Visualizing Cultures Controversy
Encyclopedia
On April 23, 2006,the MIT website homepage posted a link to the "Visualizing Cultures" project in its “Spotlight” section, a multi-media educational Website on East Asia directed by Professors John Dower
of the History Faculty and Shigeru Miyagawa of Foreign Languages and Literatures, which is a part of MIT open courseware project.
The website included a section called "Throwing Off Asia" which included some Japanese propaganda images from the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War. Dower's course materials included some woodblock prints produced in Japan as propaganda
during the Chinese-Japanese War of 1894–1895. One of the prints illustrated Japanese soldiers executing "violent Chinese soldiers," with human heads scattered on the ground and blood gushing from the captives' necks. Many readers, however, have indicated that the purpose of the project is not sufficiently clear to contextualize the negative messages within the historical images portrayed on the site.
A campus-based and Chinese student-led protest against these images and their presentation quickly turned virtual and international, and for a brief period, heated debates were waged by scholars, students and netizens over the ideals of academic freedom and the right to student protest. The Website was taken down in response to a tidal wave of criticism.
After a week of meetings, the authors of "Visualizing Cultures" and members of the Chinese community at MIT announced that they had reached a compromise. The authors agreed to include additional context in controversial sections prior to republishing their work. The website is currently back online.
The letter detailed the emotional damage the inappropriate presentation had caused to thousands of Chinese people worldwide, and requested that,
announced that the Visualizing Cultures web site will be relaunched within the next few days.She announced that the web site will include all the original materials as well as added context and navigational aids that have been developed in response to thoughtful comments by members of our community. Meanwhile she affirmed in the strongest way possible MIT's support for the work of these professors, and for the principles of academic freedom.
John W. Dower
John W. Dower is an American author and historian.Dower earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Amherst College in 1959, and a Ph.D. in History and Far Eastern Languages from Harvard University in 1972, where he studied under Albert M. Craig...
of the History Faculty and Shigeru Miyagawa of Foreign Languages and Literatures, which is a part of MIT open courseware project.
The website included a section called "Throwing Off Asia" which included some Japanese propaganda images from the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War. Dower's course materials included some woodblock prints produced in Japan as propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
during the Chinese-Japanese War of 1894–1895. One of the prints illustrated Japanese soldiers executing "violent Chinese soldiers," with human heads scattered on the ground and blood gushing from the captives' necks. Many readers, however, have indicated that the purpose of the project is not sufficiently clear to contextualize the negative messages within the historical images portrayed on the site.
A campus-based and Chinese student-led protest against these images and their presentation quickly turned virtual and international, and for a brief period, heated debates were waged by scholars, students and netizens over the ideals of academic freedom and the right to student protest. The Website was taken down in response to a tidal wave of criticism.
After a week of meetings, the authors of "Visualizing Cultures" and members of the Chinese community at MIT announced that they had reached a compromise. The authors agreed to include additional context in controversial sections prior to republishing their work. The website is currently back online.
Chinese Students Community's response (CSSA)
CSSA is one of the largest student groups at MIT. CSSA had received numerous e-mails from distressed students protesting against the inappropriate presentation of Japanese wartime propaganda depicting atrocities inflicted on the Chinese people in the “Throwing off Asia” unit of the Website. Based on the email responses, CSSA wrote an official letter on behalf of Chinese students at MIT that was sent to the two professors as well as to the MIT administration on Tuesday.The letter detailed the emotional damage the inappropriate presentation had caused to thousands of Chinese people worldwide, and requested that,
- "the authors should provide the proper historical context for the prints"
- "MIT should pay special attention to the presentation of culturally-demeaning content, particularly to its emotionally-damaging potential."
| "As stated clearly in our official letter, statement, and multiple meetings with the two professors and the MIT administration, we have utmost respect for academic freedom and the quality of research presented in the “Visualization Cultures” Website.We have asked for proper context, but never censorship." |
Statement from Professors Dower and Miyagawa
In their statement, Professors Dower and Miyagawa express their deep regret over the emotional distress caused by some of the imagery and are genuinely sorry that the web site has caused pain within the Chinese community, saying that was completely contrary to their intention. Their purpose is to look at history in the broadest possible manner and to try to learn from this.| "These historical images do not reflect our beliefs. To the contrary, our intent was to illuminate aspects of the human experience -- including imperialism, racism, violence and war -- that we must confront squarely if we are to create a better world. These complex issues are addressed in the long text that accompanies the images. We must learn from history if we are to have a better future." |
Statement from President Susan Hockfield
In her statement on May 4, 2006, MIT president Susan HockfieldSusan Hockfield
Susan Hockfield is the sixteenth and current president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Hockfield's appointment was publicly announced on August 26, 2004, and she formally took office December 6, 2004, succeeding Charles M. Vest. Hockfield's official inauguration celebrations took...
announced that the Visualizing Cultures web site will be relaunched within the next few days.She announced that the web site will include all the original materials as well as added context and navigational aids that have been developed in response to thoughtful comments by members of our community. Meanwhile she affirmed in the strongest way possible MIT's support for the work of these professors, and for the principles of academic freedom.
| As Visualizing Cultures is relaunched, we hope people will read the text, view the images and consider the important questions the authors raise. They welcome, and we all benefit from, thoughtful discourse and the learning that results from serious intellectual engagement with these matters. |
Statement from MIT Chancellor Phillip L. Clay
In his statement, MIT Chancellor Phillip L. Clay express his deeply regret that the web site has caused distress and pain to members of the Chinese community and stressed that the use of these historical images is not an endorsement of the events depicted. He called for an open and constructive dialogue.| "We need to preserve the ability to confront the difficult parts of human history if we are to learn from them." |
External links
- 麻省理工问题版画遭中国学生抗议 教授道歉
- 麻省理工刊登日军国主义版画当事人提出道歉
- Jing Wang on the MIT Controversy over “Visualizing Cultures”Response1
- Jing Wang on the MIT Controversy over “Visualizing Cultures”Response2
- Jing Wang on the MIT Controversy over “Visualizing Cultures”Response3
- Peter C. Perdue's Open Letter to Chinese Students at MIT