Cultures Explained

文化解密

Cultures Explained

文化解密

“Return to Dust”— Disappearing Narratives and Cultural Divides

BY ZITING JIANG

The eventual forced withdrawal of the film from theatrical release in China also led me to explore the broader question of whether a culture can also return to dust throughout the course of history.

“Ordinary But Confident”: Cultural Collisions Over Gender and Ambition

BY TONY YANG

In this piece, Tong Yang (Haris) explores how female comedian Yang Li’s “ordinary but confident” joke created a new word of that meaning — “puxin” — that then ignited a controversy over gender roles in China.

中国“礼”文化的复杂多样性

BY LAURA LIU

“礼”是中国传统文化的重要组成部分。在与中国人交往中，美籍华人Laura发现，中国人对礼的实践是根据情境而变化的。现在，让我们从Laura的视角出发，一同观察这些场景

不正宗菜肴，正宗好奇心：外国餐厅作为跨文化交往的载体

BY 米朗润 MAGGIO

文章强调了外国餐厅作为文化交流桥梁的作用，以及文化融合带来的新美食体验。

After School Tutoring Persists Despite “Double-Reduction” Policy

BY HUNG NGUYEN & HAOXIN FENG

In this piece, Hung Nguyen and Haoxin Feng investigate how the “Double -Reduction” policy — instituted two years ago to reduce Chinese students’ excessive homework and after-school tutoring — continues to be flagrantly flaunted around the country. This time, in the school system itself…

Ghats: A Personal Account of Rituals and Feelings Surrounding a Hindu Tradition – part two.

TRAILOKIYA RAJ BAJGAIN

In this interview, Raj reflects on his memories, understanding, and the cultural significance of ghats to the culture of his home country, Nepal.

Ghats: A Personal Account of Rituals and Feelings Surrounding a Hindu Tradition – part one.

TRAILOKIYA RAJ BAJGAIN

In this interview, Raj reflects on his memories, understanding, and the cultural significance of ghats to the culture of his home country, Nepal.

Love Without Borders: Navigating the Global Game of Hearts

BY RACHEL LEE & KRISTINA ROGOZHKO

“Is this a casual relationship – or a long-term dating partner?” “If you go out for dinner, who pays for the bill?”

Spanish Rap Battles

CARLOS GUSTAVO SALAS

Spanish Rap Battles fill in stadiums and are a whole hip hop subculture on its own, but are hard to navigate without context. In this interview, Carlos Gustavo Salas walks us through this intricate competition that unites most Spanish-speaking countries.

Chinese Style Modesty

XIONG SHIYU

Many people have a stereotype of Chinese modesty and even think it is a kind of hypocrisy. In this article, Shiyu explains the reasons behind Chinese modesty from multiple perspectives, and explains that the essence of Chinese modesty is having “strength without publicity”. Let’s take a closer look at Chinese modesty.

中文谈世界

SAAD LAHRICH | JORDAN KNIGHT | MENTEMIR NOORUZBAEV | FAITH HO

四个来自不同国家的国际学生，从他们的视角讲述了与自己国家相关的文化或是社会现象，希望可以让中文读者产生一些思考。

The American County Fair

INTERVIEW | RANE HILL

The County Fair is a cultural tradition in southern America. In the following interview, Rane Hill introduces what a county fair is to us and shares her personal memories, experience and thinking with us.

Weddings in Pakistan: Process and Religion

INTERVIEW | ZARFISHAR TAYYAB

Three wedding dresses, a week of festivities, and a thousand guests: If you’ve never been to a Pakistani wedding, you’re missing out! DKU senior Zarfishar Tayyab walks us through all the details of this colorful tradition.

Ramadan in Morocco

INTERVIEW | HIBA LAABADLI

Family gatherings, cheesy TV shows, horseback rides for kids, and no food or water all day: sophomore Hiba Laabadli helps us experience what Ramadan in Morocco is like.

Brazillian Salgados

INTERVIEW | GIULIA DE CRISTOFARO

Nothing says “home” to a Brazilian like salgados, the savory fried snacks that no family get-together or kid’s birthday party would be complete without. In this interview, DKU sophomore Giulia de Cristofaro tells us all about this quintessential Brazilian comfort food.

American College Sports Culture

INTERVIEW | HENRY STEVENS

I never understood why people like watching sports, and so I interviewed Henry, a runner and great storyteller, about why sports are so popular in the US. Learn more about the business that sports are, how athletes get recruited, why people enjoy watching university sports, and more from this interview!

Cash for Ash: Joss Paper in China

WU YOU

The centuries-old tradition of burning joss paper can seem mysterious even to Chinese people themselves

Is it True that Chinese People Speak Indirectly

HE LIN

Neihan (内涵), a word that could be understood as “subtext,” is the key to understanding why Chinese people often say the Chinese communication style is indirect.

Mobile Payment and Privacy

KONG PEIXIANG

Chinese people use their phones to pay for everything nowadays. So do they worry about privacy?

Why Do Chinese People Love Hot Water?

WANG ZIQIN

Why do Chinese people drink hot water? From foot baths to drinks, exploring the deeper reasons behind these everyday rituals.

Orthodox Easter in Ukraine

INTERVIEW | TANYA TORCHYLO

Egg fights and staying up all night in church? In Eastern Orthodox countries, Easter isn’t about the Easter bunny. In this interview, Aiya Kuchukova talks with DKU junior Tanya Torchylo about the special charms of Easter as it’s celebrated in Tanya’s hometown in Ukraine.

The Obituary Wall

TEODORA PETKOVA

我记得去年我跟我的同学物理下课以后一起走路。我们都喜欢物理，但是这节课太难了，我们都觉得老师给我们的作业也太难了。我们聊天的时候，我开了一个玩笑：“ 我看着他的脸，却在想我自己的脸出现在我们那儿的讣告墙上。” 我的朋友问：“什么墙??”我这才意识到——讣告墙是保加利亚的东西。中国没有讣告墙，意大利没有，法国没有。除了几个东欧洲的国家以外，别的国家都没有讣告墙。

Livestream marketing

LI XIAOYI

In this piece, Li Xiaoyi dives into the cultural background that led this specific type of livestream, targeted for marketing, to become so big in China and examines the success of the use of catchy lines and exaggerated expressions by live streamers to sway consumers towards making a purchase.

The "How" and "Why" of Cram Schools in China

LI YUAN

Cram schools (补习班) are everywhere in China. What lies behind their popularity?

Live Streamers Go Virtual

ZHENG WEICHENG

VTubers: Who are they and why have they become so popular in recent Chinese media? In this piece, Jerry introduces us to the virtual reality characters that are taking over the internet and offering an escape to the virtual world of dream and adventure in exchange for donations and gifts from viewers.

Intersections: A Journal of Language, Culture, and Ideas is an online magazine featuring writing in Chinese and English by members of the Duke Kunshan community.

《交集：语言文化论刊》是一栏由昆杜人撰写的中英双语线上杂志。

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