Read “The Metamorphosis of Nora”.

Lanxin is a thinker, quiet and unassuming yet with a passion for Nietzsche’s philosophy not often seen among today’s university students. So I am not surprised that in brainstorming ideas for her Perspectives on the Humanities final project, which asked students to extend the study of East-West cultural relations into the modern period by exploring a case of literary exchange like the exhibit cases already discussed in class, Lanxin decided to tell a complex story whose central figure is arguably modern China’s most Nietzschesque writer, Lu Xun. 

For a sharp critic, Lanxin’s essay may seem overly ambitious, dividing the reader’s attention between two or three major topics that it attempts to cover simultaneously: the laws and dynamics of cultural transmission, the reception of Ibsenism in early 20th-century China, Lu Xun’s (and to a lesser extent, Hu Shi’s) reflections on the liberation of women in a modernizing society. But, it is precisely this rich mixture, as you shall see, that distinguishes this essay. No matter whether you like her philosophizing, it is undeniable that she has done a beautiful job of analyzing her well-selected sources.

—Chen Lin, Lecturer in the Writing Program

Read “Conditional Belief in Dracula”.

Sun Leyi Vera originally wrote this essay for my Perspectives on the Humanities course: “Brutes, Monsters, Ghosts, and Other Troubling Creatures.” The assignment asked students to select a historical event or trend that contextualizes their analysis of a literary text and to show how their argument participates in scholarly debates on this literary text. In a sharp, lucid way, Leyi’s essay addresses how changing attitudes towards Christianity and science in the late Victorian period speak to representations of faith in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. She skillfully incorporates and interweaves scholarly sources to trace developments in science in the nineteenth century and to support her interpretation of the novel. Moreover, she explores the nuances of her claims by closely reading key passages from the novel. I’m impressed by her thoughtful analysis of the characters’ invocations of God—and the power of rifles—as they battle Count Dracula. Leyi’s attention to both narrative arc and textual detail models the analytical work we encourage in Perspectives on the Humanities.  

—Alice Chuang, Lecturer in the Writing Program

Read “Modernization in Late Qing: Never a Success?”.

Jiang Yukun’s essay “Modernization in Late Qing: Never a Success?” was written for my Fall 2018 Perspectives on the Humanities course. By re-evaluating a much-maligned institution—the education system of the Late Qing era—Yukun articulates a surprising and counter-intuitive argument. I have to admit I was slightly taken aback when Yukun told me he was undertaking such an ambitious project for his final paper. But through thorough research and careful writing, Yukun crafts a compelling case for the gradualist, hybrid approach of some Late Qing educational and scientific reformers. The essay shows equal adeptness at engaging with scholarly interpretations and analyzing primary sources, which range from nineteenth-century texts to Yukun’s high school textbook. Using carefully structured paragraphs, the essay discusses Late Qing scientific education in light of recent scholarship about the global circulation of scientific knowledge. Ultimately, Yukun’s essay invites us to re-examine not just a specific period in China’s past, but also the very notion of scientific “modernity.”

—Joseph Giacomelli, Lecturer in the Writing Program

Read “Drawing the Boundary between Psychosocial and Biomedical Disorders: The Credibility Contest between Freudianism and Neo-Kraepelinianism in the DSM”.

Ellen Ying wrote the essay “Drawing the Boundary” for my Fall 2018 Perspectives on the Humanities course. Our class examined how the humanities can shape our understanding of science and the role of science in society. In her final research paper, Ellen applied a critical, historical approach to one of her main academic interests, the theory and practice of psychology. Ellen’s essay chronicles and analyzes several important episodes from the recent history of the discipline. Eschewing a simplistic dichotomy between science and non-science, the paper uncovers a story of contentious politics and complex social dynamics. The essay reflects the impressive breadth of Ellen’s research. At the same time, the paper also showcases Ellen’s ability to carry out incisive “close readings” of primary sources – in this case, several editions of the DSM. Lastly, I am impressed by Ellen’s skill and creativity in applying theories such as the notion of “boundary work” to her topic.

—Joseph Giacomelli, Lecturer in the Writing Program