This is my SOP for Asian Studies, It is very urgent for me to know how to modify it. Pls tell me your feeling after reading it. Advices are always welcome!!!!
Once at a conference in my department, two philosophy professors hotly argued on the cause of Chinese corruption. "It is Confucianism that led to the severe corruption currently!" one asserted. "It is violating such moral tradition that results in corruption!" maintained by the other. Shocked by their words, I began to reflect what basically causes current problems in Chinese society. Comparative philosophy facilitated ideal society models into my thinking. Also it asked me justify their presupposition combined with reality and make comparison between west and east. Actually, certain universal values such as expression of freedom in western ethics are not supported or even mentioned in Chinese traditional thought. Nonetheless, similar to China regarding traditional thought, Japan is one of the most expression-freedom countries in the current world, which is indicated by its legalization of pornography and demonstration. Hence, I wondered whether regime difference leads to contemporary inconsistency among Asian areas of similar tradition. Specifically, does Chinese authoritarian regime determine lack of expression freedom in China?
Although I perceived expression limitation when I was prevented to spread bad news of my middle school through the school weekly, I have felt increasing expression freedom in past two decades. For one thing, traditional media was more oriented by the market but not solely as propaganda. For another, the internet enhanced the chances to express civic opinion and personal emotion immediately. Even Chinese chairman Jintao Hu talked with netizens through Renmin net this year. Apart from that, online debate as the most prevalent column built on my website for Olympic gave me more insights into growing demand of expression freedom. These incidents seemed to reveal some questions. Will the commercial interest of mass media promote the expression freedom? Will economy power replace political governance or at least be an equal authority to governing China?
By learning macroeconomics, microeconomics, social psychology and Das Kapital, I was trying to find the possible answer. Moreover, trainee in a financial magazine, I was warned not to be disadvantage to the sponsor companies when reporting. Plus, some experts as interviewees asked me not to publish their direct critics to government. I wonder whether media was a mixed entity of two authorities. After 5th July Riot in Urumqi, I couldn't check on the Facebook in China. What was worse, I couldn't check on any other websites except Tianshan net or did SMS when travelling in Xinjiang. Due to that, many internet bars had to close and online trade had to stop there. Does this mean the control from Chinese authoritarian regime work priori to anything else?
With strong passion to figure out these questions, I am learning politic philosophy and Finance Economics now. Primarily, I am looking for free academic environment, comparative analysis, interdisciplinary context and field work for my current thoughts and findings. It just so happens that your curriculum provision carries on my previous interest and offers whatever I want.
Continuously, I dream to be an investigative journalist, who can objectively observe, comparatively analyze and deeply comprehend issues regarding China. Desire for systematic knowledge and European perspectives on China within Asia, I believe two-year studies outside Asian ideological and political control in your institution will shape my future career better. By the way, how wanted I to attend your lunch talk recently to share my experience and discuss Xinjiang issues with you! I really appreciate if you could offer me the opportunity to study at your institution, and I promise to do all my best to make it mutually beneficial to both your department and myself.
Asia Study SOP
Once at a conference in my department, two philosophy professors hotly argued on the cause of Chinese corruption. "It is Confucianism that led to the severe corruption currently!" one asserted. "It is violating such moral tradition that results in corruption!" maintained by the other. Shocked by their words, I began to reflect what basically causes current problems in Chinese society. Comparative philosophy facilitated ideal society models into my thinking. Also it asked me justify their presupposition combined with reality and make comparison between west and east. Actually, certain universal values such as expression of freedom in western ethics are not supported or even mentioned in Chinese traditional thought. Nonetheless, similar to China regarding traditional thought, Japan is one of the most expression-freedom countries in the current world, which is indicated by its legalization of pornography and demonstration. Hence, I wondered whether regime difference leads to contemporary inconsistency among Asian areas of similar tradition. Specifically, does Chinese authoritarian regime determine lack of expression freedom in China?
Although I perceived expression limitation when I was prevented to spread bad news of my middle school through the school weekly, I have felt increasing expression freedom in past two decades. For one thing, traditional media was more oriented by the market but not solely as propaganda. For another, the internet enhanced the chances to express civic opinion and personal emotion immediately. Even Chinese chairman Jintao Hu talked with netizens through Renmin net this year. Apart from that, online debate as the most prevalent column built on my website for Olympic gave me more insights into growing demand of expression freedom. These incidents seemed to reveal some questions. Will the commercial interest of mass media promote the expression freedom? Will economy power replace political governance or at least be an equal authority to governing China?
By learning macroeconomics, microeconomics, social psychology and Das Kapital, I was trying to find the possible answer. Moreover, trainee in a financial magazine, I was warned not to be disadvantage to the sponsor companies when reporting. Plus, some experts as interviewees asked me not to publish their direct critics to government. I wonder whether media was a mixed entity of two authorities. After 5th July Riot in Urumqi, I couldn't check on the Facebook in China. What was worse, I couldn't check on any other websites except Tianshan net or did SMS when travelling in Xinjiang. Due to that, many internet bars had to close and online trade had to stop there. Does this mean the control from Chinese authoritarian regime work priori to anything else?
With strong passion to figure out these questions, I am learning politic philosophy and Finance Economics now. Primarily, I am looking for free academic environment, comparative analysis, interdisciplinary context and field work for my current thoughts and findings. It just so happens that your curriculum provision carries on my previous interest and offers whatever I want.
Continuously, I dream to be an investigative journalist, who can objectively observe, comparatively analyze and deeply comprehend issues regarding China. Desire for systematic knowledge and European perspectives on China within Asia, I believe two-year studies outside Asian ideological and political control in your institution will shape my future career better. By the way, how wanted I to attend your lunch talk recently to share my experience and discuss Xinjiang issues with you! I really appreciate if you could offer me the opportunity to study at your institution, and I promise to do all my best to make it mutually beneficial to both your department and myself.
