On Tuesday, August 20, the presentation of the books “Disoriented Disciplines: China, Latin America and the Shape of the World” by Trinity College researcher Rosario Hubert and “Representations of China in Latin American Literature (1987 – 2016)” by María Montt, alternate director of ICLAC and Professor of History at UC, took place. The event, organized by the ICLAC Millennium Nucleus and UC Center for Asian Studies at the Campus Lo Contador of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, brought together academics, students, and the general public interested in studies about China, creating a space for reflection on the complex intercultural relationships between China and Latin America from a literary perspective.
The activity featured comments from researcher Rodrigo del Río from Harvard University and Fernando Pérez, an academic from the Universidad Alberto Hurtado. As Pérez mentioned, both works stand out for moving beyond the Orientalist stereotypes commonly associated with China and pave the way for a more equitable dialogue between East and West:
“The books being presented today seem to be part of a shift in the way we look at, think about, and understand China from here, and I believe it is a shift from fascination towards conversation and dialogue,” he commented.
During the event, the authors delved into their writing processes and the development of their research, discussing the challenges and opportunities that arose, as well as highlighting how the landscape of academic studies regarding China has changed in recent years:
“China is different because it has become a very relevant global actor, and in the case of Latin America and especially Chile, where 40% of our exports go to China, the material conditions in which the study of this country takes place are different. Studying China 20 years ago was exotic and niche; today, it is different,” Montt stated.
For her part, Hubert commented, “A much more refined discussion of all possible cartographies for comparison has been consolidated. María rightly said that there are much more direct conditions, there are sources and evidence that allow us to have theoretical approaches to work with today.”
The Transpacific Perspective: The Presented Works
The books “Disoriented Disciplines: China, Latin America and the Shape of the World Literature" by Hubert and “Representations of China in Latin American Literature (1987 – 2016)" by Montt, converge in exploring the representations of China from Latin America, from complementary perspectives.
Hubert’s work focuses on how China has been represented in Latin American literature, exploring cultural connections and narratives that have emerged over time. Meanwhile, Montt’s book examines how the Asian country has been described in Latin American literature from the late 20th century until 2016. The work analyzes contemporary novels where China is the main theme and delves into how these books highlight and undermine assumptions about China that have shaped Latin America's understanding of the country.