China in Two Acts

April 28, 2011 | The Cooper Union, Great Hall | New York City

With Ian Buruma, Yan Lianke, Linda Polman, David Rieff, and Zha Jianying

Co-sponsored by The Cooper Union

LISTEN | Download the mp3
 

CLIPS: Lecture | Discussion

 PHOTO GALLERY | View the photo gallery on Flickr  

Born in Beijing and educated in the United States, New Yorker contributor Zha Jianying has unique insight into the rapidly changing world inside China. She will be joined by Ian Buruma and David Rieff to discuss the plight of the country’s best-known artist, Ai Weiwei, and Nobel Peace Prize winner and political prisoner Liu Xiaobo. In a 30-minute presentation, Zha sheds light on the polarized political order and the cultural forces that are shaping the world’s most populous nation. Following Zha’s remarks, a panel of journalists and writers join her on stage for a lively debate of her assertions.
 

PEN BLOGS

• Fran Gordon: PEN’s spectacular President Kwame Anthony Appiah introduced the event and with passion, reminded readers that “The literature that China is producing and has produced is a great treasure.” [More]