Understanding Chinese Culture

Course Description

August 2023

In a time of growing tension between the United States and China, mutual understanding between these two economic superpowers is particularly important. This course presents an overview of contemporary Chinese culture, based on concepts from cultural anthropology and the instructor’s personal experiences in China over a period of 25 years. The course makes no judgments, positive or negative, but attempts to understand the cultural assumptions and values that underlie recent developments in China. Topics include the role of family, saving face, rituals, education, business practices, politics, Covid policies,

the Chinese diaspora, and even humor — among many others. While the instructor has led two Osher courses on world cultures in the last decade or so, this course differs in its much more intensive focus on China