Christina Xiong

Reflection for Transexperiences: A conversation between Chen Zhen and Zhu Xian

Chen Zhen says in his ‘self-interview’, “That is the beauty of being a <<migrating creature>>
like me, who could examine my own country and Asia through a polygonal prism”. Although at first
it was hard to connect Chen’s points, from his definition of a trans-experience and “short-circuit” to
the role of multiculturalism and art in ‘Westernization’, I found it easier to understand by relating
his experience to my own. By coming to China, I’ve not only gained a different perspective of the
country of my supposed “identity gene”, where my family heritage traces back, but also learned
more about America. In the U.S., we focus on our nation’s potential, what lies ahead for us. But by
‘zou-ing’ and leaving my home in New York, I’ve been able to see the other side, what the U.S.
represents in the eyes of the Chinese. Most importantly, I realized that while adapting to Shanghai’s
environment, I’ve been unconsciously comparing the two cultures. This, according to my
interpretation of Chen Zhen’s interview, is ‘trans-experience”. From taking in communist China’s
thoughts on American democracy and comparing it to our own pride in the ideals of freedom, I’ve
had to “connect the preceding with the following”. From being frustrated over crowded buses and
frequent line-cutters, I’ve grown to accept Shanghai’s distinct social behavior. The only difference
between my own attempt to find a healthy balance and that of Chen’s is ‘context’. China, unlike the
U.S., which is filled with ‘multiculturalism’, is constantly changing.
One of these constantly changing ‘context’ factors is China’s modernization. Chen believes
that many outsiders mistake modernization, China’s social, economic and political transformations,
for “Westernization”. Of course economic development, the need to prove one’s existence among
Western superpowers, has an impact on the culture of the people. But its influence does not mean
that modernization controls mass culture. According to Chen, “even though the concept of
multiculturalism was developed in the West, especially in the United States, you can nonetheless set
your own <<rules of the game>> to shape that space”. Therefore, through art, he is not only trying
to express what cannot be said in words, but also taking a part in shaping this new China. Instead of
allowing Chinese culture to be defined by the many influences of the <<Others>>, he envisions
China as an initiator of a “second tradition” in multiculturalism.