Join us for Prof. Andrew Field’s book proposal workshop!
On Feburary 12th, Prof. Andrew Field will hold a book proposal workshop for his new book: We Rock This City: Live Music Bar Scenes in Urban China. This book focuses on the live music bar scenes in three different Chinese cities—Shanghai, Suzhou, and Kunshan—with a particular emphasis on Kunshan’s live bar scene. It explores how Kunshan’s music scene connects with those of the other two cities and how it forms a unique cultural ecosystem at the intersection of globalization and localization. Through long-term field research, the book also seeks to reveal how Filipino migrant musicians have become the central link in this music scene, serving as a bridge between American-centric global music culture and local Chinese audiences.
If you would like to read the book proposal in advance, please reach out to the student coordinators at yuruo.zhang@dukekunshan.edu.cn or histy.mahmud@dukekunshan.edu.cn.
DKU HRC Celebrates Dr. Ben Van Overmeire’s New Publication in Journal of Chinese Philosophy
The DKU Humanities Research Center is pleased to share that Dr. Ben Van Overmeire, a professor in the Division of Humanities, has recently published an article in the Journal of Chinese Philosophy titled “Enlightenment in the Dark Forest: Chan/Zen in Cixin Liu’s Three-Body Trilogy.”
Dr. Van Overmeire explores the Chan/Zen Buddhist elements woven into author Cixin Liu’s acclaimed science fiction trilogy, exploring how these philosophies shape the moral and political landscape of the works. His publication brings a fresh perspective to Liu’s literature, showing how “science” fiction also is deeply influenced by religious ideas.
Read the full article here: https://brill.com/view/journals/jcph/51/2-3/article-p137_5.xml
Congratulations to Dr. Van Overmeire on this outstanding contribution to the field!
Exploring Language and Identity Through Translated Literature
Join us for an engaging talk with Jenna Tang, a Taiwanese writer, educator, and translator, as she explores the world of translation, gender movements, and the art of literary adaptation. With experience in Mandarin, Spanish, French, and English, Jenna will share her journey of translating works that delve into emotional landscapes, identity, and the body.
Time: Wednesday, Feb 19, 6:30-8 pm
Location:Performance Cafe
Event Description: What does it mean to explore our languages and writing through translated literature? What is involved in the process of establishing ourselves as translators? Over the years, the languages I speak—which includes Mandarin, English, Spanish, French, and more, have taken me around to live across countries in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and more. What is it like to work as a writer and translator while traveling and working across cultures?
Part of the most interesting and significant process of being a translator involves translating writings that engage in feminism and gender movements. Sometimes stories are told through strange and surreal narratives, other times through streams of consciousness, and many more. What do we consider when translating narratives that involve descriptions about body, emotional landscape, and desire? How can elements of translation address emotional contradictions, vulnerabilities, the search for belonging, and how do we position and connect these writings with literature from other parts of the world?
Besides the talk, we’ll be referencing and introducing a list of literary works that have established themselves in regards to gender topics and movements in the English-speaking world for participants’ interests.
Speaker’s Bio : Jenna Tang is a Taiwanese writer, educator, and translator who translates between Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, and English. She is a board member and chair of the Equity Advocates Committee at the American Literary Translators Association. Her translations and essays are published in McSweeney’s, Lit Hub, The Paris Review, Latin American Literature Today, World Literature Today, Catapult, AAWW, Words Without Borders, and elsewhere. Her translations include Taiwanese feminist author most iconic #MeToo movement title, Lin Yi-Han’s novel, Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise and she has given talks about translation, languages, and gender movements across 16 universities in the States and Canada.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation on the complexities of translation and its connection to feminism and gender movements.
