American Studies Programme, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, has the pleasure of inviting you to the Lecture Series:

The Wild, Wild... East?: The Boxer Uprising in American Popular Culture

Dr. John Haddad
Visiting Fulbright Scholar
The University of Hong Kong
Penn State University, Harrisburg

Date: 29 March, 2011 (Tuesday)
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Place: Convocation Room, Main Building

In 1901, the United States joined other Western powers and Japan in an international relief expedition that marched to Peking and successfully lifted the Boxer siege of the Foreign Legations. Back in the United States, Americans avidly read the newspapers to learn the latest news from China. Realizing that the Boxer Uprising had captured the mainstream public’s imagination, the creators of popular culture moved to capitalize on this national fascination by producing consumable depictions of the conflict. The motion picture industry, then in its early stages, quickly manufactured short “news” films on the subject. But most spectacularly, William Cody (“Buffalo Bill”) decided to stage a reenactment of events in China as the grand finale for the 1901 edition of the Wild West Show. While exploring these various depictions of the conflict, this paper will attempt to shed light on the widespread appeal of the Boxer Uprising in the United States.

Poster: http://www.hku.hk/amstudy/news/images/20110329.pdf

All are welcome. No registration is required.

For enquiries, please contact Ms. Cice Chan (cice@hku.hk / 2219 4403).