For some reasons I think this very short documents about three Han Chinese from Hong Kong travelling to Xinjiang/East Turkistan is an objective and respectful document worth a watch.
Reasons are as below:
1)Honest but calm: The vid opens with Professor Wong from HK City University commenting on current Uyghur music seen in Chinese mass media and public performances as drastically different from what Uyghur people really sings and listens to on a daily basic. Contrast to the happy and exuberant music and dances most people saw on TV or live performances in hotels or restaurants, Professor Wong finds that Uyghur traditional songs (especially muqam) are usually sombre and sad. The vid than cuts into a verse from muqam sang by Uyghur musicians with Chinese subtitles. No angsty or patriotic comments added, which helps to concentrate on the topic of Uyghur music.
2)Uyghurce are used on the vid: Although not all but the songs’ tile and Uyghur people’s name got Uyghurce captions as well. Personally, I think it shows respect in adding Uyghurce in a vid about Uyghur themselves.
3) The “Uyghur Expert” actually speaks Uyghur!: First time ever to be honest especially on the Chinese side. He communicated with locals in their tongue, which he claimed to have studied for over 20 yrs in order to understand the core of Uyghur music. I mean, learning a language is hard and Uyghur is hugely different compare to Cantonese or English. Without an environment for him to practice it and he still manages to speak and read Uyghur is absolutely admirable to me coz I can’t even speak Korean like a native with my mum being Korean.
4)A lot of great musicians: They are every where, not just those who were friends withProfessor Wong but they actually bumped into one when they were trying to purchase a Cang(Yang qin or Dulcimer) in a local shop. I really like how the two students who knew no Uyghur or Uyghur music and were willing to try when asked to co-perform with locals without complaining or showing any signs of impatient. It really shows they are here to learn from the locals instead of site seeing only. Most important of all, though differ in style, they manage to jam a decent verse in the vid showing how they try to adjust to each other.
5)Islam is not a taboo here: It is shown in a very smooth and not non-intrusive way in a scene with Professor Wong explains after a song sang by locals on how music is seen as a path to communicate with their God. The topic of religion is not avoided but view as an important part of what Uyghur music is.
6)The history of Uyghur people oppressed by Qing is shown: How people from the South were forced to move to Illi by the Qing army and a national hero among Uyghur, Sadir Palwan, who fought against Qing, are mentioned in the doc to show yet another genre of Uyghur music. Professor Wong is not self-censoring himself into leaving both religion and Uyghur’s tragic past out of the picture just because both elements are seen as radical and dangerous in some authorities’ eyes. He is trying his best to show audiences the full picture of Uyghur music.
7)The situation of Uyghur is taught to his students: Professor introduced Exmetjan Osman to his two students in the notion of letting them know how the feeling of being ostracised by mainstream China has influenced recent music and literature of Uyghur. He explained to his students how people interpret one of Osman’s work(one of the sons’ of Sadir turned into Kebab) as an analogy of the stigma placed on Uyghur as one dimensional people whom either is a thief or someone who sells Kebab.
8)Frequent and dynamic exchange is done between both side: Professor Wong insisted his students to try to communicate and play the instrument with the locals themselves because he believed it to be the only way to truly understand Uyghur music. Not only are the Chinese curious about Uyghur music, the locals are equally interested in their guests’ instruments and music styles. It is beneficial to the students as well as to the locals.
9) Last but not least: Professor Wong is very critical on how the Han Chinese version of so called minority musics composed by Han musicians as untrue and distorting in placing unrealistic image of ethnic minorities to most Chinese people. He hoped this exchange helps his students to learn Uyghur music from the perspective of Uyghur instead of Han Chinese. In the end of the video, one of the students said only under mutual trust can two people truly join together as oppose to one side stealing from another side. Their sincere attitude has proved to the locals they are not appropriating Uyghur music but actually learning from them.
One thing I am not so sure is if the subtitles for Uyghurce since I don’t speak Uyghurce. I hope it is on point though. And hope that Professor Wong can still travel around China after this doc is out.