Students will examine how translation extends beyond language to encompass cultural mediation, positioning translators as key figures in navigating intercultural communication in and beyond East Asia. The course emphasizes that understanding cultural differences is essential to effective translation and cultural mediation. Students will learn to situate themselves as cultural mediators within global East Asian frameworks, critically engaging with how cultural translation intersects with identity, power, and representation. Through academic readings and real-world examples from media, news, and personal experiences, students will develop nuanced perspectives on cultural translation and its role in shaping global understandings of East Asia. This course also serves as a pathway to ECTD63H3 Cultural Translation and Interpretation.