Cross-cultural communication and interactive practice: a case study of Looking China

• Published in: International communication of Chinese culture Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 61 - 75
• Main Authors: Yang, Xindi, Yang, Zhuofan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2025
• Subjects: Communication Studies; Social Sciences; Cross-cultural communication; Short documentary; Participatory observation; Artifact collection
• ISSN: 2197-4233; 2197-4241
• DOI: 10.1007/s40636-024-00313-y

This article conducts a case study on the Looking China Youth Film Project (Professor Huang Huilin, the founder of Looking China project has made significant contributions to this article. We hereby express our gratitude to her) (hereinafter referred to as Looking China ), employing rigorous sociological research methods centered on fieldwork, specifically participatory observation and artifact collection. Through comprehensive engagement in over four cycles of the Looking China activities, the study delves into the project’s unique approach to cross-cultural communication and interactive practice. Looking China , co-hosted by the Academy of International Communication of Chinese Culture at Beijing Normal University and the Huilin Cultural Foundation, aims to promote international dissemination of Chinese culture through short documentary creation. The research found that the project fosters teaching innovation by implementing a workshop model that encourages collaboration between Chinese and foreign students, emphasizing practical orientation in documentary production. Culturally, Looking China encourages the creation of visual ethnographies about contemporary China, providing insights into the daily lives of ordinary Chinese people. Moreover, the project forms a cross-cultural interactive ritual chain through various communication methods, presenting and reflecting positive impacts on cross-cultural understanding. By grounding the analysis in sociological research methods, this study offers in-depth insights into the mechanisms and effects of the Looking China project , contributing to the field of cross-cultural communication and interactive practice in new media environments.