Please click here for the two-day schedule
In order to examine Chinese identity through a global and individual representation, the two-day symposium series will feature distinguished speakers and performers as well as outstanding student delegates in an open dialogue about the influences of today's changing society on their own identities. Topics covered in the symposium series will range from issues of ethnic identity to gender politics, from expressions through the arts to representations through goals, and from the implications of a changing society to changing expectations. In hopes of covering the full spectrum of Chinese art forms and various cultural aspects, HAUSCR will present an image of China that is multifaceted, dynamic and individualistic.
In our two-day symposium, we will focus on two approaches in examining Chinese identity: the rich historical diversity and the vibrant modern heterogeneity. By looking at the past, we will explore how Chinese identity has formed over the course of thousands of years. Through the present, we will explore how Chinese identity is presented in today's world--focusing on the conformity and diversity that come with China as a country and as a people. Ultimately, we aim to break down the barrier between the perception and the reality of Chinese identity--from the cultural perspectives of both sides.
- SATURDAY PROGRAM: FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT
Although China is most notably recognized today by its rapid economic growth, its five-thousand-year-old heritage cannot be overlooked in the international arena. To many people, the image of China's past is inevitably confined to stereotypes from textbooks and images in popular media. Despite the influence of Western values in China, certain values have remained constant throughout the course of China’s history. Using a variety of programs, the symposium will expose the impact of China's traditional values from the past to present on both a national and individual level.Traditional Value Systems: The Chinese people have continually struggled with the conception of what it means to be Chinese. The result was a traditional value system that all Chinese people have identified with and were proud of. However, modernization in today’s rapidly cosmopolitan society has slowly eroded these core beliefs. Panel discussions will aim to look at the historical and continuing development of China’s belief system and raise the question of their relevance in today’s world.
Individuals through Time: Despite the collective value systems that Chinese rulers have promoted and adhered to, the Chinese people did not necessarily conform both externally and internally. Through paintings and calligraphy, through novels and poems, individuals throughout history have expressed their own philosophies as influenced by social norms. Some have praised these norms while others have scorned them. Some have refused to conform to society while others pretended to.
Modern China through a Historical Lens China today is heavily influenced both by its traditional value systems and its historic culture of individuality. The personal poetry that prominent figures wrote thousands of years ago, the art that has survived until today, all these are part of Chinese culture that still have an impact in modernity. By looking at these modes of personal expression juxtaposed against traditional values, we gain a greater understanding of Chinese identity today. Surrounded by its rich history, pulled by the forces of modernization, how have the Chinese people retained their historic identity or have they? These are the themes that we will explore in the conclusion of our Saturday symposium.
- SUNDAY PROGRAM: FROM A PEOPLE TO AN INDIVIDUAL
Although China has gained unprecedented visibility on the world stage in recent years, the diversity of China and the Chinese people is rarely portrayed in the West, where China is often seen as a relatively homogenous nation. The symposium series on Sunday, "From A People to An Individual," will build on the historical features of the Saturday program to present the diversity of Chinese identity. During a period of rapid globalization where the exchange of ideas has grown significantly, the identities of the Chinese people have changed in different ways. Therefore, the Sunday program will feature panel discussions, speeches, interactive workshops, movie screenings, and performances focusing on contemporary issues of identity. These topics will include:China’s ethnic minority groups: Most people are familiar with the ethnic Han Chinese that comprise over ninety percent of the Chinese population. However, China officially recognizes fifty-five ethnic minority groups, each representing a variety of religions, histories, and traditions. Panels with experts on diverse Chinese cultures will explore the notion of the modern ethnic Chinese identity.
Gender politics in Chinese society: We will explore the role that gender plays in today’s society by inviting prominent speakers and performers—whose identities have largely been influenced by their own perceptions of gender—along with scholars and experts who have studied gender in its various societal contexts and influences on identity. Panel discussions and keynote addresses will explore ways in which conceptions of gender have evolved in Chinese society, the social and political implications of this transformation, and how gender identity is perceived in modern day China.
Chinese food and culture: Through presentation and cooking workshop given by a guest speaker, food will be portrayed as not only a critical aspect of our everyday lives, but also as a defining attribute of individual identity. These events will emphasize the role of individual experiences and perspectives in redefining Chinese
identity in new and profound ways.
