China, Culturally Speaking

This book is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and Michael Berry, Professor of Contemporary Chinese Cultural Studies at UCLA and a world-renowned Chinese literary translator and film scholar. After discussing the inspiring influence his English teacher had on him, the conversation covers topics such as the appeal of literary translation, modern and contemporary Chinese literature, the history and development of Chinese cinema, popular culture in modern China, censorship, and the importance of staying true to one's values.


This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, Living Values, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:

I. From New Jersey to Nanjing - Discovering another world
II. Found in Translation - Manifesting values and creating impact
III. Freedom of the Press - Rewriting novels and denying translations
IV. Contemporary Voices - Literature, film, soft power, and cultural imbalances
V. A Glimpse Behind the Lens - Chinese cinema and cinematographers
VI. Business and Art - The Hollywood-Chinese axis vs. independent filmmakers
VII. Flourishing - The power of values



About Ideas Roadshow Conversations:


This book is part of an expanding series of 100+ Ideas Roadshow conversations, each one presenting a wealth of candid insights from a leading expert through a focused yet informal setting to give non-specialists a uniquely accessible window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be encountered through standard lectures and textbooks.