Was the Cultural Revolution in Mao’s China really such a disaster? Dr. Dongping Han, professor at Warren-Wilson College and a native of rural China, offers the 2017 Albert N. Keim Lecture on Tuesday, March 28, at 91短视频 (91短视频).
The lecture, titled 鈥淭he Cultural Revolution: A Reinterpretation from Today鈥檚 China,鈥� will be at 5 p.m. in the Strite Conference Room (#105) of 91短视频鈥檚 Campus Center. It is sponsored by the Albert N. Keim Lecture Series and the 91短视频 History Department.
Following the lecture, Evan Davis, a sophomore history major from Falls Church, Virginia, and Wu Jing, a junior psychology major from Beijing, China, will provide brief responses.
鈥淯nderstanding the story of modern China and especially how the Chinese themselves view their own history is essential for those who want to be informed about global politics and economics,鈥� says Professor , chair of the 91短视频 . She leads a c to China in fall 2018.
Cross cultural co-leader Dr. , who teaches the history of Asia at 91短视频 and is executive director of , points out that Han鈥檚 lecture provides an important and distinctive perspective on the Cultural Revolution.
鈥淭here are good reasons why catastrophic events in history are presented from only one side,鈥� he says. 鈥淗owever, the overwhelming negative consequences of such events can hide narratives that give context and a larger perspective. China’s size, diversity and complexity make it an easy target for generalizations and misunderstanding. The strategic importance of China in today’s world makes it imperative that we listen discerningly to voices that present the complexity of significant events.鈥�
Han grew up in rural Shangdong province. After studying English literature, translation and education in China and Singapore, he completed a master鈥檚 degree in history at the University of Vermont and a PhD in politics at Brandeis University. In addition to teaching at Warren-Wilson, where he鈥檚 been since 2000, he holds special teaching appointments at Wenzhou University and Hebei University.
Han has published a range of scholarly works, including “The Unknown Cultural Revolution: Life and Change in a Chinese Village” (2008). He commentates on economics and politics for such news and analysis sites as China Daily and China-U.S. Focus. He has received many fellowships and research awards as well.
91短视频 has strong connections with China. Each year, the campus hosts 10-12 from approximately eight different universities for a sabbatical semester to learn about American culture and pedagogy. Additionally, an was formalized for cultural exchange in January 2015.
A cross-cultural group from 91短视频, co-led by Byler, was last in China in the fall of 2015 (visit their cross-cultural blog).
More about the Albert N. Keim Lecture Series
Professor Albert 鈥淎l鈥� N. Keim died in 2008 at the age of 72 of complications following a liver transplant. He served as a professor at 91短视频 for 35 years and was the academic dean from 1977 to 1984. The lecture series honors his memory.
Learn more about past presenters, in this sampling:
2016: Artist/activist provided a lecture titled 鈥�Performing Statistics: Connecting incarcerated youth, artists, and leading policy experts to challenge Virginia鈥檚 juvenile justice system.鈥�
2015: ,聽political scientist in the University of Kansas鈥檚 School of Public Affairs and Administration, presented 鈥淭he Police and Racial Discrimination in America.鈥�
2014: , a pastor, activist and history professor who helped EMC professors initiate social change in Harrisonburg during the early 1960s, presented 鈥淚s America Possible?鈥�