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Summary Of Calderazzo's 'Running Xian'

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Summary Of Calderazzo's 'Running Xian'
Inhaling Western Peace In “Running Xian” (168), Calderazzo utilizes literary realism to illustrate culture clash as related to the poor air quality in China (theguardian.com, 2008). The opening line of text, “China in my mouth, in my lungs” immediately forms the city’s air into a tangible object invading the writer’s body (Calderazzo, 1984). The polluted air is defined as the country of China itself. Calderazzo channels Henry James to describe everyday scenes without emphasizing contributors to smog, but subtly building the reader’s understanding that the locals are accustomed to such conditions, while the transplanted writer is physically affected (Realism, 2008). Xian, China, has the second worst air quality of any city in the world …show more content…
Traditional Chinese potty training techniques involve leaving infants and young toddlers in open pants without diapers. Children are encouraged to relieve themselves anytime, anywhere. The results are sometimes rinsed away, and other times the mess is left behind on a sidewalk or floor (Chou, 2009). No matter how effective and efficient a training method, this behavior would most certainly be stigmatized in Western society. Imagining not only the visual but the olfactory consequences of this being repeated in daily life would evoke disgust for …show more content…
(1984). Running Xian. In In Short (pp. 168-171).
Chou, F. (2009). Potty-Training Infants: An “Ancient Chinese Secret”. Retrieved from NACD: http://nacd.org/newsletter/0409_pottytraining.php
Database, I. P. (2007). Henry James Biography. Retrieved from infoplease: http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/henryjames.html
Milloy, S. (2012, January 5). Shocker: Chinese Air Pollution Debunks US EPA. Retrieved from Junk Science: http://junkscience.com/2012/01/05/shocker-chinese-air-pollution-debunks-u-s-epa-junk-science/
Realism. (2008). Retrieved from Writers History Literature Portal: http://writershistory.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=4&id=30&Itemid=43 theguardian.com. (2008, July 22). Henry James. Retrieved from The Guardian:
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