Up the Yangtze, on audience

Chang constructs his documentary for mass appeal. Really, any group of people interested in cultural change, from westerners to Chinese nationals, would find this piece interesting. Given that the documentary is mostly in English, with English subtitles, and focused on showing similarities and differences between western and eastern cultures (or perhaps this is just my terministic screen forcing this interpretation) it appears it was created with westerners in mind as the primary target audience. From the night out drinking to the hopes and dreams of the rural children, there are many relatable traits that help the audience see the oneness between people and cultures. But there is also the contrast between culture and lifestyles, differing levels of opportunity for growth and class movement.

Chang builds on this audience in exploring the differences in appearance that westerners are presented with, exposing the contrast between realities. For the millions of rural farmers and workers that were displaced by the building of the dam, the reality is much different than what may otherwise be thought. There seems to be a sheet of progress cast over the whole thing, that the change is good and makes the people happy. But in the reality of it, people are forced off of their land, where they are living sustainably, and (somewhat) happily, and forced into the material world, where they must buy their food and work for a living. Progress is like a machine, and the people are being forced to become cogs in the system. 

The cruise liner tells a very different story. It creates an illusion of truth that is more about celebrating the new, ‘better’ world that is emerging from the mud of rural tradition. It depicts the ‘traditional Chinese’ as being lavish idealized totems of cultural magnificence when the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. The poor are exploited for the greed of capitalism, in the name of progress. It’s a movement to be bigger, better, to have more power; less humanity. 

Chang exposed the contrasting screens and the shift from rural life to city life; and through that, constructed an audience aware of the change and moved by the strength and perseverance of the people. An audience aware of the problems and the situation in a position to do something about it – and they did through the humanitarian aid project inspired by the film: http://www.givemeaning.com/project/yufam

Up the Yangtze. Dir. Yung Chang. 2008. DVD. Zeitgeist Films.