Brandeis Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (BOLLI)

H&G16-5a-Wed2

Manning Zhang

This course will take place virtually on Zoom. Participation in this course requires a device (ideally a computer or tablet, rather than a cell phone) with a camera and microphone in good working order and basic familiarity with using Zoom and accessing email.

September 11 - October 9

There are so many interesting Chinese social norms, traditions and values that provide insight into their culture and have implications for the relationship between the US and China. Have you heard about the Chinese Dream and wondered how it compares to our own American Dream? Is there a double standard if the US allows its citizens to use Tik Tok in light of China’s own domestic censorship policies? Have you heard of “blind date corner” Shanghai parks, where senior adults meet to plan their children’s marriage? Are you curious about the cultural and philosophical values that underpin the common practice of Tai Chi exercise in the parks and streets of China, and here in the States?

Since the 1980s, China has undergone a disruptive transformation from a planned economy to a market economy along with even bigger changes in social norms and aspirations. The development and growth of a middle class during this period as well as the exposure to western culture created a society whose expectations were markedly different from what modern China’s founders had envisaged. In this course we will learn how Chinese culture has evolved over time, and the way that long-lasting cultural traditions endure in contemporary variations. We will take a comparative approach to examine five aspects of Chinese society: philosophy, family, work, education, and politics. At the end of class, you will have a better understanding of Chinese culture and its dynamic interaction with global influences and events.

Roughly the same amount of lecture and discussion.

This class will use a mix of newspaper articles, academic articles and book chapters to provide an educated, well-balanced primer that the weekly lectures will then complement. All reading materials will be available in pdf format to the member via email or with links in this document. No outside text is required for purchase.

1-1.5 hours per week (10-15 pages).

Manning Zhang is a current fifth-year PhD student at Brandeis, majoring in Sociology and Social Policy. Her dissertation focuses on how people navigate fitness, and how fitness infrastructure could be better designed for community health equity goals. Having resided in China for 22 years prior to coming to Waltham, Manning is looking forward to sharing her insights into the cultural differences between the US and China, as well as the sociological frameworks for analyzing them.