As a first-year student in the Residential College, Shao-Chi Ou found himself captivated by two intriguingly titled courses: Global Vampires and Body Writing. Offered through the Department of Comparative Literature, both classes sparked a deep interest in the art of translation and adaptation—not just of languages, but of ideas and worldviews.

“I wanted to explore different approaches to arts and ideas from around the world,” Ou explains.


Through the RC’s intensive language program, Ou spent a semester immersed in Paris, where he achieved fluency in French. The experience deepened his curiosity about how cultural exchange reveals diverse perspectives—through art, technology, mythology, gender roles, and, most fundamentally, through language.


Ou became especially intrigued by how translation functions not only between languages but across mediums. He began exploring how concepts could be reinterpreted and shared through different forms of expression. For Ou, translation emerged as a powerful tool—one that bridges divides, fosters understanding, and makes the world more accessible.


Back in Ann Arbor, he explored how popular novels are reimagined across a variety of formats: woodblock prints, plays, television, film, video games, and animé. He delved into African American poetry, experimented with creative writing, and, as an LSA Honors Summer Fellow, closely examined how disability and gender roles were understood in late imperial China. His research focused on a 16th-century play, a novel, and an ancient mythological figure—revealing how a single story can travel through time and take on new meaning across cultures, genres, and media.


At the core of Ou’s work is a guiding question: How do stories transform as they’re retold? His journey reflects a deep belief in the power of storytelling—not only to entertain, but to connect people across boundaries and generations.

 

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