You are here: Home > Video

Adjust font size:

American sociologist Mark Levine has lived in China for nine years, teaching Chinese people about Western culture and the diversity of their country through music and writing.

Taking Musical Steps

While Mark considers Minzu University to be his primary inspiration, his support system and the foundation of his teaching, he spends much of his time traveling across the country – but for a completely different reason.

Right before he left Huai'an and moved to Beijing in 2007, Mark became inspired to write English country songs about life in China and began to make music – something he hadn't done since his teenage years.

He's performed on the Great Wall of China, on CCTV's "Super Star Avenue," in front of 50,000 people at the Crayfish Festival in Huai'an and at more than 20 weddings.

Last year, he co-founded the Chinese duo In Side Out along with Fu Han, a Han Chinese folk musician who started out as his agent. During their performances of various Chinese songs, Fu Han will wear clothing from the appropriate ethnic group or region where the song originated from. Above all, it's the eccentric medley of country/folk tunes, Chinese singing and exotic instruments that attracts audiences.

"If I sing a Chinese song, Chinese people like it because even if they understand my music, here's a foreigner trying to sing it," says Mark, who published his memoir, "Stories from My Chinese Journey" in April. "For foreigners, it has the same basic melody but it's a little different. Maybe it's the guitar and erhu together. The phrasing [or rhythm] is a little different. It's like if you go to KFC in China, and it's not exactly like KFC in the United States."

American sociologist Mark Levine has lived in China for nine years, teaching Chinese people about Western culture and the diversity of their country through music and writing.

Common Threads

Much like the way In Side Out is a blend of Western and Chinese culture, Mark's life combines lecturing, singing and writing. When asked which one defines his career, he says, "I'm all of them." Even though his schedule can sometimes be hectic, what with lectures and performances back to back, Mark likes it that way. His life, he says, is never slow.

Despite all of his different roles, Mark's passion and life's work can be summed up in on word.

"There is a common thread – if I'm writing, I'm teaching. If I'm lecturing, I'm teaching. If I'm singing, I'm teaching," he says. "Whatever I'm doing, I'm always teaching."

Print E-mail

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

Add your comments...

• User Name Required
• Your Comment
• Enter the words you see:    
  Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.