scruta

[Ferret and Bald Eagle are sitting and enjoying a leisurely dinner, going over the usual topics, when Bald Eagle decides to introduce his sweet new duds.]

Bald Eagle

So, check out this sweet new t-shirt I got!

[Bald Eagle proudly displays his t-shirt with the words: 我人品很差]

Ferret

Umm…

Bald Eagle

You know what it means, right?

Ferret

I mean. Yeah. It means you are a bad person, right?

Bald Eagle

Yeah, basically it says I am a total shit!

Ferret

Like you are lacking moral fiber completely. Like you have none of the qualities necessary to be considered a human being.

Bald Eagle

Yeah. Isn’t it awesome?

Ferret

I don’t know. Aren’t Chinese people going to think that you don’t know what it means?

Bald Eagle

Yeah, but I think that’s part of why it’s cool. I mean, I get Chinese people coming up to me and asking me if I know what it means, and then I tell them!

Ferret

Are you trying to make any kind of claim about the way Chinese people see Westerners or vice-a-versa? A clash of cultures kind of thing?

Bald Eagle

It could be. I don’t know. I guess it could also have to do with how people think that all the money coming into China, especially in places like Shanghai, is destroying their morals. But really, I just think it’s cool. I suppose all of that could be part of the reason, subconsciously, culturally why I think it’s cool.

Ferret

It’s something that I often love, but find terribly confusing about the arts.

Bald Eagle

What’s that?

Ferret

How all of these connections are to be grasped intuitively. I suppose that’s the point of good contemporary art. You don’t need an explanation, just being alive in the environment should be enough. You get excited. You get provoked. You may not know why, but the reasons are right there.

Bald Eagle

Although lately that hasn’t been the case in the art world.

Ferret

Or has it?

Bald Eagle

Stop it. I’m not in the mood. I still think it’s cool.

Ferret

It’s cool to tell all the Chinese people that you are a total shit?

Bald Eagle

Yeah.

Ferret

Okay. Point taken.

[After dinner, Ferret and Bald Eagle walk out of the restaurant. A group of young Chinese guys start hooting and hollaring, they ask Bald Eagle if he knows what his shirt means. Bald Eagle says yes, and then grins fiendishly at Ferret.]