Fall semester 2023 programming for the Center for East Asian Studies is highlighted by a September lecture on China from a European perspective, two book talks through a partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival, and an array of speakers on topics related to East Asia – from Japanese pop culture to the politics of abortion in modern China.
The Sept 21 talk by Jean-Francois Di Meglio of the Paris-based Asia Centre, titled “The Importance of Being Assertive with China: A European Perspective,” is a collaboration between CEAS, European Studies and the Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies Center (EALSC). Professor Di Meglio will spend a week on campus as the EALSC’s 2023 recipient of the James B. MacDonald Distinguished Professorship. He will offer talks in French and English to students and faculty, along with his public lecture.
Another important partnership for CEAS is with the Wisconsin Book Festival. For the fall semester this collaboration will bring to Madison two book talks on topics about East Asia. Both talks will be held at Madison Public Library’s central library, located downtown at 201 West Mifflin Street: the first on Oct 19 by graphic novelist Craig Thompson about his series “Ginseng Roots,” set in the ginseng farm fields of Wausau, Wisc.; and the second by two journalists whose new book focuses on their coverage of the battle for democracy in Hong Kong.
Only one lecture this semester, a Sept 26 Webinar on Chinese linguistics, will be held virtually, the rest will be live, in-person talks. However, that lone webinar is part of a successful series on Chinese linguistics that Asian Languages and Cultures Professor Weihua Zhu launched last year, featuring one webinar per semester and drawing an audience of linguists across the country.
Center events can be found on this website’s Events Page, and through the Center’s Facebook Events Page.
Here is a list of the spring semester lineup:
Wed Sep 20, 4 pm @ 206 Ingraham: “Japanese Popular Culture and Contradictions of Late Capitalism” by Eiichi Nojiri, Osaka University.
Thu Sep 21, 4:30 pm @ Union South’s 3rd Floor “Industry” Room: “The Importance of Being Assertive with China: A European perspective” by Jean-Francois Di Meglio, Chair, Paris-based Asia Centre. Co-sponsorship with European Studies, the Ctr for Interdisciplinary French Studies, and the Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies Center.
Tue Sep 26, 4 p.m. Webinar: “What can you ‘eat’ in Chinese: A usage-based approach to Chinese language and culture” by Hongyin Tao, UCLA.
Thu Oct 5, 4 p.m. @ Elvehjem Building, Room L150: “The Efficacy of the Slight: Zhuangzi and Lucretius in Times of Ecological Crisis” by Jane Bennett, Johns Hopkins. Co-sponsorship with Dept of French & Italian.
Thu Oct 19, 7 pm @ Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin Street: Craig Thomas (Partnering with the Wisconsin Book Festival), book talk, Ginseng Roots graphic novel series set in Wausau, Wisc. Moderator: Will Hsu (UW alum) of Hsu Ginseng in Wausau.
Mon Oct 23, 4 pm @ 2080 (2nd floor Nicholas Lecture Room) Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue: “The Politics of Abortion in Modern China,” by Sarah Mellors Rodriguez, Missouri State Univ
Sat Nov 4, at Union South. A one-day symposium on Shūji Terayama 寺山 修司 1935-1983, avant-garde poet, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer. This event will be mostly in Japanese. Contact Professor and CEAS Faculty Director Steve Ridgely for more details.
Wed Nov 8, 5:30 PM @ Elvehjem Building, Room L140: “Dramatizing Architectural Space: The case of a 14th century Chinese temple” by Wei-Cheng Lin, University of Chicago.
Thu Nov 15, 7 pm @ Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin Street: Shibani Mahtani and Timothy McLaughlin (Partnering with the Wisconsin Book Festival), book talk, Among the Braves: Hope, struggle, and exile in the battle for Hong Kong and the future of global democracy. Moderator: UW Professor Zhongdang Pan, Communication Arts.