Seminar on Global Society IV

This course will examine theories and practices of translation with a focus on East-West cross-cultural, inter-societal dialogue and appropriation. Our inquiry is divided into three categories or distinct bodies of experiences, around which class readings and discussions will be organized: 1) The classical paradigm, which not only addresses the translational approaches to Chinese and Western classics but also the early Chinese translation and assimilation of Buddhist scripts; 2) The massive translation of modern Western literature and thought by Chinese and Japanese reformers since the late 19 th century; and 3) Contemporary Western translation of East Asian, particularly Chinese, literature, cinema, fine art as well intellectual discourses. Our interest is historical, cultural political as well as theoretical. By “theoretical”, we mean not only the technical or philosophical discussions on translation as a translingual endeavor, but also the sociopolitical and cultural-political effort at de-stabilizing and transforming pre-existing moral, legal, social and symbolic orders by “stealing fire from an alien language”.