"Questioning the dominant geography of the East-West divide" has itself become such a cliché of the Academe by now that I sometimes can't take it seriously anymore. Sometimes there's a real there there. But often it merely posits an illusory distinction so as to appear transgressive in overcoming it. Sometimes it is little more than a sign that something really wants to pass for radical, but doesn't know what to do beyond bandying about the same old recycled shibboleths.
you probably know that dongxi in chinese means "thing" figuratively but "east-west" literally. there's a legend about it but one that didn't move me. When others are jaded, you understand: jade is a stone the east asians wear as a porte bonheur of their life, as it ages and fades so do we...
ReplyDeleteTry not to be bitter or hurt by others limits. Me, I just smile and think "does it matter?" most often it doesn't.