Minerva Fellows spotlight: J.M. in China
J.M. Jones
Issue date: 2/25/10 Section: Limelight on U
I am the Special Advisor to the Administration of Yuanmingyuan, also known as "The Old Summer Palace."
So what exactly does that mean?
Well, on paper, it originally meant that I was to assist with the development of presenting The Old Summer Palace to outside audiences, create an English website, identify areas of the park that could be improved, and processes that could be changed. In reality, however, my job has evolved to be so much more than that, defying a one-sentence explanation or a simple job title. To date, I have worked in the areas of fund raising, consulting, marketing and branding, academic research, business development, site development, sales, and so much more. I am constantly expanding my knowledge in all of these fields and am challenged to understand things from a macro down to a micro level, integrate the pieces, and execute feasible solutions and operations.
The social impact of this endeavor is not immediately evident in the way that most may expect from a social entrepreneurship project, but it is no less significant. The work of The Old Summer Palace is a project in cultural rejuvenation for a country known for a tumultuous relationship with its past. China's recent history has been a volatile one, characterized by both the foreign looting and domestic destruction of the country's rich cultural heritage. This undertaking is an effort to reacquaint the people of China with their past for the collective benefit of the country and world cultural heritage as a whole.
Due to the nature of my work here in China and abroad, I am unable to keep a Minerva Fellow blog, and realize the Union community is likely unclear to the exact nature of my work. Allow me then to take this opportunity to help clarify, beginning with a history lesson.
The Old Summer Palace was the principal place of residence for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, as well as an imperial court for affairs of the State. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century by Emperor Kangxi and spanned over 1.4 square miles in the northwest corner of Beijing. The Qing Dynasty invested an enormous amount of resources to finance the construction of its many gardens and palaces. Emperor Kangxi invited innumerable skilled architects and craftsman from across the globe to design venues that integrated some of the finest architectural styles and cultural achievements from around the world. Jesuit missionaries worked side by side with Chinese craftsmen and Italian architects to create a wondrous work of architecture unparalleled anywhere else in the world, and unique for its globalized vision for the time. The Old Summer Palace was viewed as the first significant eastern and western collaborative construction in China. The Old Summer Palace housed and exhibited countless treasures, works of art, historical books, and cultural relics. It was known as the "Garden of Gardens."
So what exactly does that mean?
Well, on paper, it originally meant that I was to assist with the development of presenting The Old Summer Palace to outside audiences, create an English website, identify areas of the park that could be improved, and processes that could be changed. In reality, however, my job has evolved to be so much more than that, defying a one-sentence explanation or a simple job title. To date, I have worked in the areas of fund raising, consulting, marketing and branding, academic research, business development, site development, sales, and so much more. I am constantly expanding my knowledge in all of these fields and am challenged to understand things from a macro down to a micro level, integrate the pieces, and execute feasible solutions and operations.
The social impact of this endeavor is not immediately evident in the way that most may expect from a social entrepreneurship project, but it is no less significant. The work of The Old Summer Palace is a project in cultural rejuvenation for a country known for a tumultuous relationship with its past. China's recent history has been a volatile one, characterized by both the foreign looting and domestic destruction of the country's rich cultural heritage. This undertaking is an effort to reacquaint the people of China with their past for the collective benefit of the country and world cultural heritage as a whole.
Due to the nature of my work here in China and abroad, I am unable to keep a Minerva Fellow blog, and realize the Union community is likely unclear to the exact nature of my work. Allow me then to take this opportunity to help clarify, beginning with a history lesson.
The Old Summer Palace was the principal place of residence for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, as well as an imperial court for affairs of the State. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century by Emperor Kangxi and spanned over 1.4 square miles in the northwest corner of Beijing. The Qing Dynasty invested an enormous amount of resources to finance the construction of its many gardens and palaces. Emperor Kangxi invited innumerable skilled architects and craftsman from across the globe to design venues that integrated some of the finest architectural styles and cultural achievements from around the world. Jesuit missionaries worked side by side with Chinese craftsmen and Italian architects to create a wondrous work of architecture unparalleled anywhere else in the world, and unique for its globalized vision for the time. The Old Summer Palace was viewed as the first significant eastern and western collaborative construction in China. The Old Summer Palace housed and exhibited countless treasures, works of art, historical books, and cultural relics. It was known as the "Garden of Gardens."
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