What is the Counter Cultures Network?
Counter Cultures Network was developed in response to a Social Sciences and Humanities funded international conference, “Counter Cultures: The Space and Place of the Chinese Shop” held at Ryerson University (Canada) in July 2011. Counter Cultures Network was developed in response to a Social Sciences and Humanities funded international conference, “Counter Cultures: The Space and Place of the Chinese Shop” held at Ryerson University (Canada) in July 2011.
Recognizing that shopkeeping has played an integral role in the migratory trajectories of the Chinese, the Conference explored how the shop counter has (and continues) to act as a cultural contact zone throughout the Chinese diaspora. From South Africa to Boston, Mexico to Toronto, Jamaica to Scotland and so many places in between, we were intrigued to uncover the similarities and differences in the ways in which life behind the counter — in laundries, groceries, restaurants, shopping malls and general stores — has shaped the ways in which Chinese migrants have survived their migrations and interacted with the larger communities into which they have migrated. Recognizing that shopkeeping has played an integral role in the migratory trajectories of the Chinese, the Conference explored how the shop counter has (and continues) to act as a cultural contact zone throughout the Chinese diaspora. From South Africa to Boston, Mexico to Toronto, Jamaica to Scotland and so many places in between, we were intrigued to uncover the similarities and differences in the ways in which life behind the counter — in laundries, groceries, restaurants, shopping malls and general stores — has shaped the ways in which Chinese migrants have survived their migrations and interacted with the larger communities into which they have migrated.
Counter Cultures Network was created to continue and extend the conversations started at the conference. It does so by providing researchers, students, and community members with interactive digital opportunities to show case their work and tell their stories in our digital galleries, research depository, and story map sections of the website. Counter Cultures Network was created to continue and extend the conversations started at the conference. It does so by providing researchers, students, and community members with interactive digital opportunities to show case their work and tell their stories in our digital galleries, research depository, and story map sections of the website.
- Kaitlyn Fralick (summer 2015)
- Khem Guragain (winter 2014)
