MUSEUM FATIGUE

The Strange Case of Nanjing Bicycle Sacrifice

September 27, 2017 by Museum Fatigue

On two separate occasions, in different parts of Nanjing, I have observed a local practice of bicycle use that is a sad commentary on value and waste in urban Nanjing—bicycles chained to the ground along the side of the road as ritual sacrifice. While they were created to be ridden for transportation and enjoyment, the sad, twisted objects with their tortured frames pegged to the ground will never again be used as a means of locomotion. Their “bicycleness” has been […]

Categories: Bicycling, China, Mystery Objects, Ruins • Tags: automobiles, Nanjing, parking, trash

“Liu Xiaobo” and the Power and Weakness of the Digital

July 14, 2017 by Museum Fatigue

char nametoberemoved[11] = {‘L’, ‘i’, ‘u’, ‘ ‘, ‘X’, ‘i’,’a’, ‘o’, ‘b’, ‘o’, ‘\0’}; When he died yesterday, Liu Xiaobo got quite a lot of press in the West. A Nobel Peace Prize winner and notable participant in the Tiananmen protests that culminated in the events of June 4th, 1989, he was an iconic dissident figure. In fact, I have a hunch that when we look back from some future point, Liu Xiaobo’s passing will have also marked the eclipsing […]

Categories: China, Memory, Technology • Tags: censorship, Digital Culture, Liu Xiaobo, WeChat

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Demolishing the 2010 Shanghai Expo Saudi Pavilion

June 29, 2017 by Museum Fatigue

The other day while bicycling past the site of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, I happened upon the destruction of one of its most famous destinations—the Saudi Arabia pavilion. It was already in such a state of advanced demolition that at first I didn’t even recognize what it was. The frazzled, suicidal palm trees standing like jumpers on the edge of the rooftop three stories up were what initially caught my eye. I didn’t have time to stop for more than […]

Categories: China, End of Times, Ruins • Tags: Expo 2010, Saudi Pavilion, Shanghai

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Chinese Bicycle Parts Diagram

June 13, 2017 by Museum Fatigue

While living in Nanjing this past year I have spent quite a lot of time bicycling around the city and surrounding area. I’ve had the chance to get to know my local bike shop owner and have been learning new things about enjoying my favorite pastime in China. One of these days, when I find the extra time, I’ll post some photos and routes and perhaps write a bit about cycling in China. For now, however, I thought I’d share […]

Categories: Bicycling, China • Tags: bicycle parts, chinese language

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Firing Squad

June 4, 2017 by Museum Fatigue

Categories: China, Photography, Tourism

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The Window Washer As Chinese Culture

November 22, 2016 by Museum Fatigue

In the popular imagination “Chinese Culture” is something which emcompasses those different things which are unique to China. Chinese cultural things on display at tourist sites will likely include things like silk brocade, cloisonné, jade carvings, paper cuts, calligraphy and teapots. As a Nanjing taxi driver described to me last week there are also telling habits that can be used to distinguish Chinese from others: “Americans drink coffee and Chinese drink tea.” Of course, simple reflection on many of these […]

Categories: Bodies, China, Culture, Labor • Tags: fear of falling, window washing

Migrant Laborers as Tourists

September 28, 2016 by Museum Fatigue

A few days ago I was walking out of the subway station, when I became aware of a giant, dark blue bag in my field of vision. The bag was on the back of a person a few steps higher up the stairs, so it was directly in front of my face. For a few seconds I could see nothing else but the cheap piece of luggage—ubiquitous on trains and long-distance busses throughout China. The 1970’s-style font, with an image of […]

Categories: Random Reflections, Tourism • Tags: migrant worker

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Chinese Restaurant Menu, Chengdu Spring 1990

August 17, 2016 by Museum Fatigue

This morning while cleaning my office I happened upon a menu that I collected over twenty-five years ago in the spring of 1990 while studying in Chengdu, Sichuan. I don’t remember what restaurant it is from, but the fact that the first page lists Green Leaves Beer (绿叶啤酒) and that page two lists “guo kui” (锅魁) is a dead giveaway that it was from that time. The menu is an interesting look back, not only at the kinds of foods […]

Categories: China, Food, Uncategorized • Tags: 1990, Chengdu, menu, Sichuan

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Two Iron Trunk Boxes Containing the $18.5m USD

June 15, 2016 by Museum Fatigue

FROM sunil GUEI Dearest One, I am the first duaghter of an ex military/ex president been an opposition party to the present Government of COTE D`IVOIRE. On the 19th sept 2002 my father/mother including every members of our family was murdered by the unknown REBELS during the time they attack our house by shooting and looting, even this is one of the things that contributed to the present crisis in our country today. God so kind I was not in […]

Categories: Mythologies • Tags: spam

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Midway Conversations 2016: Neighborhood Documentary Projects Premiere

May 16, 2016 by Museum Fatigue

Last night at the Turf Club the Spring 2016 Visual Anthropology Class screened a selection of the work they have been doing with their neighborhood partners this semester. As with previous years the work they shared illustrated the special relationship that many of them have developed with neighbors in the Hamline Midway. The neighbors shared stores, took them into their homes, introduced them to friends and family and demonstrated why our neighborhood is such a special place to live. This […]

Categories: Anthropology, Assignments, Visual Anthropology, Visual Anthropology Class • Tags: Hamline Midway, Hamline University, Hamline University Anthropology Department, Hamline-Midway Neighborhood, Midway Conversations, neighborhood, neighborhood research

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