报告题目：DISTANCE AND DIFFERENCE (SEEKING SIMILARITY FOR DIALOGUE)

报告人： Dr. Digby Wren

报告时间：2018年4月12日（周四）16:00

报告地点： MTI实训教室（4B一楼）

主办单位：澳大利亚研究中心（经济学院、外国语学院）

报告人概况

Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia) Visiting Scholar at Sichuan Normal University Chengdu China (SNU) teaching Academic Research and Writing, Communications and Media, and International Relations. Current research activities include Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, China Australia Relations, International Education Partnerships and Remote Community Development. A contributor and commentator for China International Radio (CRI) and China Plus website and App, Digby has enjoyed a 25 year career in Media and Communications winning many awards and working for leading corporations and government. He was the publisher of a number of visual arts and popular culture magazines and the founder and publisher of Sports-First, Australia’s first sports newspaper. Principal partner of Longevity X, a media and communications consultancy and producer specialized in providing Corporate advisory services to organizations seeking to advance investment, trade and brands into China and the Belt and Road Initiative markets. Founder of Belt and Road Capital Partners, a corporate advisory for Investment and Trade capital raising and placement into Belt and Road Initiative supply chains, value chains and production networks.

ABSTRACT

For university student’s Intercultural studies may focus on food, fashion and films. Representation is framed within stereotypes and global familiarities such as Hollywood, kung fu or luxury handbags. But, how do we understand the ‘other’, someone or something that seems unusually different? Overseas study, global brands, tourism and media are examples of culturally stimulating experiences. In this lecture, cultural differences are discussed as ‘distance’ and similarity is explored as closeness and understanding. Through audio-visual examples and open discussion students will gain practical tools for improved critical thinking, cultural analysis and communication methods. The lecture will involve students in a short journey into using language skills as a means to better understand inter-cultural theory and practice that will be useful in study, teaching and business.