Reality is sobering. [Tiananmen 1989: Our Shattered Hopes by Lun Zhang]
Follow the story of China's infamous June Fourth Incident -- otherwise known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre -- from the first-hand account of a young sociology teacher who witnessed it all.
Over 30 years ago, on April 15th 1989, the occupation of Tiananmen Square began. As tens of thousands of students and concerned Chinese citizens took to the streets demanding political reforms, the fate of China's communist system was unknown. When reports of soldiers marching into Beijing to suppress the protests reverberated across Western airwaves, the world didn't know what to expect.
Lun Zhang was just a young sociology teacher then, in charge of management and safety service for the protests. Now, in this powerful graphic novel, Zhang pairs with French journalist and Asia specialist Adrien Gombeaud, and artist Ameziane, to share his unvarnished memory of this crucial moment in world history for the first time.
Providing comprehensive coverage of the 1989 protests that ended in bloodshed and drew global scrutiny, Zhang includes context for these explosive events, sympathetically depicting a world of discontented, idealistic, activist Chinese youth rarely portrayed in Western media. Many voices and viewpoints are on display, from Western journalists to Chinese administrators.
Describing how the hope of a generation was shattered when authorities opened fire on protestors and bystanders, Tiananmen 1989 shows the way in which contemporary China shaped itself.
Authoritarianism and the wild extremes people will resort to to maintain their power are often disgusting and horrifying. As the world braces itself through the COVID-19 pandemic different countries are taking different approaches to public health. Domestically I find myself disgusted with daily reports of actions that indicate how those in power value the dollar over the individual human life. Just yesterday I saw a tweeted article about how Attorney General Barr is considering legal action against life-saving measures. Why? For money, stupid reasons.
A child of the '90s, I grew up hearing whispers of Tiananmen Square and the massacre that took place there. Until reading Lun Zhang's Tiananmen 1989 I'd no really read any firsthand accounts of the events preceding them. That a repressive government took horrific and disproportionate action against young and idealistic college students was all I knew. Following Zhang's accounting the detailing of that reality gives new weight to my understanding of the infamous event.
As authoritarianism takes root worldwide are tragedies of this kind doomed to repeat? As conservative national leaders callously disregard the lives and welfare of their populace to what degree will progressive movements be silenced? Learning about the massacre, the political context in which in took place, and its lasting impacts and memory is crucial. History informs history.
A few odd bits of translation here and there and and occasional uneasy flashbacks or out of time storytelling were the only issues I had as I read. The decision to tell this story in graphic novel format was a smart one. I am a firm believer in the power that images have to reinforce a narrative. 4 stars from me.
Over 30 years ago, on April 15th 1989, the occupation of Tiananmen Square began. As tens of thousands of students and concerned Chinese citizens took to the streets demanding political reforms, the fate of China's communist system was unknown. When reports of soldiers marching into Beijing to suppress the protests reverberated across Western airwaves, the world didn't know what to expect.
Lun Zhang was just a young sociology teacher then, in charge of management and safety service for the protests. Now, in this powerful graphic novel, Zhang pairs with French journalist and Asia specialist Adrien Gombeaud, and artist Ameziane, to share his unvarnished memory of this crucial moment in world history for the first time.
Describing how the hope of a generation was shattered when authorities opened fire on protestors and bystanders, Tiananmen 1989 shows the way in which contemporary China shaped itself.
Authoritarianism and the wild extremes people will resort to to maintain their power are often disgusting and horrifying. As the world braces itself through the COVID-19 pandemic different countries are taking different approaches to public health. Domestically I find myself disgusted with daily reports of actions that indicate how those in power value the dollar over the individual human life. Just yesterday I saw a tweeted article about how Attorney General Barr is considering legal action against life-saving measures. Why? For money, stupid reasons.
A child of the '90s, I grew up hearing whispers of Tiananmen Square and the massacre that took place there. Until reading Lun Zhang's Tiananmen 1989 I'd no really read any firsthand accounts of the events preceding them. That a repressive government took horrific and disproportionate action against young and idealistic college students was all I knew. Following Zhang's accounting the detailing of that reality gives new weight to my understanding of the infamous event.
As authoritarianism takes root worldwide are tragedies of this kind doomed to repeat? As conservative national leaders callously disregard the lives and welfare of their populace to what degree will progressive movements be silenced? Learning about the massacre, the political context in which in took place, and its lasting impacts and memory is crucial. History informs history.
A few odd bits of translation here and there and and occasional uneasy flashbacks or out of time storytelling were the only issues I had as I read. The decision to tell this story in graphic novel format was a smart one. I am a firm believer in the power that images have to reinforce a narrative. 4 stars from me.
Tiananmen 1989 is set for publication June 2020.
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