Zerui Pan

Can you tell us about your research focus or interests?

My research focus for my master’s thesis is on the nationalistic gaze in Chinese travel vlogs to overseas destinations. I seek to complicate the “top-down” perspective when approaching digital nationalism in contemporary China and provide a more nuanced understanding of patriotism/nationalism among the younger generation in today’s cyberspace.

As a 2024 EASC Graduate Fellowship awardee, you were able to participate in the Hokkaido International Foundation (HIF) Summer Program. Could you tell us about your experience in the program and how it supported your research?

The experience was superb! I highly recommend anyone who is thinking of studying abroad in Japan to consider this less-known program. HIF not only provides you an amazing opportunity to hone your language skills but also allows you to make deep connections with local communities. Several months later I’m still cherishing the memories I had there and the speed of my growth. The language skills I learned later also enabled me to read articles on Chinese youth culture written by Japanese scholars, which greatly facilitated the diversity of my sources.

You also presented at the 2024 Harvard East Asia Society Graduate Student Conference. Could you tell us about the work you presented and share any highlights from the conference?

I presented my senior thesis written at UCSD titled “The Body and the Song: East Asian Women Writers Experimenting with a Feminine Mode of Science Fiction Writing.” It was great to get a chance to revise my paper again and present it to a greater audience. The fact that the conference was open exclusively to graduate students made it less intimidating for you to socialize and engage in intense discussions. I was grateful to have Professor David Wang as the main panelist to give us wonderful feedback on our projects as well as future career paths.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?

“It’s not the Destination, it’s the journey.” What defines you is not the achievements that you made but the experiences you encountered on the path.

What are your plans after graduation?

I’m going back home after graduation and spending some time with my family since we haven’t lived together for years. Afterward I will go to Japan to look for work there.