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CHINA TODAY
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
When the Soviet Union fell, China was poised to take
over as America's next great enemy. The 9/11 happened and there
was a new enemy. So, what about China? In this hour ofTo the
Best of Our Knowledge we'll take a closer look at China today
and what the future holds for US/China relations. Also, a talk with
Nobel prize-winning writer Gao Xingjian (Gow Shing Chyen). And we'll
take a musical odyssey along the Silk Road.
SEGMENT 1:
Ross Terrill has a new book about China -
"The New Chinese Empire: And What It means for the United
States." Terrill talks with Steve Paulson about the internal
politics of China and says the Communist Party is becoming irrelevant
to Chinese life although it retains a stranglehold on the political
institutions of power.
SEGMENT 2:
Wu Man is a professional Chinese musician
living in the West. Her instrument is the pipa, a stringed instrument
plucked like a guitar. She talks with Jim Fleming and demonstrates
various styles of pipa playing, including wah-wah pipa which she
owes to Jimi Hendrix. Wu Man has a new CD called "Pipa: From
a Distance." She's also part of YoYo Ma's "Music from
the Silk Road" project. Click here
for an extended performance by Wu Man. Also, Steve Paulson reports
on the state of Chinese literature today. He talks with Annie
Wang, Nobel Prize Laureate Gao Xingjian and National
Book Award winner Ha Jin.
SEGMENT 3:
Iris Chang is the author of "The Chinese
in America: A Narrative History." She talks with Steve Paulson
about that history. Also, Xinran hosted a call-in radio
program in Beijing which for eight years told the heart-rending
true stories of women's lives in China. Xinran has written a book
called "The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices." Anne
Strainchamps talked with Xinran and prepared this report.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 03-07-06-A.
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Web Extra -
Wu
Man Plays the Pipa
Books:
- Iris Chang,
The Chinese in America: a narrative history (Viking)
- Hai Jin, Waiting: a novel (Vintage)
- Theodore Levin, The Hundred Thousand Fools
of God: music travels in Central Asia (and Queens, NY) (Indiana)
- Ross Terrill, The New Chinese Empire: and
what it means for the United States (Basic Books)
- Annie Wang, Lili: a novel (Anchor Books)
- Gao Xingjian, Soul Mountain (Harper Collins)
- Xinran, The Good Women of China: hidden
voices (Pantheon)
Music:
- Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble,
Silk Road Journeys (Sony Classical)
- pipa: from a distance: featuring
Wu Man (Naxos World)
- The Silk Road: a Musical Caravan
(Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
- "The Moon Overshadowed by Bright Clouds"
by the Sung Tso-Liang Orchestra of Hong Kong off of their "Chinese
Drums and Gongs" LP. Lyrichord Records.
- "Made in China" by 2MCs.
Distribution dates:
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Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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