My previous journal entry was about my transformation from a science and math nerd to a China/Asian Studies nerd and how the liberal arts experience at Dartmouth enabled that transformation. Perhaps I overstated the case a bit. Looking back on those days, while I professed to have an interest in science, ironically it was more from a humanities perspective all along. Maybe that's why I felt an affinity with the scholars of ancient China with their multiple interests all grounded in a basic love for humanities and arts.
Read More
On the value of a liberal arts education, or how I went from a math and science nerd to a China/Asian studies nerd
I have been giving many talks lately on the value of liberal arts education to audiences in China and elsewhere in Asia. While most institutions of higher learning in this part of the world offer the general education approach, whereby students are channeled into specific areas of study with few if any choices outside their majors, liberal arts education is definitely making headway in China and other Asian countries. There are quite a few liberal arts style programs now in cities like Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul, and increasingly in Beijing and Shanghai, and while small and spare compared with the larger universities, these programs are an emerging sign that the liberal arts model is recognized and valued here.
Read More
Jazz Bandleader Whitey Smith, “The Man Who Taught China to Dance” in Shanghai, 1920s-1930s
Last night, publisher Graham Earnshaw and I had the pleasure to launch the republished memoir of 1920s Shanghai jazz musician, Whitey Smith. Whitey’s book I Didn’t Make a Million, first published in Manila in 1956, was just republished in its original form by Earnshaw Books. In the latest edition, I provide a brief introduction to the man and his times. During my talk, I played two songs recorded by Whitey Smith’s orchestra in 1928 that probably haven’t been heard in Shanghai since the 1930s.
Read MoreRocking Kunshan: A Night with The Eagle Bar Band
I know them as the Eagle Bar band. While some of the band members have come and gone, they have remained fairly stable. Marvin has always been the band leader and lead guitarist. Ama is the singer, though the others also take turns singing. Jerlon, another guitarist and a great singer himself, joined in the past two years since I moved to Kunshan and became a habitué of this bar. Carlos has always been on drums. Kenneth was the bassist, then left for a while, and recently returned. It's a fabulous band. I blogged about them in my previous blog on Kunshan bars and clubs.
Read More昆山的酒吧 The Bars and Clubs of Kunshan (Part One)
Here are several establishments I've visited in the past two years and some of my impressions of each. Obviously there are many more clubs and bars in Kunshan than I cover here, including bars catering to specific ethnicities and nationalities (e.g. Japanese) and perhaps another installment will follow eventually (hence the Part One in the title of this entry). My one big caveat is that I almost never spend the weekend in Kunshan (I weekend in Shanghai) so some of these observations might pertain more to weekday than weekend nights...
Read MoreGetting Green Again: Remembering our Class of 1991 25th Reunion at Dartmouth College
I have been meaning for quite some time now to write a piece about my experiences at the 25th Reunion for our class of 1991, held on June 16-19 2016 at Dartmouth College. Several hundred '91s joined the reunion and it was quite an experience to see so many faces I hadn't seen in 25 years or more, and to rekindle memories and re-experience some of the youthful vigor of our Dartmouth days.
Read More
Gathering the Worthies: The Association of Asian Studies (AAS) Conference in Toronto, March 2017
Last month I attended the annual meeting of the Association of Asian Studies, held in Toronto. It was a very special experience to see and meet so many other Asian Studies scholars, many of whom I hadn't seen in years if not decades.
Read MoreSpring 2017 GLS Orientation and Faculty Tour of Shanghai
On Friday we welcomed our new group of 65 students for the Global Learning Semester. We also welcomed our professors for the first session of our program, who are flying in from Duke or elsewhere to teach.
Read MoreVinyl School Years: Musical Memories from the 1980s and my Top 20 Albums (Part 2)
Continuation of a rundown of my favorite albums from high school days in the 1980s, featuring artists Peter Gabriel, XTC, Kate Bush, Violent Femmes, Big Audio Dynamite, Depeche Mode, King Krimson, Prefab Sprout, Shriekback, and U2
Read MoreVinyl School Years: My Favorite Albums from the 1980s (Part 1)
Inspired by my father, and by my forthcoming book on Chinese rock scenes, I take a trip down memory lane, recalling my favorite albums from a misspent youth in Massachusetts. Artists featured in this blog include The Clash, The Dead Kennedys, The English Beat, Polyrock, The Stranglers, Ultravox, Talking Heads, Snakefinger, R.E.M., and Thomas Dolby.
Read MoreThe Year 2016 in 10 Favorite Books
A list of my favorite reads in the year 2016, not necessarily published in that year but mostly recent publications, including books on music, history, Shanghai, and autobiographies of two British gents.
Read MoreRemembering James Freedman, President of Dartmouth College
In the days leading up to our 25th reunion of the Class of 1991, I remember fondly our president Dr. James O. Freedman, who tried hard to create a more intellectual climate for the campus, encountering much opposition along the way.
Read MoreAn educational weekend in Shanghai with SAS Alumni and Duke Kunshan GLS faculty
A blog about an event sponsored by the Shanghai American School that brought three pre-1949 alumni to talk about their memories of the 1940s. And a weekend tour of Shanghai with Duke Kunshan faculty.
Read MoreMusic and Memory: Remembering the Dartmouth College Chamber Singers
As I gear up for the 25th reunion of our class of 1991, I recall with great fondness the choral group known as the Chamber Singers, which was one of my best experiences at Dartmouth.
Read MoreLive from Tokyo, its...A podcast interview on Shanghai Nightscapes with "New Books in East Asian Studies" presenter Carla Nappi
Fellow Shanghai Nightscapes author James Farrer and I did a Skype interview about our book with Carla Nappi for her podcast on East Asian books
Read MoreMore talks for Shanghai Nightscapes
More talks and interviews about our new book Shanghai Nightscapes
Read MoreShanghai Nightscapes book talk for Royal Asiatic Society, Sept 12
James Farrer and I will be holding a series of book talks in the coming week. We are especially looking forward to our talk for the Royal Asiatic Society in Shanghai. For more info on this talk, please see this website.
Shanghai Nightscapes Goes Live
Finally, nearly twenty years after this project was first conceived in the Hithouse Bar near Fudan University, over a couple of soggy, warm beers and the bleery-eyed environment of a student-populated disco bar, our book Shanghai Nightscapes is now being launched into the world. Special thanks goes out to Doug Mitchell and the rest of the team at U Chicago Press, as well as to our various editors and compilers. James Farrer, my coauthor, was the driving force behind this project's completion, and definitely deserves top billing. I hope that those who read the book will find something of themselves reflected in its contents.
You may find the book on Amazon or just go directly to the publisher, University of Chicago Press. Happy reading!
That's a Fine Cuppa Cha: Another Rave Review of Mu Shiying
My publisher just sent me the link to this article about my book on Mu Shiying published in Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. Thanks to the reviewer, Huiwen Shi, for writing such a positive and insightful yet also critical review.
What Makes a City Habitable? Workshopping with Toby Lincoln and SASS, and a Night of Cow's Heads and Craft Brews
An account of a workshop on habitable cities held at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and organized by British China scholar and urban historian Toby Lincoln
Read More