This article was generated by translation software. For the accurate meaning, please refer to the Chinese version. If there are any parts that are unclear or grammatical errors, please let me know in the comments section.
Academic Pub
Not long ago, I visited an academic pub in Shanghai called Bunker, which regularly hosts events focused on social sciences and humanities.
Before going, I imagined it to be more like “a group of people discussing a topic in a bar.” However, after attending, I realized that the event felt more like “an academic lecture held in a pub.” This kind of academic pub activity is actually somewhat similar to the popular PowerPoint Nights on TikTok, where a group of young people prepares light-hearted presentations around a specific topic.
The content of the presentations usually covers trending or eye-catching topics. Most of the speakers seemed to have an overseas academic background, making it more of a hobby for them.
The session I attended was quite interesting but leaned more on emotions than rigorous facts. The speaker touched on topics she couldn’t fully grasp, and, coincidentally, they happened to be areas I was somewhat familiar with, which made it a bit frustrating. Perhaps she had been drinking prior to the event and was slightly tipsy. The host was more competent and helped smooth things over. Towards the end, there was a short Q&A session, which I enjoyed more.
The event was more engaging than some regular university classes in China, and with a bit more rigor, it could serve as an excellent outreach for undergraduates.
The pub did not impose mandatory consumption, which was nice. However, there was indeed a kind of “academic premium,” as the drink prices were noticeably higher compared to regular craft beer bars in Shanghai.
I’ve always felt burdened with the idea that whenever I speak up in class for a discussion or to answer, I must be “right.” There hasn’t been much room for free-spirited discussion. One great thing about academic pubs is that they help more people feel comfortable speaking up.
Pubs, as a venue, might lend themselves more to debates than lectures. A bar debate could be far more intriguing.
Drunk, drunk.
I once went to a pub in the UK with my professors and classmates, and the vibe was quite different.
The UK has a strong pub culture, and on most campuses, you’ll find a couple of pubs where people occasionally go to chat after class. The tables are smaller, and the personal distance between people isn’t so pronounced. Conversations tend to be more casual and relaxed.
When out for a gathering, no one sets a specific time for dinner. People arrive at the pub and have a drink or two while chatting, waiting for everyone to gather before heading to dinner. Then, after a couple more rounds, they might head back to the pub for drinks until late into the night.
As the night progresses, the conversations gradually steer towards academic topics. You might hear some insider gossip or people’s opinions on various policies. After a few drinks and with faces turning red, it does feel like the relationships between everyone become a bit closer.
I once discussed pub culture with a British friend. Interestingly, pubs are also quite expensive for them (but still cheaper than in Shanghai), yet local students often have generous scholarships and enough time to balance both study and social life. As a result, most of them can afford to socialise. Plus, pub quizzes are held several times a week—the event is quite popular in Western cultures, drawing many participants.
Recently, I watched Welcome to Wrexham, a documentary about a small football team. It gave me a sense of the strong community feeling that surrounds sporting events in the West. People in the town come together to support their team, regardless of its level of success or failure in worldly terms. And pubs are tightly interwoven with these events.
Following this thread of pub culture, you can really gain insights into people’s lifestyles in the local community.
My friend also pointed out that pub culture in the UK is quite traditional and that younger generations are not as enthusiastic about it anymore. Partly, this is due to the economic downturn, which hasn’t been matched by increases in scholarships, leaving students with less spending power. Another reason is that today’s students seem less invested in socializing. When my friend talked about this, I sensed a bit of sadness, as if he was reminiscing about the drinking sessions with his old friends and his younger self.
A: Real academic pubs are about circling around with a decanter full of baijiu.
B: Sounds like you’ve been mentored by some big-shot director. – Xiaohongshu comment section
In China, alcohol culture generally revolves around dining table banquets filled with baijiu (Chinese distilled spirits). I’m not a big drinker and don’t have a high tolerance, so I’ve participated in that culture less often.
When drinking with elders, it’s hard to fully relax, and there’s always a sense of not knowing what to talk about. A drink or two and everything’s dissolved in the alcohol.
The large dining tables commonly used for such banquets often make meaningful conversation difficult.
Within my peer group, we almost never meet up just to drink. I remember back when I graduated from my undergraduate program, the guys in the class wanted to throw some “wild party.” In the end, we barely finished a few bottles of beer.
When I attended international conferences with British professors, I found them surprisingly comfortable with the Chinese drinking culture, particularly with baijiu. Some of them could drink even more than the senior Chinese experts.
At that moment, I realized that the differences in drinking culture between China and other countries may not be that vast after all. At the end of the day, everyone just wants to have fun.
Cross-Disciplinary Conversations
Discussions at academic pubs can easily remain surface-level, but they make for excellent opportunities for cross-disciplinary exchanges. For example, at the social sciences lecture I attended, the attendees should ideally not be humanities students—they already learn much of that within their disciplines at university. Instead, it would be highly beneficial for students from science, engineering, agriculture, or medicine to attend. The barriers between different academic fields in China are often too rigid, and broadening one’s horizons in this manner can be invaluable.
In my mind, the ideal academic pub for discussions would be:
- Affordable prices
- Close to the university
- A free and friendly atmosphere for discussions
- A place with high tolerance for cross-disciplinary exchange
- A regular Pub Quiz
- And, of course, great cider!