Events
Gandhi's Birthday Commemoration
Every Fall the Asian Studies program sponsors an event to commemorate the life and works of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi’s leadership of India’s anti-colonial struggle through non-violence has inspired liberation and civil rights movements across the world.
Recent Gandhi’s birthday commemoration events have included a showing of Shyam Benegal’s “The Making of the Mahatma,” and lectures by distinguished scholars and activists.
Chinese New Year
This event usually takes place in late January or early February, depending on the date the New Year happens to fall on. At the celebration, students and faculty members get together to watch performances by students and enjoy Chinese food. All the performances reflect aspects of the Chinese culture and are mostly conducted in Chinese, with an MC who translates into English. The performances are based on the creative ideas of the students, and as such are often full of humor. The students also utilize this event as an opportunity to express their talents in a venue that the class setting does not provide. Performances usually include comic skits, songs and music, martial arts, poetry readings, painting demonstrations, and food preparation. Students also decorate the celebration area with pieces of their Chinese calligraphy. It is a great opportunity for students and faculty to meet in an environment outside of the classroom, have fun and learn about the Chinese culture.
Cherry Blossom Festival
The Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri) is held annually in early April. At the festival, Japanese students and faculty, working alone and in groups, perform skits, songs, dances, and other forms of entertainment in Japanese to display what they have learned in class. Students also participate in Haiku and Tanka (two forms of Japanese poetry) contests and other Japanese games. A Japanese lunch is provided. The Sakura Matsuri is a fun way to celebrate spring and a wonderful opportunity for students who are learning Japanese to practice the language in a very enjoyable and challenging way. It is also a good opportunity for all who are interested in Japan to experience many interesting aspects of the Japanese culture.
Department Events
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 – James Hevia, Dir., Program in International Studies at the University of Chicago, “Tribute, Asymmetry and Imperial Formations: Rethinking Relations of Power in East Asia” 5:30 p.m. in Taylor 203. Co-sponsored by the Departments of Religion, International Studies, History and Anthropology.
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 – Gandhi’s Birthday Celebration. Indian classical music performance by Shubha Sankaran and Brian Silver. 5:00 p.m. in Thekla Hall in Skinner. Co-sponsored by the Departments of Film and Music.
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009 – Asian Studies Social and JYA session at 3:30 p.m. in New England 101.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 – Alice Pung, Australian writer and author, “Educating the Peril: a history of teaching Asian Australian History and Literature.” 5:00 p.m. in Rockefeller Hall 200.
Monday, February 8, 2010 – John Kelly, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago, “Asian Baseball and Pax Americana: Hegemony Without Dominance at the Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic” at 5:00 in Rockefeller Hall 200. Co-sponsored by the Departments of Anthropology, Athletics and Geography and the International Studies Program.
Monday, Mar 22, 2010 – Professsor Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, Vilas Research Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, ”“Political Uses of Quotidian Symbols: Japanese Cherry Blossoms and the Roses of European Dictators” at 5:00 p.m. Taylor Hall 203, sponsored by the Anthropology Department, co-sponsored by the Asian Studies Program.