The Power of Words: Reconsidering the Matter of Student Psychological Well-being in the Chinese Education System
Qiqi Wu
In September 2022, news of the suicide of a rising dance star Gao Yan spread rapidly in Douyin. It emerged that his teacher, who had used harsh and cruel language while addressing the students, had caused him to lose his composure. The incident, although not new in East Asia, has not been widely emphasized. The government’s stringent control over information dissemination resulted in a lack of transparency, causing crucial issues on the brink of exposure to be suppressed and consigned to oblivion. This raises the question of the effectiveness of the teacher training system and the student’s mental health in East Asia: Are educators truly aware of the power of words that could potentially lead to significant trauma for students?
This project aims to revive suppressed information, increase awareness among educators of the impact of their words, and encourage educators to reconnect with their original intentions of education by supporting students and nurturing their well-being. To achieve this, the project interviews individuals who have undergone similar traumatic experiences to amplify diverse perspectives and voices to audiences. The project’s videos showcase footage of learning environments in East Asia to provide a more vivid experience. Additionally, abstract editing techniques are employed to mirror the lack of information transparency on social media by distorting the video imagery. Multiple digital screens are positioned at varying angles to create a more immersive and engaging experience for viewers. The project aims to convey sensitive information and authentic representations of the Chinese education system to the public.