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Who is CB?

A few fun facts about me:

Bo Chao → CB

My name is Bo Chao, but my friends always call my initials “CB” (different name order), which sounds more intimate and friendly to me.

My cultural identity

I am from an ethnic Mongolian family in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, so my name is actually from Mongolian, spelled as ᠴᠣᠪᠣᠭᠣ in traditional Mongolian, цовоо in Cyrillic Mongolian, and sounds like “Choboo”, which means “smart”. I was immersed by the interaction and blend of Mongolian culture and Han Chinese culture since my childhood.

My education

I obtained my BA in Communication and Linguistics at University of California, Santa Barbara. I am now pursuing an MA in Media Culture Communication at Steinhardt, New York University.

Academic interest at a glance

I have extensive interests across many different disciplines, especially media and culture studies (the reason I am in MCC now!), literature and writing, western classical music, languages and linguistics. If you are interested, feel free to check my past papers and articles!

My plan in the future

After I complete my MA at NYU, I may pursue a PhD in linguistics, concentrating on field linguistics, historical linguistics, functional syntax and typology.

My Personal Hobbies

News letters, tickets, booklets of Carnegie Hall and New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Music

I am a classical music enthusiast and a “frequent flyer” to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

I am especially fond of the orchestral pieces, like the works by Beethoven, Mahler, Bruckner, Ravel, Wagner, R. Strauss, Shostakovich, Messiaen, Xenakis, etc,

Polyglot Wannabe

I am a passionate language learner. I am native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, biligual speaker of English, heritage speaker of Mongolian, intermediate speaker of Spanish and Japanese.

I also have elementary knowledge of Italian and Korean. I often do language exchange on Hellotalk to practice.

Books in Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Mongolian
A poster of Todos Sobre Mi Madre
Vintage Films

I am always curious to explore the vintage film and classical movies. There is high opportunity to spot me in the independent cinemas like Film Forum and Metrograph!

My favorite movie is Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother), a Spanish film in 1999.

FOOD LOVER!

Although I won’t call myself “gourmet”, I do have interest in all kinds of cuisines and food. I believe there is no bad food, but bad cook. That’s why I enjoy cooking!

If you have interest, please drop by my apartment and be my guest!

My special menu lamb rack →

Lamb rack stew

Media & Culture Critics

Below are two highlighted papers I wrote in MCC program.

Reconsider the Meaning Inside Music through the Lens of Affect Theory
In this paper, I explored an alternative understanding of music through the lens of Affect Theory, challenging the traditional hermeneutic approaches that dominate music interpretation. By engaging with the ideas of Brian Massumi, Hans Gumbrecht, and Carolyn Abbate, this study delves into how affect, presence, and the drastic mode influence musical experiences. Massumi’s work underscores the significance of autonomic bodily reactions and nonconscious experiences of intensity in music, emphasizing an understanding that precedes cognitive engagement. Gumbrecht introduces the concept of materiality and presence, advocating for a tangible, immediate experience that directly influences the body, thereby shifting focus from interpretative to sensory engagements. Abbate’s perspective on the drastic mode of music rejects hermeneutic inquiries in favor of a physical engagement with music that prioritizes immediate, lived experiences over intellectual interpretation. This paper argues that these perspectives collectively encourage a deeper appreciation of music as an affective and presence-based experience, challenging the necessity of conventional meanings and advocating for an experience of music that transcends verbal articulation. Additionally, the paper addresses critiques such as the impact of prior exposure on affective experiences and the practical implications of the drastic and gnostic dichotomy in musical performance. This study ultimately asserts that embracing the non-verbal, bodily, and immediate aspects of music can lead to a richer and more profound understanding of musical artistry.
Sexual Contract in Eroge & AI Chatbot
This paper examines the sexual contract in the context of Japanese erotic games (Eroge) and AI chatbots, applying Carolyn Pateman’s feminist critique of social contract theory to explore how these digital media reflect and reinforce patriarchal norms and gender dynamics. It investigates how Eroge and AI chatbots function as virtual arenas where traditional gender roles are both simulated and exaggerated, portraying women as objects designed to fulfill male desires without reciprocity or consent, thus embodying the sexual contract’s dynamics. The analysis delves into the commodification of female bodies within these games, the problematic nature of consent depicted in both the narratives of Eroge and interactions with AI chatbots, and the socio-economic motivations driving male consumers towards these virtual experiences. It highlights how these platforms offer men control and domination over compliant virtual females, aligning with misogynistic perspectives and escaping the complexities of real-life relationships. The paper calls for a critical examination of how virtual relationships influence perceptions of gender and intimacy and discusses the potential for future legal considerations regarding the interactions with AI entities, advocating for a more equitable digital interaction space.