On this week’s podcast, Swati Bhise is joined by Joanna Lee: author, lecturer, and an incredible resource on the connection of Asian and Western Culture. The pair discuss personal and professional experiences that highlight the importance of cultural insight when dealing with Asian language translation. Having previously collaborated to bring the Kunqu Opera to India, the pair reflect on the many ways in which art connects people. Joanna recounts being accompanied by Amy Tan on a visit to the Dimen Village in Guizhou, China, and the unique experience to be among a village untouched by modernization. In discussing her work on M. Butterfly, the play by David Henry Hwang, Joanna illustrates how cultural works of art can successfully be “renewed” when new artists are involved. Swati and Joanna conclude their discussion by emphasizing the importance of artists in our society, and how their adaptability and determination indicate that all cultures can continue to thrive.
