We are a community of many cultures. On campus there are several clubs representing some of these cultures. These are the "ethnic clubs" ranging from the Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA) to the Middle East Society. Since I am a student of Chinese culture, I can only speak about Chinese ethnic clubs — which include the Chinese Students Association (CSA), the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at Princeton University (ACSSPU) and several others.
I will compare CSA with ACSSPU in order to present this problem of "culture representation." Both clubs purport to represent Chinese culture; however, there is a significant difference in their approaches. CSA events have always advertised themselves as social gatherings for people of Chinese background and their friends. The ACSSPU describes itself as an "association for scholars." This is exemplified by its two main projects: a lecture series and the organization of a Chinese language tutoring program.
Though the ACSSPU also coordinates social activities, its emphasis is different. The ACSSPU seeks to represent Chinese culture in such a way that is different from Princeton culture. Attending one of its events, one automatically feels 'in China,' as when East Asian Studies professor Eugene Link performs a rendition of a Chinese comedy act in his lectures.
The CSA, on the other hand, seeks to represent Chinese culture in an attempt to bring China to Princeton. Essentially CSA makes Chinese culture fit in with everyday Princeton life. CSA represents Chinese culture as Princeton culture with a little Chinese twist. However, I believe this latter approach completely misrepresents Chinese culture. The splendor of Chinese culture is found only if it is differentiated from everyday Princeton culture.
I believe it is not essentially the fault of the CSA governing body, but rather, it lies in its attempt to popularize Chinese culture. Its attempt to popularize Chinese culture inherently distorts it by Americanizing it or Princetonizing it. This then contradicts the principle upon which ethnic organizations are based: to promote authentic Chinese culture, which is not equivalent to "selling Chinese culture."
However, I feel the fault remains ultimately not with the CSA at all but with its membership at large — essentially Chinese-Americans. I believe these members only wish to embrace the culture they are familiar with — that is, this popular brand of distorted Chinese culture. I believe the members are only excited by the social aspects of CSA events — which are Princeton and Amer-ican in character — regardless of its cultural value. One could be celebrating Mao's birthday and people would still joyfully eat their spring rolls. I think there is a definite problem with our attempts to understand another culture if all we seek is that culture in more familiar terms. Another example is TASA's banquets, which are devoid of any difference from a CSA banquet, even though Taiwanese culture is very different. They even serve sushi!
CSA members do not wish to correct their personal visions of China, which are often constituted solely of the Chinese elements already represented in American pop culture. When one lists the CSA's more popular events, one obtains this list: karaoke, kung fu movies and generic versions of Chinese food, like General Tso's Chicken. It has no urge to promote and embrace the Chinese culture that is something altogether different from the American version of Chinese culture. Why did it choose to show "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and not show any of the other art films from China or Taiwan — especially Lee An's Wedding Banquet and Pushing Hands? Even CSA's posters would influence one's understanding of Chinese culture. If I walked around campus and was surrounded by posters constantly associating China with food, I probably would soon believe Chinese culture's most important characteristic was its food.
Another important question concerning representing culture is: who has the right to represent a culture? For ACSSPU, the leaders were all born and raised in China or Taiwan. On the other hand, the authority of the CSA originates from a myth that many Chinese Americans believe. MYTH: If I am a son or daughter of parents of a certain ethnicity, I automatically become an expert in that particular ethnic culture. I often see students who are born and raised in America take on the role of "Chinese expert" based solely upon their skin, rather than their actual level of Chinese cultural knowledge.
Though I have discussed the problems with our representation of Chinese culture, these problems with the representation of culture are not limited to China nor limited to ethnic clubs. They are found everywhere.
We must be constantly aware of the tension between embracing the popular representation of a culture — which may seem "comfortable" — and attempting to understand the representation of a culture in its more authentic, albeit different, splendor.
(Thomas Tso is a philosophy major from Taipei, Taiwan. He can be reached at tomtso@princeton.edu)
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