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Displaying Modernity: a Dialogue
between Homi Bhabha and Tu Weiming
PKU NEWS 2010--06—09
http://ennews.pku.edu.cn/news.php?s=276054859
Peking University, June 9, 2010: An intellectual dialogue between Prof. Homi Bhabha,
Director of the Humanities Center at Harvard University, and Prof. Tu Weiming, Director
of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities at Peking University, was held in
Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center of PKU recently.
Prof. Homi Bhabha is a renowned representative theorist of post-colonialism and
interdisciplinary researcher, baring tremendous academic reputation in the field of
colonial and post-colonial theory, cultural change and power, and cosmopolitism study.
Prof. Tu Weiming is Harvard Yenching Professor of Chinese history and philosophy and
of Confucian studies. He has long been committed to the interpretation of the Confucian
classics, employing a multicultural perspective in examining the Confucian tradition and
seeking creative transformation of traditions so as to regenerate traditional Chinese
culture. His remarkable contribution has made a broad and far-reaching impact to
thinkers.
The dialogue organized by the Office of International Relations, Beijing Forum, and the
PKU Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, was moderated by Prof. Wu Zhipan,
Executive Vice President of Peking University. The dialogue ―Displaying Modernity‖ was
aimed for a more profound reflection on the basic issues in the modern world, as well as
for further communication and exchanges between the Indian and Chinese experience
in the globalization and modernization context.
In the dialogues, Prof. Homi Bhabha analyzed the significant role of those discrete
communities and minority groups play in presenting and maintaining cultural diversity,
emphasizing the importance of the principles of tolerance in cultural translation.
Echoingly, Prof. Tu Weiming spoke about the long history of Chinese multi-ethnic
harmony, putting forward the necessity and urgency of global conversations among the
core values and traditions of different cultures. They have also discussed in depth about
the mutual dilemma of Chinese and India traditional cultures, which has been
encountered by both countries in the process of globalization and modernization. The
dialogue concluded with the address of the prospects of further cultural exchanges
between India and China.
The two professors also devoted time in answering questions from the audience. And
the dialogue rolled down its curtains with an inspiring summarizing speech given by
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