Mar. 21, 2008 – China and Utah may seem two disparate worlds, geographically, culturally and linguistically, but the University of Utah is working to bring those worlds closer together. On March 24 through 28, the first annual Chinese Culture Week will take place at the U, affording opportunities to experience traditional Chinese music, documentary film and lectures on archeology and Chinese-U.S. relations. All events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule follows.
“Our goals for the week are to promote awareness of Chinese culture in general and to advertise the existence of the new Confucius Institute,” says Janet Theiss, director of the Asia Center. “We hope this will encourage students and community members to take Chinese language classes or courses on Chinese history, culture, politics and society.”
With global threads tying people and cultures closer together every day, it is increasingly important for University students and the community at large to have access to opportunities to learn about Asian cultures. In October, 2007, the U became one of 13 institutions in the nation to host a Confucius Institute. Partnering with Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, the Institute offers China-related cultural activities such as films, opera and music performances, art exhibits and public lectures on Chinese society, culture and history, all of which are open to the campus and the wider community. Chinese Culture Week is sponsored by the Confucius Institute at the University of Utah in cooperation with the Asia Center.
March 24, 7 p.m.
Chinese Music Concert
Ning Lu and Jie Lu, professors of piano, University of Utah
Wenyuan Gu, second violinist, Utah Symphony
Chamber Music Performance Hall, Gardner Hall, University of Utah
March 25, 7 p.m.
Chinese Traditional Music and Dance Performance
Sichuan University Student Art Troupe, China
Rose Wagner Performance Center, Salt Lake City
March 26, noon
Chinese Speech Contest
LNCO 1945, University of Utah
March 27, 7 p.m.
Masses to Masses: Artists in Mao’s China
Documentary film about the life and work of an artist during the Cultural Revolution
Combat Films and Research
LNCO 1100, University of Utah
March 28, noon
Ancient Kingdom in Fog: The Mysterious Sanxingdui
Lecture and exhibit on the famous Sanxingdui archeological find in Sichuan, China
Professor Li Xiaotao, deputy director of Sichuan University Museum
LNCO 1110, University of Utah
March 31, 7 p.m.
“Why is the U.S.-China Relationship So Complicated?”-Lecture
Harry Harding, university professor of international affairs, The George Washington University
LNCO 1110, University of Utah.