American Images of China and Chinese Images of America, 1919 to 2019

21 May 2019
21 May 2019

Time: 16.00-17.30

Venue: Paolo Prodi Building, via Tomaso Gar, 14 - Trento, Room 001 

  • Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom - University of California Irvine

In an illustrated talk, Jeffrey Wasserstrom will explore the dreams and nightmares that China has inspired among Americans from the days of Sun Yat-sen through the Beijing Games to the current Trade Wars--and the dreams and nightmares the United States has inspired in China over the same period.  He will offer examples from popular culture (referring to films of the 1930s and 21st century, television programs, and so on) as well as from journalism and diplomacy.  Comparisons will be drawn between American visions of China and American visions of other parts of Asia, including Japan, as well as Chinese ideas about America and Chinese ideas about other parts of the West, including Italy.

Jeffrey Wasserstrom is Chancellor’s Professor of History at UC Irvine, where he holds courtesy affiliations with the Law School and the Literary Journalism Program.  He has written or co-written five books, including China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know (2010, 2013 and 2018 editions), and Eight Juxtapositions: China through Imperfect Analogies from Mark Twain to Manchukuo (2016).  He has contributed to many general interest venues, from the New York Times to Internationale, given keynote lectures on four continents, presented his research at many universities, and been a featured speaker at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival and the Ferrara festival of international journalism.

Conference organized by the Center for High Humanistic Studies (CeASUm), with the sponsorship of the School of International Studies and the support of the Martino Martini Center.

Credits photo: President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive in China | November 8, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)