In order to make up our minds we must know how we feel about things to understand them, and to know how to feel about things we need the public images of sentiment that only ritual, myth and art can provide” (Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures, 82, 1973) Most of the representations we get of Yunnan are ones of untouched paradise, home to primitive colourful happy people. The problem with this is that tourists come to Yunnan expecting this emotionally shallow representation and many of the ethnic minorities buy into it to commodify their culture.
Sam Mier's film is an emotional geography of Yunnan and an effort in what he calls emodiverse marketing. Recent studies have shown that emodiversity is a key contributor to mental and physical health. Sam believes that showcasing a broad range of emotions that make up Yunnan is a healthier domestication of it. The idea is that such representations can lead to better health for the people of Yunnan and a more sustainable development of culture that appreciates its emodiversity and sees its attraction.
Sam spent five months in Yunnan last year filming at ethnic minority festivals, clubs, in the streets, and in the bush. This film will be presented as part of his thesis for the University of Melbourne this year. The thesis analyses the film's implementation of ideas surrounding cosmopolitanism, narrative ethnography, emodiversity, montage, actor-network theory, urban ethnomusicology and hermeneutic phenomenology.
Film screening 2 PM @ Perry Street Cinemas followed by Music from 3:30 PM till 12:00 AM @ On The Pier All inclusive tickets @ Resident Advisor $35 until June 7 $40 June 8 till July 1 $50 on the door limited to 150 total spots Supported by local businesses On The Pier Restaurant Bay Breeze Boutique Motel Woolridge Electrical Vaemp Footwear Moss Boss Laura Miers Project Metal Joshua Burkinshaw Images Eurobodalla Refrigeration & Airconditioning Mogo Nursery Foreign State Rolsten Bros Oysters
