“On Origins”

Neveen Hirmiz
Prof. Cary S. Tagasaki
Word Count: 612
209641051
06/02/14
"On Origins"

It is the world's longest and most massive structure built by man, its name The Great Wall of China. As early as the Qin Dynasty we see these tamped- earth structures representing a defensive fortification for the people of China. Since then, future generations have altered the Wall’s image, both physically and ideologically, through the cultural interplay between material reconstruction and historical reinvention. It is this process that Carlos Rojas believes most significantly defines the Wall’s identity, and is directly responsible for the preservation of the physical structure itself. Carlos Rojas suggests that it is important to consider the historical context of the Wall to appreciate its various meaning throughout history. He refers to the different Chinese anniversaries being commemorated, in which they all helped to shape the culture, society, and politics of modern China. At the same, the different ways in which the anniversaries are observed demonstrates the role of contemporary concerns in shaping a vision of the past. Over many generations, ideas are developed about forming the wall, in that different representations of the Wall add to the body of tradition, in which it allows for its historical longevity. Rojan states, the way that the Wall is commonly perceived today is largely influenced by recent attempts to preserve it and assert its status as a national symbol, it is through this historical continuity that there is this process of reinvention of the Wall. In various countries around the world new walls are being built up, and there is this ironic expression of cultural ideology, in the sense that we are in the twenty first century, wealthy and advanced countries are building physical barriers to protect their borders. The construction of walls is primarily to divide nations amongst themselves for any of their political or cultural reasons. Rojas states territorial barricades have increased, for example in Israel, a heavily fortified barricade has been built along the Gaza Strip as well as between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The significance of these new walls does not lie in their status as physical barriers but as symbols that nations have the power and control to do as they wish. In relation to the Great Wall of China, it is less significant as an actual barricade than it is a cultural symbol. Olympics one world one dream phrase is in connection to the Wall's power as a national icon, made possible by the transformation of its representations as they circulate throughout China and around the world. One representation of the one world motto is the tension between the nation's desires to be part of a global society and maintaining their national identity. The slogan is ambiguous because at the same time the preparations for the 2008 Olympics were going on there were protests to 'free Tibet'. The slogan was strategic for China because the world would accept the false image of peace and unity that China was trying to portray, in that the one world motto had different meanings attached to it, so does the Wall's status as a national symbol. Various media representations of the Wall all have their own perspectives as to what the Wall symbolizes. Furthermore, it is theses references that are made about the Wall that underlies the main cultural logic. To appreciate its historical significance, Rojan believes it is necessary to look beyond the ways of the Wall's material status, and attend to the ways it has been discussed and represented as a cultural object. As every generation comes along it adds to the Wall. They are reinventing the Wall through their cultural ideologies.