Prof. Mao Sihui wasinvited to give a lecture on Passion and Betrayal: Reinterpretation Lawrence’sSeven Pillars of Wisdom  fromPost-colonial Perspective in the meeting room of the School of Foreign Studiesin the afternoon of May 27, 2016. Prof. Mao is vice-chairman of the Sino-AmericanComparative Cultural Studies Association, a professor and director of BellCentre of English in Macao Polytechnic Institute and chairman of the MacaoTranslation Federation. Li Zhanxi, the associate dean of the School of ForeignStudies, presided over the lecture.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom is the autobiographicalaccount of the experiences of British forces Lawrence while serving as aliaison officer helping the Arabs against the Ottoman Turks and containing theTurk forces in the Middle East. Prof. Mao reinterpreted it from thePost-colonial perspective. He overturned the general view that Arab Lawrence isa hero of the Arab people and pointed out colonial thinking and conducts.He  emphasized that representation of theother in literary text should be reexamined while reading the text. One shouldbe cautious about deliberate evasion of colonial and imperial history andreflect upon, even challenge, the narration method from the perspective of Europeanand American centralism. Instead, one should focus on differences and pluralityfrom various perspectives and dig into the subversive force includingmarginality, plurality and otherness as well as the possibility to change culturalrelations.

The interpretation of the classictext by Prof. Mao is of vital relevant meaning today. Classic text responds to practicalcontradictions, constituting an interaction and a tension. With certain discerningability, we should keep a cautious and acute critical sense towards the natureof globalization and imperial politics through proper observation of reality.His interpretation with profound, humanistic style led teachers and students toa deeper understanding in the way of thinking and the significant practicalmeaning of post-colonial theory.

Prof. Mao delivered hislecture in English with profound academic thought yet in an accessible,humorous way. During the Q&A interactive session, he analyzed the questionsthoroughly by referencing various quotations with his unique, humanistic viewsand profound thinking, which greatly benefits the audience present.

(Writtenby Yuan Qingfeng, pictures offered by Zhang Wenyuan)