Wednesday May 13th, 2009. @Ackerman Grand Ballroom NO TICKETS REQUIRED
- Where is human morality in the world of academia?
- What if one test decided your life?
- How far would you go to achieve success?
- Justice is here.
Story Synopsis
It is tradition for the HN production crew to perform an interpretation of an old story that incorporates moral principles, especially one that would be faintly familiar to those who grew up with Chinese-American childhoods. Our strength lies in a complete focus on a traditional story, which we hold is a fundamental element in learning about a culture. Last year, HN engaged its audience in the famous Chinese ghost story “Xiao Qian,” which explored the connect and divide between the human and supernatural world as steeped in ancient Chinese history. This year, we travel back to the Song Dynasty and look to one of ancient China’s most revered figures, Judge Bao Zheng, for inspiration. Known for his unwavering morals and fair judgment, Judge Bao oversaw a number of famous trials where he single-handedly dissected mysteries via tools and methods likened to modern-day criminal forensics. Our story focuses on a trial from the Song dynasty that concerns the human morality in the world of academia. In a world where social status was solely determined by a single exam, how far would one go to achieve success? We closely examine human nature in its most raw form through themes such as filial piety, greed, and justice. In the end, we raise the question: is justice is truly absolute and blind in its search for truth?
What is Heritage Night?
Heritage Night (HN), hosted by the Chinese Student Association (CSA), is a production that revolves around Chinese culture and art, made possible by the participation and support of the UCLA community. HN was first established three years ago and aims to promote and share Chinese culture through portraying customs, traditions, and values via song, dance, traditional instruments, drama, and more. HN focuses on reaching out to the general UCLA community to reconnect or introduce our audience to the richness and history of Chinese culture, one of the fundamental objectives of CSA. Although still a young production, HN has steadily gained a following composed of, but not limited to, UCLA students and their families, faculty, and the local Chinese community. It is our hope that HN not only serve as an outlet for UCLA students to utilize and showcase their talents in performance and management, but also to award newfound appreciation for other cultures and performances as well.
