To kick off the new year, the 2026 Gespräche im Blauen Haus series will open with a light-hearted public talk. On 17 January, we are pleased to welcome Professor Tseng Chin-Chinfrom National Taiwan Normal University, a specialist in Chinese language education, who will give a public presentation on cross-cultural humour in film.

Taking Thermae Romae II as the central example, the talk will explore how humour emerges when ancient Rome encounters modern Japan through a fantastical time-travel narrative. The film juxtaposes different cultural worlds with both exaggerated and subtle comic devices, revealing misunderstandings, tensions and unexpected resonances between cultures. Even participants who have not seen the film will be introduced to its background and narrative features, and through Professor Tseng’s interpretation will gain insight into how cultural differences, shifts in perspective and everyday details give rise to moments that invite a knowing smile.

Film poster of Thermae Romae II. Image source: Wikipedia.

In her presentation, Professor Tseng will analyse the cultural perspectives behind these humorous scenes: Why do we find them funny? Where does the humour come from? When different cultures are placed within the same frame, does the comedy also reflect stereotypes or specific cultural imaginations?

Through interactive exchanges with the audience, Professor Tseng will also invite participants to reflect on the broader significance of cross-cultural humour in contemporary society. For Chinese-speaking people living in multicultural environments, humour is not merely entertainment, but a way to bridge gaps, understand differences and reconsider one’s own cultural position. Through shared viewing and discussion, this public talk aims to offer a relaxed and open space to rethink how cultural differences are perceived, interpreted and understood.

About the Speaker: Prof. Chin-Chin Tseng

Chin-Chin Tseng, Professor at the Department of Chinese as a Second Language, National Taiwan Normal University; former visiting scholar at the University of Groningen and UCLA.

Her research focuses on international teacher training for Chinese language education, AI-assisted Chinese language teaching, and comparative studies of travel culture models between Taiwan and the Czech Republic and their application in teaching.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, January 17, 2025
• Time: 15:00 – 17:00
• Location: Blaues Haus Library, Hannover
• Language: Chinese
• Admission: Free, registration required via Eventbrite
• Registration Deadline: January 17, 12:00 (CET)

Important Notes:

1. Adults and children aged 12 and above are welcome to register.

2. If you are unable to attend after registering, please cancel your registration promptly to allow others to participate.

3. Registered participants are requested to arrive no later than 5 minutes before the lecture begins.

4. Recording is prohibited during the event. Thank you for your understanding.

5. Photos will be taken during the event and will be used internally by the Blue Book House Foundation. Please inform us in advance if you have any objections.

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