Professor Zhang Liangren from the School of History at Nanjing University has found a unique and engaging way to impart historical and archaeological knowledge to the public – through food vlogs. His approach, combining culinary delights with fascinating historical insights, has taken China’s social media by storm, attracting a wide audience and garnering praise for its innovative method of storytelling.
Zhang’s motivation behind creating these vlogs is multifaceted. Primarily, he aims to fund his overseas archaeological projects and, simultaneously, to spark young people’s interest in archaeology. He believes in making archaeology accessible to the public by intertwining it with the universally appealing subject of cuisine. “I’m not only a professor who ‘produces’ knowledge. I have the obligation to share knowledge with the public, and I can also learn from the public,” Zhang states.
Since beginning his video journey in July, Zhang has effectively transformed complex archaeological knowledge into captivating content. His vlogs, shared across major Chinese short video platforms like Douyin, have gained him over 470,000 followers. Each episode, covering a variety of Nanjing’s local foods such as crispy duck and steamed buns, takes about three days to produce, from selecting restaurants to editing the final footage.
Zhang’s expertise lies in prehistoric archaeology in Northwest China and Eurasia. His vlogs have helped demystify the role of archaeologists, often misconstrued as merely tomb diggers or cultural relic appraisers. He emphasizes the importance of sharing scientific information with the public and highlights China’s leading role in archaeological research, including cross-discipline collaborations and international contributions.
One of his significant projects involves studying relics in Iran to uncover evidence of cultural exchanges between Northwestern China and Central Asia, shedding light on the history of the Silk Road. “We are happy to share our technology with foreign counterparts and contribute to archaeology at the international level,” Zhang adds.
Zhang’s journey into food vlogging has transformed him personally, making him more outgoing and energetic. He has even received training from a professional broadcaster to enhance his on-screen presence. His endeavor in food vlogging is part of a broader trend where academics like Wuhan University’s Su Dechao use social media to make complex subjects like philosophy more accessible and engaging to the public.
Through his culinary explorations and engaging storytelling, Professor Zhang Liangren not only enlightens his audience about China’s rich historical and archaeological heritage but also inspires a new generation to delve deeper into these fascinating subjects. His unique blend of food and history serves as a testament to the power of innovative teaching methods in bridging academic knowledge with popular culture.
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