Hello Readers!
Welcome to my first ever blog! Last week in a joint lecture in the CAP program, we watched a documentary called “A degree of justice”. This is a part of our learning experience towards the sociological imagination whereas a student; we have to consider the interconnections between social history and individual biography and how the memory of individuals evolves into a key historical event. The documentary talks about the Japanese Canadian UBC students of 1942 who were cut out of school by the authorities during World War 2. Six former students share their touching stories about their lives in UBC and the separation of family and community.
Personally, I think Director Alejandro Yoshizawa did an amazing job of tracing the former Japanese Canadian UBC students for sharing a lot of great stories. I enjoy how the documentary is so organized in terms of editing. For example: when describing a corresponding scene, they will put the guests together to make a collaborative perspective and different experiences. The style of documentary allows us – the students to visualize the expression of the guests. Fears, tears and puzzled could all be seen on the faces. The close-up shot to the guests allows us to feel a physical presence by their side through emotion and language. Their experiences reflect the past social institution and unfair policy towards Japanese Canadian community.
While witnessing their experiences, I felt angry because of how the local authorities treated them as enemies because of the war. Innocent Japanese Communities and people were being questioned, and some of the fathers had been taken away for “investigation”. The members of the broken family involved in a traumatic experience, which it eventually stores as a memory to themselves. However, when the shared memory and experience occur to the people in the same community, this becomes a public institution. The public may arouse and criticize the past authorities, and to ensure this social institution will never happen again today, tomorrow and in the future.
As I was taught in the first week of school was memoir VS historical. Now I can clearly see the difference after watching the documentary. The guests provided their personal experience and their own subjective comments on the incident. It seems realistic and trustworthy because it comes from the witnesses. This is their MEMORY. When it comes to “historical”, it becomes a solidity public event as many witnesses were involved and provided a shared information of the same theme. But here are the counter-arguments, what if the guests weren’t telling the truth or provided information here and there? Would the whole story and perspectives of the documentary receive a different 
review? Would some of the social institutions be different to in our current society? Both sides of memoir and historical could provide biased judgment and statements, counterclaim might take place.
Nonetheless, after watching the documentary, I feel appreciative for today, seeing a lot of students from all over the world. Also, I am surprised how social relationships have changed so quickly for the past 70 years. Races, religion, sexual orientation and other social institutions are respected. It also teaches the societies a valuable lesson; you treat people of who they are, regardless of their history and ethnicity while still acknowledging it. Peace and love are bonded together, providing an enjoyable learning experience!