“Respect that, bow down bitches / 尊重吧,向她鞠躬”: ‘Flawless’ and Language Learning

Sometimes there are days in as a language student in China where group discussions just make me want to scream and/or smash my head against a wall for not being able to sufficiently articulate myself on the thinly veiled sexism and objectification that lies beneath almost every text or topic that relates to women. At least not inContinueContinue reading ““Respect that, bow down bitches / 尊重吧,向她鞠躬”: ‘Flawless’ and Language Learning”

Hanzu in a Headscarf: Travels in Xinjiang

Xinjiang شىنجاڭ‎‎ 新疆 is a mountainous, oil-rich region that forms the bulbous bump of northwest China. Bordering Tibet to the south, Mongolia to the east, Russia to the north, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to the west, Xinjiang (lit. new frontier) has long been a vital trading hub and cultural melting pot at the heart of the Central Asian Silk Road. BuddhismContinueContinue reading “Hanzu in a Headscarf: Travels in Xinjiang”

WATCH: Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50

Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50 is a film that documents the long and tedious legal proceedings that hound Beijing artist Ai Weiwei 艾未未, son of famous poet Ai Qing 艾青, on alleged tax evasion charges against FAKE Design, following his unlawful imprisonment in 2011.  His associates Wen Tao, Liu Zhenggang, Zhang Jingsong and Hu Mingfen were also imprisoned for over 80 days.  Text from Youtube: Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50 opensContinueContinue reading “WATCH: Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50”