Penn Center For East Asian Studies Newsletter

1. University of Pennsylvania East Asia Events
   
2. Regional East Asia Events
   
3. Employment and Internship Opportunities
   
4. Fellowship and Award Opportunities
   
5. East Asia Study Opportunities and Queries
   
6. Conferences and Workshops

Featured Event

Wednesday, November 28, 12:00PM, The Forum in Stiteler Hall

The Welfare State or Faith? Explaining Weak Islamist Mobilization in Malaysia

Kikue Hamayotsu, Postdoctoral Fellow, Columbia University

How do Islamists recruit committed activists and what are the conditions for successful recruitment for Islamist movements? This talk attempts to explain outcomes in the interesting case of Malaysia, where Islamist movements have largely been unsuccessful in recruiting committed followers in one of the most important electoral constituencies: the urban middle-class. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, Prof. Hamayotsu shows that the Malaysian State's provision of both secular and religious services significantly affects organizational and ideological conditions for Islamist recruitment, and sets Malaysia apart from many other Islamic societies by moderating forces for Islamic radicalism.

Issues in Contemporary East Asia Lecture Series, Co-sponsored with the Penn Comparative Politics Workshop and the Middle East Center

Wednesday, November 28, 7:00PM, Fisher-Bennett Hall 231

Screening of: Miyazaki , Princess Mononoke (Mononokehime ), 1997

Japanese Cinema Series

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Wednesday, November 28, 7:00PM, Logan Hall 402

The Ancient Asian Harp Reborn, An Illustrated Lecture and Musical Demonstration

Professor Emeritus Bo Lawergren with Tomoko Sugawara, Harpist and Kugo Player

The angular harp, with an L-shaped body, arose in Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE and, following the Silk Road, reached China and eventually Korea and Japan. Artists in all the cultures it penetrated loved to depict its beautiful shape and their local musicians playing it. Around the year 1000 CE, however, the European harp of irregular triangular shape emerged, and by 1600 the angular harp vanished. Recently, musical archeologists have reconstructed the angular harp (called the kugo in Japan and konghou in China). The lecture will include a kugo performance of resurrected ancient tunes from T’ang China and Nara Japan as well as modern pieces composed for the kugo.
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Wednesday, December 5, 7:00PM, Fisher-Bennett Hall 231

Screening of: Kitano, Fire-works (Hana-bi) , 1997

Japanese Cinema Series

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Saturday, December 8, 10:00 am  to 2:00 pm

Penn Museum Family Workshop : Chinese Paper Cutting: Craft and Culture

Paper cut creations—a fun and festive way to adorn homes, windows, and gates—have a long history in China . Artist and craft teacher Yu Yang introduces families to this handicraft tradition at this workshop where participants learn about and create decorations, including paper flowers, animals and fanciful ornaments, just in time for holiday gift giving! $10 per person ($5 per member) includes craft experience, recommended for ages 7 and above, and admission donation to the Museum.

Pre-registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome while supplies last. Information: 215/898-4016.

Please visit http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/events/calitem.php?which=1435 for more details and to register for this event.

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Japanese Cinema Series

Fisher-Bennett Hall, Room 231

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

9/12 Kurosawa, Rashômon , 1950
9/19 Mizoguchi, The Life of Oharu (Saikaku ichidai onna) , 1952
9/26 Mizoguchi, Ugetsu (Ugetsu monogatari) , 1953
10/3 Ozu, Late Spring (Banshun) , 1949
10/10 Ozu, Tokyo Story ( Tokyo monogatari) , 1953
10/24 Kurosawa, Stray Dog (Nora inu) , 1949
10/31 Kurosawa, To Live (Ikiru) , 1952
11/7 Kurosawa, Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai), 1954
11/14 Itami, Tampopo , 1985
11/28 Miyazaki , Princess Mononoke (Mononokehime), 1997
12/5 Kitano, Fire-works (Hana-bi) , 1997

Offered in conjunction with Art History 210 and Film 223: Postwar Japanese Cinema and Visual Culture

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A Harmonious Information Society? Social Stratification, ICT & Media in China

A one-day symposium to be held on January 25, 2008 generously supported and hosted by the Center for Global Communication Studies at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. 
Economic development and ‘informatization' in China have gone hand in hand. While the growth of the economy over the years has been and still is at an incredible rate, the adoption rate of information technology, such as that of mobile phones and the internet, has been just as, if not even more impressive. However, with recent discussions about the construction of a ‘harmonious society' appearing on the political agenda, the focus has started to shift from economic growth to the problem of achieving more overall societal balance. This shift in official discourse acknowledges the need to address social problems, including the tensions between state and market forces, a growing gap between the rich and the poor and widening disparities between the urban and rural population. While there has been research on social stratification in China, little attention so far has been paid to the role information technologies and the media play in this process.
First, what are the social consequences of an increasing informatization of the Chinese society? Who are the main users of new technologies and what are they using them for? And what happens to those who are left out, who do not have the access, or the education to develop the skills and literacy necessary to work with digital media? A deeper underlying question perhaps is, where did these technologies come from and why were they so generously supported? What roles do economic and political considerations play in shaping the diffusion of technology that can be adopted for either repressive or emancipatory purposes?
Second, what is the role of the media in addressing social inequality? In the light of an increasing stratified society, how do the media, both the traditional and the new media, represent competing voices and interests and how do they communicate these disagreements to the public? How do members of the public make sense or fail to make sense of these media representations?

On Friday January 25, 2008, we will bring together an impressive group of scholars for a one-day symposium to address these contentious questions. Our panels include renowned scholars coming from a wide range of disciplines, such as, communication, political science, anthropology, sociology, cultural studies and China studies. Participation among all those attending will be enthusiastically encouraged.
For more information about the symposium, please contact Lokman Tsui <ltsui@asc.upenn.edu>

Princeton University Buddhist Studies Workshop 2007-2008

Imperial Funerals in Medieval Japan (Lecture in Japanese).

Monday, November 26, 2007, 4:30 pm, 1879 Hall, Room 137

UEJIMA Susumu ( Kyoto Prefectural University)

Imaginary Geographies: Buddhism and the Japanese World Map

Monday, February 4, 2008, 4:30 pm, 1879 Hall, Room 137

Max Moerman ( Barnard College)

Art History, Buddhist Studies, Tibet: New Perspectives from the Tibet Site Seminar

March 7-9, 2008, Friday-Sunday, McCormick 101

Friday, 4:30 pm: Keynote address by Deborah Klimburg-Salter (University of Vienna).

Saturday and Sunday: Papers by graduate-student participants in the 2007 Tibet Site Seminar, with responses from Janet Gyatso (Harvard Divinity School), Marylin Rhie (Smith College), and Gene E. Smith (Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center).

Co-sponsored by the Tang Center for East Asian Art and the Center for the Study of Religion.

The conference is free but registration is required: http://www.princeton.edu/TibetSem/program-conference.htm .

Bringing Together Intuition and Law:

Linguistic Relevance and Moral Creativity in Theravada Buddhist Ethics

Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 4:30 pm, 1879 Hall, Room 137

Charles Hallisey ( Harvard University)

War Magic in Tibetan Buddhism

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 4:30 pm, 1879 Hall, Room 137

Bryan Cuevas, ( Florida State University and the Institute for Advanced Study)

Questions? Please send e-mail to bbermel@princeton.edu.

The Buddhist Studies Workshop is generously supported by the Provost, the Center for the Study of Religion, and the Department of Religion.

Additional co-sponsors include:
The Program in East Asian Studies
The P.Y. and Kinmay W. Tang Center for East Asian Art
The Princeton University Library
The Council on the Humanities

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The Fall 2007 schedule of Oriental Club of Philadelphia is as follows:

October 18, Frank J. Hoffman, "Process Concepts of Text, Practice, and No Self in Buddhism"
November 8, Paula Sabloff, "Mongolian Herders Talk about Democracy"
December 6, Annette Yoshiko Reed, "Beyond the Land of Nod: Images of India and China in Syriac Literature"
All meetings are on Thursdays at 6 p.m. Dinners follow at area restaurants as announced. The dinner meeting
of the October 18 event will be in Han-Wool Restaurant. The Spring schedule
will be announced when available. The annual banquet speaker for 2008 will be Gernot Bohme.
Members should RSVP to fhoffman@sas.upenn.edu about dinner before next week
Tuesday at noon.

Those with a career interest in Asia, including faculty, staff, and graduate students, are welcome as guests. First time visitors without a member to introduce them may be guests of the club president.

Sincerely,
Frank Hoffman
OC President (2007-08)

*Japanese: Elon University seeks applicants for a full-time, visiting professor of Japanese (three year term, renewable) beginning in mid-August 2008. Requirements: Ph.D. in Japanese or other appropriate field preferred; Master's degree considered. Native or near-native fluency required. Area of specialization open. Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level essential. Responsibilities include teaching Japanese courses at all levels; must also be willing to teach in English in the interdisciplinary general studies program. Elon is a dynamic private co-educational, comprehensive institution that is a national model for actively engaging faculty and students in teaching and learning. To learn more about Elon, please visit our Web site at www.elon.edu. Immediate email inquiries to department chair Donna Van Bodegraven are welcome at dbodegra@elon.edu. Review will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled.  Complete applications must be received by December 1, 2007 to be assured of consideration. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, graduate and undergraduate transcripts, and three letters of support to: Japanese Search Committee, , Department of Foreign Languages, 2125 Campus Box, Elon University, Elon, North Carolina 27244. Elon University is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. Candidates from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.

*Phila-Nipponica 2008: Japan in the 21 st Century
Preparing to Teach about Japan in the Greater Philadelphia Region

The University of Pennsylvania Center for East Asian Studies and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia are pleased to announce that they will offer the ninth year in a series that teaches educators about Japan

Please come to a special meeting and party -- see a slide show about past activities, learn what the project will offer you, meet with project organizers and teacher alumni, and see what is needed to successfully apply.

Where: World Affairs Council Seminar Room, 1 South Broad St. , 2 nd floor, Philadelphia

When: Thursday, December 13th

4:00 pm Registration, refreshments, and spectacular slide show of Japan

4:30-5:30 Learn about Japan in the 21 st Century

Speakers include:

Penn Professor Cameron Hurst on 21 st Century Japan

Penn Professor Frank Chance on the three sections of the Phila-Nipponica project: Seminar, Study-Tour, Curriculum Development

WAC Vice President Margaret Lonzetta on teachers' applications and participation

New Program in Teacher Education:
Mandarin Chinese Language and Culture

This year, Penn GSE will be launching a new master's program for those interested in teaching Mandarin Chinese.

This 10-month, full-time program is designed for students who have a solid undergraduate background in Chinese languages, culture, history, and literature, and who want to prepare to teach these in public secondary schools.

The teacher preparation program in Mandarin Chinese Language and Culture is being offered in conjunction with Penn's Center for East Asian Studies and the East Asian Languages and Civilization program. This collaboration has been both crucial and unique to the design of the program, as historically, schools of education and departments of Chinese studies have seen their missions and roles as academically separate.

The program leads both to the M.S.Ed. degree and to faculty recommendation for certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in secondary education: Mandarin Chinese Language and Culture.

The program is currently accepting and reviewing applications and will admit students to matriculate in the cohort beginning on July 14, 2008. This cohort of students can expect to graduate in May 2009.

Program faculty and staff are looking forward to welcoming all interested applicants to an open house, to be held on Tuesday, December 4 , from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge, 3600 Spruce Street .

For further information on the Open House, please check this website:

http://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions_financial/events

For further information on the new teacher preparation program in

Mandarin Chinese Language and Culture, please check this website:

http://www.gse.upenn.edu/degrees_programs/eld_secondary.php

For questions, contact Maureen Cotterill at MaureenC@gse.upenn.edu

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Research Opportunities in Nanjing

The Institute for International Research at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center is a joint research initiative of Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University and located in Nanjing, China.

This competition is open to professors, associate professors and assistant professors, as well as established scholars holding non-faculty appointments. PhD students whose dissertation research requires work in Nanjing may also apply. While no financial support is available, fellows will have an affiliation with the Center and be a part of the HNC community.

The Institute's research program addresses a variety of topics related to political, economic, social, environmental, and health issues, especially as they relate to contemporary China. Comparative analyses and inter-disciplinary projects are particularly encouraged, promoting the development and enhancement of various academic disciplines in China. Work carried out jointly by international and Chinese scholars will bring new methodological approaches to Chinese scholars and provide important access to China for international scholars.

Resources:
The Hopkins-Nanjing Center Library
- The only uncensored, open-stacks library in China with both English and Chinese collections
- 75,000 monographs
- 400 journals and periodicals
- Web and CD-based resources
The Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University
- Access to electronic resources
The Nanjing University Library
- Access to electronic resources
Committee for Scholarly Access appointed by Nanjing University
- Will facilitate access to library collections and archival material, such as those available at the Second Historical Archive in Nanjing, the Nanjing Municipal Library, and the Jiangsu Provincial Library

Environment:
Scholars will benefit from the intellectual stimulation of the other scholars and fellows in residence, as well as the faculty and students at the Center. In addition, many visitors - including scholars, government officials, and business leaders - visit the Center during the academic year. Various formal and informal mechanisms such as colloquia, dinners, and workshops/conferences will bring scholars and fellows together on a regular basis. Life at the Center includes: access to graduate student research assistants, administrative support from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center staff, and living and working accommodations conducive to scholarly work.


Questions? Please see www.nanjing.jhu.edu Research and request for proposals.

Email us at nanjing@jhu.edu or call 202-663-5802.

Proposal Deadline extended to: 2/1/2008

Age of Comparison?
NYU Graduate Student Conference
Hosted by the departments of Comparative Literature,
East Asian Studies, and Middle Eastern and Islamic
Studies
March 27-29, 2008

Call for Papers

The common ground of literary and area studies lies in
our joint focus on questions of comparison. At the
root of our academic activity is the characterization
of similarity and difference, be it cultural,
political, linguistic or aesthetic. Issues of
comparability are visible in shared anxieties
regarding the origins and directions of our
disciplines. In our overlapping pursuit of
self-definition we depend on each other for
collaboration and provocation.

In analyzing texts and cultures, our approaches can be
seen as complementary or discordant. What is lost when
Area Studies leaves literary and theoretical work to
Comparative Literature? Conversely, is the political
urgency and historical rigor of Area Studies lost in
Comparative Literature? With our conference we aim to
foster productive dialogue among disciplines by
together exploring problems of comparison and
comparability, both philosophical and methodological.
In theory and practice, we are all led to compare, to
define ourselves in terms of the Other (or to strive
against such definition). What motivates and
conditions this desire? How does it play out in our
work?

To these ends, papers should address the following or
related questions and themes:

* How has comparison figured in texts at different
times and in different places?
* Does comparative thinking threaten an understanding
of the particular?
* How has translation helped us to think comparison?
* Comparison and universal genre: do cross-cultural
deep literary structures exist?
* Comparison as a political activity
* Comparison and nationality: between communication
and conflict
* Gender as a comparative issue
* Is there a way to think comparatively without a
conception of the “normal”?
* Area Studies: Do we compare?
* What does it mean when literary scholars borrow
tools from the natural and social sciences?
* What role does comparison play in postcolonial
literature? In “minor” literature?
* How do critical judgments play into comparative
thinking?
* How do models of cosmopolitanism and creolization
affect the practice and theory of comparison?

Papers should be 20 minutes long. Please send
abstracts (300 words) with full name, paper title, and
institution to NYU.comparison@gmail.com by January
10th, 2008.

http://www.ageofcomparison.net

Center for East Asian Studies
University of Pennsylvania
642 Williams Hall
255 S. 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305
Tel: 215-573-4203; Fax: 215-573-2561
E-mail: ceas@ccat.sas.upenn.edu