Discussion Questions
After reading about the interview and looking at some pictures about the factory town in Huize, Yunnan, feel free to think about the questions below that interest you.
Interview with Banxia
- Has Banxia’s account of the Cultural Revolution surprised you? What are some of the similarities and differences between her account and your previous knowledge about the Cultural Revolution in China?
- Why do you think Banxia chose to write her book Gray Lead, Dark Red from the perspective of a ten-year-old girl? How does this intentional choice of Banxia emphasize or limit the credibility of her stories?
- In comparison to the perspective of a ten-year-old girl in Gray Lead, Dark Red, about half a century later, how are the words of Banxia today similar or different to those of a ten-year-old girl?
Photos
- For pictures with people as the main subject, are there common themes that appear in them all?
- For pictures with nature as the main subject, are there common themes that appear in them all?
- When viewing pictures depicting people and nature side by side, what connections do you see between geography and society?
General
- What are some of the connections between the pictures and Banxia’s account? Do they align?
- Combining Banxia’s account and the pictures, how would you describe from an emotional perspective the experience of the Cultural Revolution in China?
