’s usually a romantic subplot in any games that have these two characters, isn’t there?
But alas it cannot be. ;A;
Day 6: Most Annoying Character: Jason from Heavy Rain
I’m sure there are more annoying characters out there (*ouchgNavicough*), but damn this kid pissed me off so much. What the hell was this kid thinking?! YOU DO NOT WALK OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED MALL FROM YOUR PARENTS. COME ON. Furthermore, if you’re going to wonder off, YOU DON’T CROSS THE BLOODY STREET WHERE YOUR DAD’S NOT GOING TO FIND YOU.
I mean seriously. HALF of the events in the game wouldn’t happened if this stupid kid didn’t go HURDUR and walk off with his red balloon. I don’t care if it’s his ruttin’ birthday! He’s an idiot and man I wanted to feel sorry for him when he gets killed but no. His stupidity rendered my sympathy GONE.
Day 5: Character you are most like (or wish you were): John Marston from Red Dead Redemption
I don’t really wish I was like him. I don’t exactly want to be another gunslinger in the wild west. The reason I chose him for this prompt is because in a way, we’re all like John; trying to make up for something, that is. John goes through the entire game making up for his past life and being concerned for his family. However, one aspect that I admire a lot about him is his bravery. Facing hundreds of people - plenty who are crazy - to get his family back.
Day 4: Your Guilty Pleasure Game: Dynasty Warriors 6
I don’t play this game anymore but I played it a lot. And to be honest, it really isn’t that great. However, I played the Dynasty Warriors games A LOT growing up. It’s mostly button mashing and overpowered player w/ stupid AI, but dangnabbit I wasted so much time playing them.
Plus it taught me a bit about Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There’s some pretty cool stories from the books that show a lot of intelligence for the bloodiest period of Chinese history.
I also loved a lot of the character designs. The designers took a lot of liberty to make these characters look badass. I mean, Zhao Yun was already a badass from his stories, but he looks awesome as the posterboy for the series.
HAHA! I did this in my basic illustration class too. They look fine to me. :) It could be all wrong though you know.
3-5 minute sketches.
figure drawing homework~ creepin on people at the library. I suck at human anatomy. BUT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT?!
Day 3: A game that’s underrated: Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
Okay here’s the deal. Sonic Adventure 2 got great reviews by fans when it was on the Dreamcast, but when it got ported to the Gamecube as Sonic Adventure 2 Battle with the same singleplayer mode and everything, it got unfavorable reviews. What’s up with that? I don’t know about you guys but I had a blast in Chao Garden. I mean look at those things, they’re so adorable!
Day 2: My Favorite Character: Ezio Auditore de Firenze from Assassin’s Creed II
It’s no secret to my friends that I’m a tard for the Assassin’s Creed series. As Ubisoft’s flagship franchise now, Assassin’s Creed is a fictional sci-fi historical series that weaves together a wonderful and wild story based on the written and not written in the history pages. Think Dan Brown novels but so much better.
While the first game’s protagonist, Altair, was born and raised as an assassin, his character lacked the depth and power that Ezio has as a main character. Altair’s character development was simply lessons in restraint and wisdom, but Ezio’s had so much more.
Ezio wasn’t born an assassin. He was a Florentine young noble whose family got caught up in an evil conspiracy. At first he set out for revenge on those who were responsible for the hanging of his father and his brothers, but his goals change as his character gained experience through the game. He learned the ways of the assassin and his family - a shadow dynasty that shaped history - to get revenge, but as he learned more about the secret war between the assassins and the Templars, he became a leader, recreating an order of Assassins and leading the war against the Templars.
And plus he looks so badass. Whatever Ubisoft has in store for the third installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, I hope that the next ancestral protagonist will be equally or more badass.
Day 1: My Very First Video Game: Super Street Fighter II Turbo on the SNES
Or at least it’s the earliest one I can remember. I remember playing Ryu a bunch and not understanding a thing about combos. Except for HADOKEN. HADOKEN. HADOKEN. I’ve had a bunch of other games on the Super Nintendo when I was younger but for this meme I went with Street Fighter II.
