(Frontline 2006)

Have you seen this picture before?

Where did this event take place?

When did it take place?

Why is he standing in front of a column of tanks?

What happened to this man?

On June 5, 1989 a sole Chinese man stood in front of a column of

Chinese Tanks on Changan Avenue—the avenue of Eternal peace. Why did

he do this? Why did Time Magazine name The Unknown Rebel (The Tank

Man) one of the most important people of the 20th Century (Time 2003)?

Why after 17 years did Antony Thomas, in his documentary The Tank Man,

still have to ask, ‘...who was he’ (Frontline: The Tank Man 2006)? The

image of the Tank Man continues to resonate and elicit questions. For

example, what does the Tank Man mean for us today? Is he a symbol of

courage? Is he a Chinese hero or traitor? Or, is he something else entirely?

These questions, and others, will occupy our attention as we come to know

the Unknown Rebel.

Read the following background information for

homework:

Front Line: The Tank Manwww.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/etc/synopsis.html

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/cron/

Time Magazinewww.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/rebel.html

In our next class we will view the first part of Antony Thomas’ documentary The Tank

Man. In order to understand this viewing you will need to complete the pre-viewing

vocabulary worksheet.

Reference List

Frontline 2006, The tank man, Available from: < http://www.pbs.org/wgbh Pages/

frontline/tankman/ > [10 April 2008].

Time 2003, The time 100: the Unknown Rebel, Available from: < http://wel.sga.

edu.au/webct/urw/lc2039116011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct > [10 April 2008].