Dialogue with "The Earth"

Organizer: Jiangsu University "Belt and Road" Cultural Center

Person in charge: Danny Dong

I. Project Background and Purpose

Pearl S. Buck, Nobel laureate in Literature, profoundly depicted the arduous lives of Chinese peasants in early 20th-century China with her masterpiece, *The Good Earth*. Today, after China achieved a moderately prosperous society in all respects, rural life has undergone tremendous changes. This project aims to invite American university students who love Chinese culture to conduct 30 days of fieldwork, documentation, and cultural interaction in several rural areas of China, fostering a cross-temporal dialogue with *The Good Earth* from the perspective of "foreign youth." This initiative not only responds to the national strategic call to "tell China's story well" but also becomes an important part of Jiangsu University's "5-Year, 50,000-Person" Sino-US Youth Exchange Program.

II. Project Objectives

1. To build a bridge for cultural dialogue between Chinese and American youth and to explore the contemporary face of rural society in China;

2. Cultivate intercultural communication talents with an international perspective;

3. To produce high-quality research findings and provide grassroots case studies for national cultural strategies and rural revitalization policies;

4. Increase the international visibility of rural China through art lectures and new media dissemination.

III. Project Format and Content

1. Three American college students were sent to join Chinese personnel to form a "Youth Culture Observation Group";

2. Visit rural areas in Jiangsu, Anhui, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan that are representative of local cultures;

3. In each place:

o Foreign students conduct interviews and photography in English (themes: life, education, intergenerational relationships, cultural heritage, etc.).

o Published 1 English research diary entry (translated into Chinese)

o Shoot a 1-2 minute video and upload it to social media platforms (Douyin, Bilibili, Instagram, etc.).

o Professor Danny will give an art lecture (topic: Literature, Music, and Cultural Identity).

IV. Expected Outcomes

1. Video output: 10-15 episodes of short videos titled "Chinese and American Youth See Rural China"

2. Textual outcome: A collection of English interview diaries published (bilingual in Chinese and English).

3. Academic Achievements: The research report was submitted to Jiangsu University and forwarded to national ministries, local publicity departments, overseas Chinese federations, and other institutions.

4. Public Impact: Art Lecture Event Report Media Exposure Materials

V. Implementation Plan (Draft)

· Project preparation period: April-June 2025 (student selection, interview training, route confirmation)

· On-site implementation period: July-August 2025 (30 days)

· Output period: September-December 2025 (report writing, publication planning, lecture summary)

VI. Funding Explanation (Supported by Research Funds)

· Round-trip airfare and living expenses for foreign students: approximately 20,000 RMB per person.

· Filming equipment, transportation, accommodation, and translation assistance: approximately 50,000 RMB

· Expenses for editing and publishing the research findings and for art lectures: approximately 30,000 RMB

· Total estimated expenditure: approximately RMB 120,000 (further funding may be available if the scale is expanded).

VII. Additional Notes

1. This project will be prioritized for registration at the "Belt and Road" Cultural Center of Jiangsu University, as an important component of the creation of provincial and ministerial-level platforms.

2. The project's findings are intended to be submitted for subsequent applications, including the National Social Science Fund for Arts and the Special Fund for International Communication from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

3. This project is a pilot project of Jiangsu University's "International Youth Cultural Co-creation Program".