Contemporary China Centre, University of Westminster
2015 Spring Semester Seminar
Professor William Callahan
‘Journey to the Other Side: Methods and Ethics for Making Films about China’
Wed 04 Feb | Westminster Forum, University of Westminster, 32/38 Wells Street, London, W1T 3UW | 5-7pm
Does documentary filmmaking provide an innovative method for the study of Chinese politics and foreign policy? This project analyses the possibilities of visual IR through a discussion of the methods employed in making a film about being the Other in China: "toilet adventures" (18 min., 2015). It argues that documentary films do more than just gather “the facts” of peoples’ experiences, but also can illustrate the affective politics of the estrangement, the giddiness, and thus the excess evoked by such experiences. The goal of this essay/film is to explore how person-to-person encounters can produce new sites and senses of international politics. Callahan will screen "toilet adventures," and then discuss the theoretical, methodological and ethical issues.
William A. Callahan is Chair of International Relations at the LSE where he teaches courses on Chinese foreign policy and visual international politics. His recent publications include China Dreams: 20 Visions of the Future (OUP, 2013) and a video documentary: 'China Dreams: The Debate' which is hosted on the Asia Society website. His current video project 'Journey to the Other Side' explores memories of first encounters between Chinese and non-Chinese people, and his current book project examines China-India relations from both a strategic and a cultural perspective.
All welcome. Non-University of Westminster attendees please register with Helena Scott at [log in to unmask]
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