Spreading Chengdu Culture in a Way Foreigners Understand
Release Time: 2017-10-25
The Character Card
Xiao Feige
35 years old, the Master of Cultural Management, Universite Nice Sophia Antipolis;
Director of the Publicity and Marketing Department of the Jinsha Site Museum.
In 2012, she held two lectures on Jinsha and the ancient Shu civilization at Stanford University and Harvard University.
In 2013, she went to the UK to promote Chinese culture to British cultural elites of the British National Theater and the British Museum.
In October 2012, Xiao Feige, Director of the Publicity and Marketing Department of the Jinsha Site Museum, embarked on a 10-day academic tour. She was invited by a foundation in the United States to participate in the international museum management teaching with museum staff from the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, and held two lectures on Jinsha and the ancient Shu civilization at Stanford University and Harvard University. From October 2013, she traveled to the UK to promote Chinese culture to the British cultural elites from the British National Theater and the British Museum. Every time, the past and present of Jinsha, narrated by her, diffuses mystery; and Chengdu history, told by her, fascinates the Western friends. These are only a small part of her introduction of the ancient Shu civilization. She said: "We tell our stories in a way the foreigners understand.”
Explain Jinsha Culture to the PhD of Stanford University and Harvard University
At the beginning of 2012, a foundation in the United States sent an invitation to the museum industry elites and held a training “to cultivate next generation of management talents for museums” at the University of Boston and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During the training, the trainees had to accept a rigorous assessment. Xiao Feige said that by that time, no one in Chinese mainland has passed through such a rigorous evaluation.
During her study in the United States, Xiao Feige was invited to give lectures on Jinsha and the ancient Shu civilization at the two most famous universities in the United States - Stanford University and Harvard University. She is very familiar with the contents. But faced with the most intelligent students from the top universities and even some phDs, Xiao Feige pondered the way she would tell the stories.
For the lectures, Xiao Feige prepared in advance the contents about the most mysterious Sun Bird, ivory, ebony and jade ware. At the lectures named
From Sanxingdui to Jinsha Ancient State Sleeping for A Millennium in two universities, she explained the ancient Shu civilization in a way the foreigners understand. Xiao Feige told reporters that in fact, these foreigners have a shallow understanding of Chengdu and the ancient Shu, and even they know nothing about many aspects. “Speaking of Chengdu today, they are more impressed by the iPad production base, the hometown of giant pandas. But I made an analogy between Tianfu civilization and Egypt civilization and Mayan civilization, because they have a common sun-worship.” At that time, the auditorium was full, and the atmosphere was free and warm. Xiao Feige was surrounded by the students’ sea of questions. “Why are so many ivories?” “Is Sun Bird polished by modern people?” etc. Xiao Feige said that wanting others to understand you, you have to tell in the way they understand. Always put yourself in others’ shoes.”
To talk about Jinsha Technology to the British Museum staff
In 2013, the Sino-British Arts and Management Talent Internship Program 2013, hosted by the China Ministry of Culture and the British Council, invited 11 Chinese cultural elites to hold cultural exchanges. The reporter from Chengdu Commercial Daily was informed that Xiao Feige was among the 11 elites. She told the reporter that the staff from various cultural institutions of the United Kingdom was very surprised at the application of new technology in the Jinsha Site Museum. “For example, we have applied the Wechat platform which has not yet been used in the British Museum.”
As the core of the program, Xiao Feige was arranged to the Scottish National Gallery and the Museum Development Committee for a five-week professional internship to “participate in their daily work projects.” It is reported that after this program, Xiao Feige will plan to talk about the cooperation on the derivatives with the Victoria and Albert Museum which is only second to the British Museum on scale.
Xiao Feige said that she also found a lot of special aspects of the British Museum during the exchanges. “For example, in the British Museum, children can sleep in the tents besides the mummy, and can also apply for birthday party there.” The Victoria and Albert Museum divides their museums’ characteristics to be exotic, style, humor, etc. to design derivatives. And for the London Museum, the design showing the history of London is from ordinary London youth. “In their eyes, the differences between the Roman era and modern London are displayed through the contrast on parchment and ipad.”
