LIZ FOLEY, Cultural Studies major, writes: It is the night before I leave this country for the first time in my life (unless you count Canada). I am completely excited, though the thought of boarding a plane that is heading to China feels surreal. At first my family (especially my mom) felt uncomfortable about this trip. It was not until my parents began reading books and seeing photos of Shanghai that their fears were somewhat calmed. My friends, on the other hand, are jealous that I am leaving. I was inspired to take this class in Shanghai by friends who moved to America to be au pairs. I really want to experience culture shock! I want to see the things that I have been reading about.
Here are my five questions...
1) Is Shanghai currently experiencing gentrification?
2) How are pre-planned towns such as Xintiandi changing the neighborhoods in China?
3) Is there still a clear division between foreign and indigenous Shanghai residents?
4) How much does censorship affect the art that is being produced in China?
5) When an artist is academically trained in China, how much is their education affected by Western techniques?
